Avian influenza, what do I do? If you find one dead bird of prey, 3 or more dead gulls or wild fowl, 5 or more dead birds of any species: MORE INFORMATION HERE
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Join, Discover, Learn and Connect
Are you…
Struggling to find and access prime birdwatching spots?
Having trouble keeping up with migration patterns and rare sightings?
Confused by similar-looking species or rare bird sightings?
Missing out on like-minded people to share your experiences with?
Join the WMBC for a richer birding experience
We are one of the largest, most vibrant, clubs in England with circa 3,000 members, spanning the entire West Midlands. This includes over 1,424 acres of reserves incorporating varied habitats which attracts many fascinating and rare bird species.
Member Benefits
Get close to nature in our private reserves, spot rare birds, and join field trips for new discoveries. Enhance your bird knowledge at our indoor meetings. And contribute to the ornithological knowledge of the region!
Reserve Access
Enjoy exclusive access to over 1,400 acres of tranquil reserves, ideal for encountering diverse birdlife without the crowds.
See Rare Birds
Get instant updates and locations for unusual and rare birds turning an ordinary birding day into an extraordinary one.
Exciting Field Trips
Led by experts, our field trips take you to prime birding spots for unforgettable sightings.
Indoor Local Club Meetings
Share insights and learn from others at our engaging indoor club meetings.
Expand Your Bird Knowledge
Deepen your understanding of ornithology through club resources and expert presentations.
General Bird Watching
Enjoy your birdwatching supported by our 3,000 strong community.
Annual Bird Report
Stay up-to-date with our highly accalimed and comprehensive annual report detailing local avian activities and trends.
Quarterly Newsletter
Keep up to date with club news, events, and birding tips through our informative quarterly newsletter.
Day Trips
Experience the joy of day-long birding adventures in many sought-after locations across the UK and beyond.
Social Activities
Build lasting friendships and share your passion through our many and varied club-organised social activities.
Voting Rights
It’s your club so have a voice in its future through your valuable voting rights on key decisions.
Reduced Meeting Fees
Enjoy discounted rates for our engaging and educational birding events.
Premier Birder
£
30
Every year
All the benefits of the Essential Birder plus nature reserve access
All the benefits of Essential Birder, Enjoy all-year-round access to our 4 main nature reserves, Access our sister sites at Gailey, Grimley, Patsull and, Wildgoose, Take one guest onto the reserves
Premier Birders (2 People)
£
35
Every year
Perfect for two people wanting nature reserve access and the full birding experience
All the benefits of the Premier Birder for you both!
Harborne Permit
£
7.5
Every year
Annual permit for access to Harborne reserve
Get unlimited access to Harborne reserve, Take one guest on the reserve
Essential Birder
£
20
Every year
Perfect for anyone not needing access to the reserves.
Access our rare sightings alert system, Explore exciting day trips, Join expert-led field trips, Engage our community’s expertise and deepen your knowledge, Read our acclaimed annual report, Enjoy voting rights, Participate in social activities, Receive your membership card, Get quarterly newsletter, Attend local indoor meetings
Essential Birders (2 People)
£
25
Every year
Perfect for people wanting to share the birding experience
All the benefits of Essential Birder for you both!
NextGen Birder (11-23)
£
10
Every year
Perfect for the budding birder
All the benefits of an Essential Birder, Plus access to all 8 of our reserves
Choose your membership
Essential Birder
20£Every yearPerfect for anyone not needing access to the reserves.- Access our rare sightings alert system
- Explore exciting day trips
- Join expert-led field trips
- Engage our community’s expertise and deepen your knowledge
- Read our acclaimed annual report
- Enjoy voting rights
- Participate in social activities
- Receive your membership card
- Get quarterly newsletter
- Attend local indoor meetings
Essential Birders (2 People)
25£Every yearPerfect for people wanting to share the birding experience- All the benefits of Essential Birder for you both!
