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Welcome to the Club
Welcome to the Club
The Cambridgeshire Bird Club promotes the study, recording and conservation of birds in Cambridgeshire and encourages a wider interest in natural history and the protection of county wildlife habitats.
We record the County's birds in our Annual Report, so we need your records. We have a stunning Gallery, so we want your photos. We have field projects, we have indoor meetings and trips, and we keep you informed with our monthly emailed bulletins. We have links to active bird ringing groups. And have a look at our Facebook and our Twitter (X) sites.
You can see What's About? and we urge you to report interesting, sensitive or confidential sightings to the County Recorder.
We email Club members with many announcements but we also use our website to provide information. We hope you enjoy your visit and come back soon.
Announcements
Announcements
Friday 12 December - Christmas Social at St John's. An evening of mince pies, seasonal fare and members' own presentations.
Picture of the Month for October is Jan Michalec's Bearded Tit - see it here
Bird flu in wild birds, latest - Rob Partridge on 9 November 2025 reported dead and dying Whooper Swans and Mute Swans on the Ouse Washes. The reporting to Defra of dying and dead birds suspected to be infected with bird flu can now be done online. Start at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds - reporting takes about five minutes. Best to have location details at hand. Reports can also be added to BirdTrack.
Read the RSPB narrative here https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates
We are now offering free membership to anyone aged 25 or younger.
Photo of the Year for 2024 was voted by members to be Chris Kenyon's Hobby. Congratulations to Chris. Runner-up was Jan Michalec's Marsh Harriers and in third place was Rachel Lennard's Bearded Tit. See them here
Club e-Bulletins up to July are now available to all to read. They contain records, photos, articles and event reminders: read the recent ones here
Other announcements
Other announcements
The 2023 Annual Report (No. 97) is now available to purchase. Look here for details.
The CBC recording checklist can be viewed and downloaded here
Club Bulletins back to the first issue in 1951 have now been digitised and were added to the website in 2021- read them here
The 2019 Annual Report (No. 93) is now available to read on this website - read here 2020 and 2021 Annual Reports to be added as soon as possible.
Do read Bob Jarman's Centenary Lecture presented at the Club's Centenary Dinner 16 April. Read here Also to be found under 'Publications'
Avian Flu in wild birds -latest
Avian Flu in wild birds -latest
AVIAN FLU: Please under no circumstances go near or touch wildfowl suspected to have avian flu, leave this to the professionals.
Bird flu in wild birds, latest - Rob Partridge has today (9 November 2025) reported dead and dying Whooper Swans and Mute Swans on the Ouse Washes. The reporting to Defra of dying and dead birds suspected to be infected with bird flu can now be done online. Start at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds - reporting takes about five minutes. Best to have location details at hand.
Read the RSPB narrative here https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates
X (fomerly Twitter)
X (fomerly Twitter)
We will let you know when we can resume feeds to this webpage.
Picture of the Month - October
Picture of the Month - October
October's bird was chosen by Roger Hardie.
Bearded Tit © Jan Michalec, Ouse Fen RSPB, 2025
Another excellent collection of photos this month, with some typical late autumn subjects. For rarity value, the prize goes to Matthew Webb for his photos of the long-staying Yellow-browed Warbler at Ferry Meadows. Special mention also for Roger Cresswell’s close-up flight shots of a Peregrine, beautifully lit against a clear blue sky, and Simon Stirrups’ evocative shots of cranes flying to roost over the Fens. Cookie Shorten’s contributions include a striking image of hundreds of starlings decoratively adorning every last branch and twig of a bare dead tree, and a beautiful close-up of a Meadow Pipit on a fence-post. I was also amused by George Walthew’s picture of a Kingfisher in the rain, with a quizzical eye to the heavens, as if wondering when the rain was going to stop.
But for October’s Photo of the Month I’ve chosen Jan Michalek’s Bearded Tit taken at Ouse Fen – surely now the prime location for these scarce Cambridge birds. Although almost always heard here, Bearded Tits can be frustratingly difficult to see well, let alone photograph. But Jan has managed to capture a classic, striking portrait of a male clinging to the top of a reed, staring back at the photographer. Beautifully composed with minimal distraction beyond the fragile reed head, every feather is sharply focused and perfectly exposed against a dramatic, featureless dark background.
Centenary Lecture presented by Bob Jarman on 16 April 2025 at the Club's Centenary Dinner
Centenary Lecture presented by Bob Jarman on 16 April 2025 at the Club's Centenary Dinner
Photo of the year 2024
Photo of the year 2024
Congratulations to Chris Kenyon for his winning photo of a Hobby. Second place goes to Jan Michalac with his Marsh Harriers and Rachel Lennard's Bearded Tit takes third place. Click here to view all three photos. and click 2024 candidates to see all the candidates.
The 2023 Report No. 97 is now available to purchase at £15.00 including postage and packing.
The 2023 Report No. 97 is now available to purchase at £15.00 including postage and packing.
Where's that site?
Where's that site?
If you are unsure of the location of the less well-known birding sites, check our Gazetteer, which also provides standardised names to include in recording checklists for the Club's database and Birdtrack. Check the Grabagrid map which provides precise site grid references, and also shows pop-up vice-county boundaries
Request by the RSPB for bird volunteers to help in farm surveys - respond asap
Request by the RSPB for bird volunteers to help in farm surveys - respond asap
Jenny Atkins of the RSPB is asking for birding volunteers to help in farm surveys.
She says “I’m posting on behalf of the RSPB for a non-member of this group [Cambirds}.
Dear Cambs Birders,
I’m looking for your help this breeding season. I’m an Agricultural Project Manager for the RSPB and manage the Volunteer Monitoring of Farm Wildlife. It is designed to:
• Give farmers an understanding of what birds are on their farm and how abundant they are.
• Help farmers and volunteers understand more about wildlife within the farmed landscape.
• Connect farmers with advice and case studies to assist them plan conservation.
• Provide opportunities for volunteers to gain new skills and experience through an enjoyable and rewarding activity.
The survey season runs from 1st April to 30th June. Within this time period, we require an initial visit to a farm to be carried out and then two survey visits.
We will endeavour to pair volunteers with a farm which should be no further than approximately 25 miles from their home (and pay travelling expenses) and in Cambs. at least, currently need a volunteer in each of the following areas: Feltwell, Littleport, Ely, Soham (x 2 farms), Welney, Southery
Please feel free to drop me an email at jenny.atkins@rspb.org.uk (jenny DOT atkins @rspb DOT org DOT uk) as soon as possible because already we’re in the process of matching volunteers to farms and need to wrap it up in the next few days.
Thank you.
Jenny Atkins”
Lists and facts
Lists and facts
County birders life lists, individual record year lists / record day lists, garden lists and other records - view them here
County birders life lists, individual record year lists / record day lists, garden lists and other records - view them here
Found and injured bird? Contact a rehabilitator. Baby birds? Read here and also here
Local bird news from Cambirds.
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