RSPB Fen Drayton regular (Sept): social stroll / share identification skills

This will be our September social stroll around Fen Drayton Lakes. I'll scout the reserve beforehand and try to lead us to anything interesting that is going on.

The focus for this stroll will be fruits and berries: we all know Blackberries, of course, but did you know there were hundreds of UK subspecies? We'll look for clues and see if we can distinguish a few different varieties as we walk around. But autumn fruits don't stop there! Sloes, haws, hips - the hedgerows are full of berries at this time of year. We'll see how many different fruits we can find, and try to put a name to them.

Many autumn fruits are edible, but the aim of this walk is observing, not about foraging: as always, I want to open a window onto the world around us, to see and appreciate more. If you want to pick some fruit as we go, you are welcome - but I am not an expert, and I can't guide you on what is safe.

We'll keep an eye open for everything else around us. By now, most of the Summer migrants have left, and the Autumn visitors have not yet arrived, but we may be able to see fungi, the last of the dragonflies - and if we get lucky, maybe even Starling murmurations starting to form!

I aim to be out for about 2 hours, so when we get back to the car park it will be just starting towards dusk, but you are welcome to leave earlier: the paths all loop back to the busway, so it's never too hard to find the way back to the car park. With the fairly dry weather we've had lately, more of the paths should be open, so we should have more options.

I know the reserve very well, and can ID some of the things we stand a chance of seeing, but I'm a long way from an expert. I'd really love everyone to be pitching in what they know: the world is full of things to understand and explore, and the more you look, the more you see!

Binoculars strongly recommended, if you have any: I don't have spares to share, but it will still be a nice nature stroll without. I will try to stick to the firmer paths, but with the rain we've had, some of the paths may be a bit muddy, so please wear suitable footwear, and - as always! - come prepared for British Weather. I will keep an eye on the forecast, and cancel or move the event it looks like it will be very heavy rain.

This event is appropriate for children. Rules for dogs can be found on the RSPB site below: please do follow them, to help preserve the nature we are here to enjoy!

Directions here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/fen-drayton-lakes/location
NOTE THAT the lane to the car park is quite rough, and if coming from Fen Drayton has quite deep potholes, so if you are coming by car please do take care.

The reserve is easily reached from the guided busway. If you are coming on the bus, you will find us at the car park about 100m North from the busway stop.

During the event I will take a voluntary subscription (£2 / attendee suggested): the running costs for the Meetup group have been shooting up, so it's unlikely there will be anything left over, but if there is I'll put it into a pot for a special event with a real (paid) expert to talk us through something interesting.