Indoor Meetings
Our Indoor meetings are normally held on the first Wednesday of the month from October to April at Mellor Brook Community Centre, 7 Whalley Road, Mellor Brook, Blackburn, BB2 7PR. Meetings start at 7.30pm and finish around 9.30pm.
Join Blackburn Bird Club at an indoor meeting!
Guest speakers are invited to every meeting, giving outstanding photographic presentations on British birds and birds of the world. Some speakers are actually wildlife guides, while others go on holidays specifically to see birds. All these speakers are experienced and knowledgeable, and their presentations provide great entertainment. To see our current programme of indoor events please see the table further down this page.
Our Chairman, Jonathan Fry, giving his talk on bird song in April 2024.
Break!
Mid way through every meeting there is a break for refreshments. This consists of tea and coffee, and some biscuits (with mince pies in December). We ask for a 50p donation towards the upkeep of this service. This provides an excellent opportunity to socialise with other members and share knowledge on birds and even talk with the speaker.
Members during a refreshment break in November 2023, when Chris Galvin presented his talk 'Around the World in 80 Birds'.
Raffle
Our ever popular raffle is drawn at the end of every meeting. Members donate prizes to the raffle and we endeavor to give out lots of prizes! Prizes often include jigsaws, chocolates, books, ornaments and many other things. Tickets cost £1 per strip, and all proceeds go to the continued running of the Club.
Book and DVD Library
The Club also has a free book and DVD Library available to members before the meeting starts and at the break. Books include a number of 'Where to Watch Birds' guides for various British Counties and countries abroad, we also have a full set of the 'Gosney' guides for most countries in the Western Palearctic. Our DVD collection includes titles by Paul Doherty and Gordon Yates.
How much does it cost to attend an Indoor meeting?
Members receive free entry to all 7 Indoor meetings, however visitors are most welcome to attend, at the cost of £3 admission (refundable upon becoming a member on the night).
Membership is £12 per year for adults, £20 per year for couples and under 18's are free. For more information on becoming a member please see our Membership page.
Florida Scrub Jay presented in February 2020 by local speaker Dennis Atherton.
A selection of raffle prizes, these can include books, jigsaws, ornaments and other things donated by members.
Buy Bird Food
Bird food is available to buy at indoor meetings, and on field walks.
2Kg bags of premium sunflower hearts cost £6
2Kg bags of high protein seed mix is available for £7.50
This mix includes sunflower hearts, peanut granules, calciworms, berry suet pellets and sweet raisins. This mix contains no seed fillers and therefore no waste, unlike most mixes available. It’s also great value, most comparable mixes cost £10.
The food for sale is a starting point, we may expand the food and bag sizes available depending on demand and success. Please buy your garden bird food from us, it helps support the Club and feeds your garden birds at the same time.
Jay by Jonathan Fry.
2025-2026 Indoor Programme
How to find us
We meet at Mellor Brook Community Centre, 7 Whalley Road, Mellor Brook, Blackburn, BB2 7PR.
From Blackburn Follow A677 towards Preston and M6. Upon entering Mellor Brook turn right onto Branch Road after the Windmill Land Rover garage. At the mini roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Mellor Brow and turn immediately left onto Whalley Road. The Community Centre is signposted on the left, just before a sharp left turn onto Higher Commons Lane.
From Mellor Drive down Mellor Brow towards Mellor Brook. Turn right onto Whalley Road. The Community Centre is signposted on the left, just before a sharp left turn onto Higher Commons Lane.
Via A59 Take the roundabout exit for Mellor Brook. Take the first exit of the first mini roundabout. Take the 2nd exit of the second mini roundabout onto Mellor Brow, turning immediately left onto Whalley Road. The Community Centre is signposted on the left, just before a sharp left turn onto Higher Commons Lane.
Parking - Please park on the road side, where there should be plenty of room.
Indoor Meetings Gallery
Stellars Sea Eagles in Japan from Mike Watson's talk 'Japan's Winter Wildlife' in January 2022.
Mike Watson giving a talk.
Jeff Clarke giving his talk 'Biscay and Picos' in February 2024.
Lapwings from Andy Pritchard's talk 'More of my wildlife' from April 2023.
Hummingbird species from Chris Galvin's talk 'Around the World in 80 Birds' in November 2023.
Cory's Shearwater from Dennis Atherton's talk 'Birding the Atlantic, Tenerife to Madeira' in February 2023.