- Best Value
Premier Birder
30£Every yearAll the benefits of the Essential Birder plus nature reserve access- All the benefits of Essential Birder
- Enjoy all-year-round access to our 4 main nature reserves
- Access our sister sites at Gailey, Grimley, Patsull and
- Wildgoose
- Take one guest onto the reserves
Premier Birders (2 People)
35£Every yearPerfect for two people wanting nature reserve access and the full birding experience- All the benefits of the Premier Birder for you both!
NextGen Birder (11-23)
10£Every yearPerfect for the budding birder- All the benefits of an Essential Birder
- Plus access to all 8 of our reserves
Harborne Permit
7.50£Every yearAnnual permit for access to Harborne reserve- Get unlimited access to Harborne reserve
- Take one guest on the reserve
Frequently Asked Questions
The West Midland Bird Club manages several reserves, each offering unique birdwatching experiences:
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Belvide Reservoir: This reserve features woodlands with feeding stations, attracting a variety of woodland birds. It's known for breeding birds in summer, and during winter and migration periods, it hosts flocks of waterfowl, gulls, and wading birds, especially when water levels are low and shorelines are exposed.
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Blithfield Reservoir: The expansive water body attracts waterfowl and migrating wading birds. Notably, ospreys are observed during their spring and autumn migrations.
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Ladywalk Reserve: Predominantly featuring wetland habitats, this reserve is excellent for observing water rails and frequently hosts hobbies in the summer. A wide range of bird species can be found here year-round, with wetland birds being the predominant feature.
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Harborne Reserve: Comprising two sections of disused allotments totaling 9 acres, this reserve is bisected by the Chad Brook and offers diverse habitats for various bird species including woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and tit species.
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Gailey Reservoirs: An under-watched site with potential for interesting passage migrants such as gulls, terns and hirundines. Winter wildfowl often hide rarer grebes and divers.
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Grimley: A sprawling series of pools along the Severn valley with a track record of turning up interesting wildfowl in the winter months. Pretty much anything can turn up at any time of year, a large site that deserves a full day to visit to explore fully.
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Wildgoose: A lovely, quiet reserve, well that is until a Cetti's Warbler suddenly explodes into song right next to the path! Great for woodpeckers, roving tit flocks, warblers in the summer months and potential for fly over birds of prey.
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Patsull: A working farm project with a series of permissive paths which enable views over the fields. Traditional farmland bird species can be seen here including the now hard to find Grey Partridge.
Each reserve provides a distinct habitat, attracting a diverse array of bird species throughout the year.
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Access to the West Midland Bird Club's reserves is primarily restricted to members. Inclusive Membership provides access to all eight reserves.
For non-members, there are limited options:
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Harborne Reserve: Non-members can obtain a Harborne Reserve Permit for £7.50 per annum, granting access to this reserve only but there is often a waiting list. This permit does not give you full club membership or its associated benefits.
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Group Visits: Recognised groups can arrange single-day visits to certain reserves, such as Harborne, Belvide and Ladywalk, typically at a small cost per person. These visits require prior arrangement with the respective Reserve Management Team.
Individual day permits are not issued for reserves like Blithfield and Ladywalk; access is by Inclusive Membership only. If you'd like to visit all our reserves without restriction, please join our thriving club!
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The West Midland Bird Club organises a variety of events aimed at enhancing members' birdwatching experiences and knowledge:
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Field Trips: Expertly led by organiser Liz Palmer, these trips visit renowned birdwatching locations across the UK, including weekend stays in Devon and Norfolk. They offer opportunities to observe diverse bird species in various habitats as well as connecting with our friendly community of birders.
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Local Branch Meetings: The club operates a branch in Stafford and is looking to set up branches in the other regions. Branches offer programs of indoor and field meetings. These gatherings provide educational talks and local birdwatching activities in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
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Volunteer Work Parties: Members can participate in habitat maintenance and improvement tasks at the club's reserves. These sessions, held on weekends or weekdays depending on the reserve, are a great way to contribute to conservation efforts and meet like-minded individuals.
