This is a popular annual event that has been plagued by unsuitable weather in recent years and we have brought it forward to September in the hope of finding better weather both for flying and bird-watching. We welcome Ralph Hobbs to lead the 2024 guided watch: members please note the early start.

Ralph has worked as an agronomist, conservation and land management adviser including for Natural England, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and Hastings Borough Council.  He is an experienced ecologist with a long history of working in the environmental services industry. His areas of expertise and interest include birds, ecological restoration, wildlife management, sustainable development and plant ecology. He also has 7.8K posts on social media platform X relating to nature, the climate and environmental crisis and related politics.