Cheltenham Bird Club

Otmoor: the development of a haven for wildlife by David Wilding
2026-10-19 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
David Wilding, site manager at RSPB Otmoor will be talking about the development of the reserve where he has worked for over 20 years overseeing the improvements to this important site.

Grimley Lake, West Midlands Bird Club nature reserve
2026-10-24 10:00 - 12:00
A return visit to Grimley Lake, WMBC nature reserve, WR2 6LS or What3Words: jaws.flank.wink
We will spend the morning walking around the lakes looking for wildfowl and farmland birds.
Access to the reserve is from the A443 Worcester to Tenbury Wells road, follow the signs towards Grimley. Parking is on a wide grass verge opposite the minor road junction. There are no facilities at this site, however, there are various cafés on the road towards Holt.
After lunch some members may like to visit Clifton Pits, which are situated on the A38 towards Tewkesbury 10miles from Grimley. Postcode WR5 3PF What3Words: surnames.keys.boats
We will park in the large lay-by found on the left hand side of the road soon after passing through Kempsey.

Gloucestershire's Butterflies by Ken Newcombe
2026-10-26 19:00 - 21:00
Ken is Gloucestershire co-ordinator of education for Butterfly Conservation. Butterfly Conservation owns three reserves in the county – the Bill Smyllie Reserve, the Masts Reserve and Rough Bank.
Nearly 50 species of butterfly and over 1700 species of moth have been recorded in the county and we look forward to hearing about them from Ken.

The Eurasian Hobby by Richard Tyler
2026-11-02 19:00 - 21:00
We had such wonderful views of hobbies catching dragonflies at Bourton gravel pits in September 2025. This talk will tell us more about these delightful birds, dubbed the 11 o’clock bird by Tim Fretter.
Richard Tyler is a lifelong birder and photographer who lives on the Cotswolds and has studied Hobbies there for many years.
With great patience – and with help from landowners and gamekeepers – he has found many territories and nest sites.
Richard will share his detailed knowledge of this notoriously secretive species, and show his remarkable photos of Hobbies in and around their nests.

Tagging of Leach's Storm Petrels by Connie Tremlett
2026-11-09 19:00 - 21:00
Connie Tremlett will speak on the work she is doing with Mark Bolton for the RSPB. Mark Bolton is a Principal Conservation Scientist for the RSPB, renowned for his pioneering research on UK seabirds, including Leach’s Storm-petrels.
Their work has fundamentally shifted the understanding of these elusive birds through groundbreaking tracking and monitoring projects.

The Call of the Kingfisher by Nick Penny
2026-11-16 19:00 - 21:00
Nick Penny is a musician and musical instrument maker who has a passionate interest in Kingfishers. He set himself the task to walk along the river Nene near Oundle, Northamptonshire every day of the year developing an intimate knowledge of the wildlife, especially the kingfishers. His talk will be based on his book ‘The Call of the Kingfisher’. It will include sound recordings and live music.

Cotswold Water Park East, off the A417 between Fairford and Lechlade
2026-11-17 10:00 - 12:30
Our walk will start at The Lakes Hotel, GL7 3DT What3Words:messing.stolen.coast
The hotel is not signposted from the main A417. There is a very smart high curved stone wall at the entrance, then follow the sign to Bar & Kitchen and carpark.
A morning walk round a couple of the lakes to include the hide at Whelford Pools. We will hopefully find plenty of wintering wildfowl and other species. Depending on the weather we may move to another venue after lunch for those wishing to extend the day.
Be sure to register your interest in this trip by emailing fieldtrips.cheltenhambirdclub@gmail.com to facilitate lift sharing arrangements.
Meet in Shelburne Road near Dean Close School (SO929215 or postcode GL51 6HE at 0900 to sort car sharing or meet at 1000 at the venue.

Forest of Dean and Christmas meal
2026-12-06 09:30 - 14:00
This is the final walk of the year followed by the Christmas meal at The Belfry, Littledean, postcode GL14 3JS map ref SU669135,. It is a popular social event so please book early by speaking to Pam or emailing fieldtrips.cheltenhambirdclub@gmail.com
As usual meet in The Belfry car park at 9.30am before we make our way to a suitable site to hopefully find Hawfinch, Crossbill, Siskin and others.
For lift sharing meet in Shelburne Road near Dean Close School (SO929215 or postcode GL51 6HE) at 0830 to sort car sharing.
