Gull ID event with Klaus Malling Olsen at Rainham Marshes: Still places available

Gull ID event with Klaus Malling Olsen at Rainham Marshes
February 21^st or 22^nd
Price: £ 45 To pre-book: please ring 01708 899850

Join us at Rainham Marshes as one of leading experts on gulls and author of Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America, Klaus Malling Olsen comes to the reserve and gives a presentation on the fascinating and challenging world of gulls. If you struggle a bit with some of the more complex species and races of gulls, and would like to take your ID skills to the next level, this event is simply not to be missed.  Publisher of Birdwatch Magazine and finder of the UK’s first slaty-backed gull, Dominic Mitchell will be joining Klaus Malling Olsen on this exclusive occasion. The session will include a field trip to the Veolia Landfill Site next to the reserve (where Dominic found the slaty-backed gull in 2011). In winter, this site attracts thousands of gulls and as it is normally restricted area, we are delighted that Veolia provides us with this unique opportunity to get very close to a fine palette of wintering gulls. The field session (lasting app 2 hours), will be followed by a gull ID presentation from Klaus Malling Olsen back in the visitor centre. It will be possible to purchase signed copies of Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America from our shop. As there is only a limited amount of spaces available, we advise you to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

The price includes a two hours field session with Klaus Malling Olsen (morning or afternoon on either February 21^st or 22^nd), entry to the Veolia Landfill Site and a 1.5-hour ID presentation by Klaus Malling Olsen plus tea/coffee and biscuits in the visitor centre in the late afternoon following the field session*.

The programme for both days looks like this (times may be altered slightly on the day):

9am – Opening of reserve and arrival of participants at car park (tbc) near Veolia landfill site

9:15-11:15am - Group 1 field session

11:15am-11:45pm – Transport back to visitors centre

11:45-1pm – Lunch and book signing

1:00-1:30pm Transport of guides from centre to Veolia site to meet group 2

1:30-3:30 Group 2 field session

3:30-4pm Transport back to visitor centre

4-5:30pm Gull ID presentation in the visitor centre

Please note that all participants must wear high visibility vests and hard hats at all times when on the landfill site (rental of these items is included in the price). They must also wear sturdy wellington boots (not included). There will be a brief health and safety instruction session before the visit to the landfill site and participants have to sign a paper agreeing that they have understood these instructions. Driving directions to the Veolia car park will be send out in due course (exact location tbc).

*Participants who book onto the morning session on either the 21^st or 22^nd can spend time birding the reserve / river wall between the end of their session and the afternoon presentation in the visitor centre.

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