As a member you are welcome to attend these events, regardless of their location.
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To participate in West Midland Bird Club meetings and activities, you can attend indoor meetings and field trips organized by the Club's local branches. The Club has a branch in Stafford, hosting regular events. Members and their families are welcome to attend meetings at any branch, regardless of their location.
Stafford Branch:
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Indoor Meetings: Take place at Walton Village Hall, Greengore Lane, Stafford, ST17 0LD. Doors open at 7:00 PM, with talks starting at 7:30 PM. The cost is £3 per person, and refreshments are provided.
Additionally, the Club organizes field trips to various birding sites. Details of these trips can be found on this website or in the newsletter. Non-members are also welcome to attend these events and will be made most welcome.
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Membership renewal is simple on this website. Just go to the link HERE and select the relevant package. Payment options are either card or direct debit.
Memberships are yearly and we will remind you when your subscription becomes due.
Yes, the West Midland Bird Club offers various volunteering opportunities. All roles within the club are filled by volunteers, and each position is vital to the club's success.
The club manages several reserves, including Belvide and Blithfield in Staffordshire, Ladywalk in Warwickshire, and Harborne in Birmingham. These reserves provide numerous opportunities for volunteers to contribute to habitat management and conservation efforts.
Additionally, the club's local branch in Stafford offers excellent talks and field trips, which are organised and supported by volunteers.
If you're interested in volunteering, you can contact the club's secretary, Don Ainsworth, at secretary@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk for more information.
Joining is simple and can be done from this page above. Just choose your package and fill in the required forms. This can all be done online and ultimately the payment options are card or direct debit.
If you prefer to pay by cheque then you can do so by writing to our membership secretary (Michael Bevan) at West Midland Bird Club, c/o Deans Accountants, Gibson House, Hurricane Court, Hurricane Close, Stafford, Staffordshire. ST16 1GZ. Any queries please email at: membership@westmidlandbirdclub.org.uk.
Our Members say…
Thank you so much for your welcoming email. I am really looking forward to exploring the reserves and meeting other birders.
Liz McNeill
Yes I’d be interested in coach trips to birding hotspots, and also in meeting other members for coffee, visits to a local birding spot and hopefully I would learn from the others.
I am no expert, but enjoy trying to improve and just enjoy being outside always hoping to see something special. Well done for trying to create more of a community within your local membership. Let’s hope it benefits everyone.
Helen Franklin
Thank you so much for your efficiency!
I took a friend to Ladywalk on Saturday and what a wonderful place!
Somewhere where you can enjoy peace and tranquillity and lots of nature....we even saw a kingfisher !!
Jo Latimer
It was a recent visit to Belvide with Lichfield U3A that rekindled my interest in rejoining after all these years, and I'd love to revisit Ladywalk.
Jim McGuire
Just a note to say our membership pack arrvived this morning. Thank you very much - we are really looking forward to exploring the reserves.
Lucy Clark
Thank you for all the wonderful work you do in facilitating this for us, and for the birds who keep at least some protected habitat from what seems to be a rapidly changing environment shifting from greenery to commercial developments.
Mark Bloomer
Just to let you know that my membership pack arrived nicely in time for my trip to Telford last week and I managed to get a morning session in at Belvide. What a great reserve and so well set up for birders. I didn’t get to visit all the hides but felt thoroughly spoilt with carpeted benches. I’ve been to some RSPB reserves that could learn a lot from WMBC’s management at Belvide.
Martin Collins
We visited Belvide last weekend and really enjoyed it. We saw lots of species and met some lovely, helpful people. Thanks for your help …
Sue White
Discover West Midland Bird Club
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Our Guarantee
Take flight with confidence
At WMBC, we want you to feel completely at ease with your membership choice. That’s why we invite you to join us with the assurance that if for any reason you’re not thoroughly enjoying your experience within the first 30 days, we offer a straightforward, no-quibble money-back guarantee.
So, if our club isn’t the perfect nest for you, we’ll refund your membership fee, no questions asked.