Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust (SBBOT)

From the spectacular scenery and the birds and plants of New Zealand’s South Island, then by sea to the Antarctic, where the early explorers set up base camps to survive the harshest of conditions. We have the chance to see the way they lived and enjoy the wildlife of the region before returning through the southern oceans and their memorable seabirds and marine life.

By popular demand Bill has put together a show that covers the wildlife and landscape of the British Isles. The show follows the seasons as the year unfolds and concentrates on the best that Britain has to offer. Some of the highlights are spectacular bluebell woods, seabird cities, migratingwaders, Scottish highland landscapes, amazing Red Kites in action and the many wildfowl species that visit the British Isles in Winter.

When we asked Paul for another of his excellent talks he responded with the suggestion that we might like to hear of his visit to New Jersey and New York State, including time at Cape May (where he met a cowboy outfit of raptor-banders), life ina Trappist Monastery and birdlife along the US/Canadian border. Paul’s inimitable style and humour will make this a very enjoyable evening!

This is a compilation of many visits made at different times of the year. It looks at the birds and other wildlife on the Shetland Islands, Skye, Islay and the Outer Hebrides and will include subjects such as Eider, Corncrake and Otters in some evocative scenery.

This popular talk takes us back in time, drawing on visits to Egypt and China. We will go back 3,000 years BC for the first depictions of Man’s association with birds in some amazing tomb paintings, moving though the 17th and 19th centuries and the resulting changes in land use. Finally we will look at the last hundred years or so using sites in the UK, The Gambia, the Pyrenees and Antarctica as examples.

Luangwa NP in Zambia holds over 400 different bird species and 60 different animal species The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness ranging from dry, bare bushveld in the winter to a lush green wonderland in the summer months and, unusually for sub-Saharan Africa, it is possible for visitors to take a walking tour; one of the finest ways to experience this pristine wilderness first hand.

Peter’s response to the request to give this talk says everything - ‘The talk I'd really like to give is on Spitzbergen - Little Auks, Polar Bears, bearded seals, geese, amazing scenery etc. It's the most amazing place I've ever been to’.

Exploring unusual locations, Iain Green will showcase wildlife spectacles talking place within easy reach of our homes; revealing some surprising wild residents and rarely seen behaviour in our town, villages and cities