Talks are free for members of the RSPB Richmond & Twickenham Local Group. Non-members are welcome to attend on payment of an entrance fee of £5.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TALKS, INCLUDING THE EVENING ONES, ARE ON TUESDAYS
In Person talks
Due to refurbishment works at York House, our in-person talks will take place as follows:
- Afternoon talks on 13th January and 10th March – St Mary’s Church, Twickenham, TW1 3DT
- Evening talks on 3rd February and 3rd March – St Mary’s Church Hall 1 Church St, Twickenham TW1 3NJ (opposite the church)
- Both April talks – the Hyde Room, York House, York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ
You MUST NOT attend a talk if you have Covid-19 symptoms, have tested positive for Covid or have been in contact with someone who has Covid-19.
Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available during the interval (cost £1, exact money please). Please bring your own cup if possible!
Online (Zoom) talks
The Zoom link will be sent out the day before and a recording made available to members after the talk. Any non-members wishing to attend an online talk should email claremillion@gmail.com for information on how to join.
Tuesday 6th January, 7.30pm ONLINE (Zoom)
James Lowen – Tango Birding in Argentina
James Lowen is an award-winning author and photographer specialising in natural history, conservation and travel. He makes a welcome return with this talk which draws on three years of living and birding in Argentina to guide you around the entirety of South America’s second biggest country. From the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, and from the mighty jungle-shrouded waterfalls of Iguazu to the remoteness of Tierra del Fuego, we’ll voyage in search of the mythical Hooded Grebe, swarms of glittering hummingbirds and the gargantuan Greater Rhea.
Tuesday 13th January, 2pm St Mary’s Church
John Mallord – Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction
From being some of the most common large raptors in the world, populations of Asia’s vultures declined by over 95% through unintentional poisoning by the veterinary drug diclofenac. Learn how a consortium of organisations (SAVE) fought back and saved these species from extinction, and what we continue to do to prevent a repeat of this global conservation crisis. John is a Senior Conservation Scientist at the RSPB and leads research into Asia’s vultures, including providing scientific support to in-country partners in South and South-east Asia
Tuesday 3rd February, 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall
John Strachan – Photographic Travelogue
Group member and accomplished photographer John will take us on a trip around the many iconic birding destinations he visited in 2025 including Shetland, Skye and the Outer Hebrides, Aberdeenshire and the Cairngorms, the Peak District, Norfolk, The New Forest and a brief visit to Lombardy. Closer to home, he’ll no doubt include shots from Richmond and Bushy Parks. A chance to sit back and enjoy his beautiful photographs. Check out his Facebook page to get a sneak preview!
Tuesday 10th February, 7.30pm ONLINE (Zoom)
Fiona Robinson – Giving Corncrake a Home on Rathlin Island
Following on from the spotlight that was shone on Rathlin Island on Springwatch 2025, join us for this talk to discover the fascinating journey to save one of the UK’s rarest breeding birds. Fiona Robinson, Assistant Conservation Officer with RSPB Northern Ireland, will share the challenges, successes, and future hopes for the Corncrake, a species whose call once echoed across our countryside.
Tuesday 3rdMarch, 7.30pm St Mary’s Church Hall
Nick Martin The Orkney Islands
Join wildlife photographer and conservationist Nick Martin as he discovers some of the unique wildlife of the Orkney Islands. A return visit by this entertaining speaker who describes himself as a country boy at heart who’s never happier than when he’s out with his camera. He’s made it his mission to inspire people to get out and enjoy the countryside for themselves.
Tuesday 10th March 2pm St Mary’s Church
Henry Kenner – Saving our Swifts
Some of us met Henry Kenner, and his infectious enthusiasm for Swifts (despite the rain), at the RHS/RSPB Swift Garden at last year’s Hampton Court Flower Show. Swifts in the UK are on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List and are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red list assessment of extinction risk for Great Britain. Henry, who is a birdwatcher and entrepreneur, helps run Action for Swifts, a company that produces a range of specialist swift bricks and nestboxes. In this talk he will share the work of Actions for Swifts in attempting to halt the decline of the Swift and the solutions they have come up with to provide nesting facilities for our favourite summer visitors.
Tuesday 7th April, 7.30 pm York House, Hyde Room
Marcus Ward – A Year in the Life of Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes
A seasonal journey through Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes, one of our favourite birdwatching sites, revealing how this internationally important reserve transforms across the year from winter flocks of waders and wildfowl to summer nesting terns. We’ll learn about the wildlife highlights, shifting landscapes and conservation challenges of this beautiful coastal habitat on the edge of the New Forest. Marcus is a director of Wild New Forest, a not-for-profit organization which supports research into iconic New Forest species. The Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes have been his local patch for over 20 years.
Tuesday 14th April, 2pm York House, Hyde Room
Susan Morgan – Saving songbirds with science
This talk will explore the state of UK songbirds, the complex challenges they face and how independent charity SongBird Survival is working with science to secure a better future for them. Covering nine key threats, from disease and pollution to infrastructure and garden feeding, Sue, the organisation’s CEO, will highlight how these pressures combine to threaten populations, and spotlight the vital research projects funded by SongBird Survival (including the latest results). She will also explore practical solutions, and share how we can take action to help songbirds thrive.
Group AGM 2026 – 27th May at 7.30pm in the Hyde Room.
After the brief AGM business we’ll have a short illustrated talk from Tim Neale about the wildlife he and his wife Chris saw during their recent trip to Australia. This will be followed by a chance to socialise over drinks and nibbles.