We hope you find it interesting and stimulating, and hope you will join the Association and swell the numbers of Britain’s Naturalists.

Join the BNA the national body for naturalists, founded in 1905, and extend your interest in the British countryside by taking part in a wide range of activities together with fellow enthusiasts of all ages. With the help of our experts, you will be able to learn more about our native flora and fauna and develop an in-depth understanding of how our natural world develops and changes increasingly important in view of the changes in our climate.

At national level, the BNA organises lectures and exhibitions, publishes Country-Side, British Naturalist, the BNA website and the BNA holds occasional conferences and Field Trips at a different location each year.

JOIN NOW!

BNA National Encaenia
at Natural History Museum
Awards, Tours, Displays and Talks
22nd April 2023

Details coming soon

BNA Weekend Workshops
at Brandon Marsh WLT reserve
(Near Coventry)
1st & 2nd July 2023

Details coming soon

What to look for in December from the BNA

December is a good time to look out for birds which are less likely to be seen during the rest of the year. Swallows, Swifts & Martins have gone to warmer climates so it is great to see winter visiting birds here. Photos: D. Farrar

Brambling – Fringilla montifringilla. Similar in appearance to chaffinches at first glance and can be hard to spot amongst flocks of finches. You may be lucky enough to see one in your garden but they like to feed on beech mast so often found in beech woodlands.

Siskin – Carduelis spinus.  Sometimes confused with Greenfinches they can be seen flitting around the tops of trees as they search for food. They have a more streaked plumage than greenfinches, are smaller and the males have black heads.

Goldeneye – Bucephala clangula. These medium sized ducks look stunning gliding across water on a sunny winter’s day. Males have black and white plumage with a greenish sheen to the heads, females have chocolate brown heads, both have golden yellow eyes.  They can be seen on lakes and rivers, with numbers increasing in winter when migrant birds arrive from the continent.

Two thrushes that flock here in winter to feast on berries of our native trees like hawthorn are:-

Fieldfare – Turdis pilaris. Having a blueish-grey head, yellow beak, brown wings and speckled breast.

Redwing – Turdis lliacus. Smaller than Fieldfares, these have a creamy-white stripe above the eye, cream chest with dark brown streaks and reddish orange underwing.

Programme of Zoom Talks 2023
Given by experts from the BNA and the Natural History Museum

The talks will take place on the third Monday every month starting at 7.30pm, the times will be confirmed nearer each date.

The programme will be available soon.

To take part in any of these talks, or if you would like to give a talk,

please contact the Chairman – honchairman.bnanaturalists@gmail.com

who will send you more information.