Ever since Darwin and Wallace discovered natural selection by studying birds on the islands of the Pacific, ornithologists have been fascinated by island birds. There may be no better places to study speciation and the evolution of body and bill size, plumage colours and flightlessness. Over the past half century Robert has studied birds on more than 25 islands from Heron Island in tropical Australia to Prince Leopold Island in high arctic Canada. He will talk about some of those adventures with examples of research on songbirds, hummingbirds, seabirds, rails, and ptarmigan.

MEETING POINT: Western Car Park (free) SU 677 043 START TIME: 9:30am DURATION: Approx. 4 hrs TYPICAL SPECIES: Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal, Avocet, Redshank and Dunlin, possible Short Eared Owl and Bearded Tit CONTACT: Glen Pascoe 07856110354 outings@oos.org.uk ADDITIONAL NOTES: The car park can be reached from the eastern Portsmouth A27 roundabout (signed for the A2030). The track leading to Farlington is a small lane between the A27 westbound exit and the A2030 exit leading to Portsmouth. We last visited this site in March 2024 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S209537059)