Birding for fun and for all abilities with Stroud u3a! We have just renamed our group from "Birdwatching" to "Birding". Why? Well we think that knowing a bird is present is important regardless of whether or not we are able to "watch" it. Listening to bird song and bird calls and trying to identify birds from these is at least as challenging, if not more so, than seeing them. What we don't do is "twitch" (i.e. head off in pursuit of pop-up rarities). We try to cater for all abilities helping one another improve our birding skills.

This page summarises the Birding Group of Stroud u3a. If this is a group you may be interested in then please email Richard Bedford via the link provided on this page.

So far we have had five outings - Slimbridge (thrice), Cotswold Lakes (twice), Forest of Dean and Frampton-on-Severn. Our meetings are mostly outside (field) meetings but we may also organise the occasional indoor activity. We have to limit the numbers because big groups frighten the birds! Also we regret that it will not be possible to bring along dogs (other than under control authorised Assistance Dogs) on any of our meetings.

Future planned dates are:

16th October - Slimbridge

27th November - RSPB Otmoor (Oxford) - venue may change if weather looks unfavourable for possible Starling Murmuration. This meeting will be a later finish than normal to try to catch the Starlings heading to their roost.

18th December - Slimbridge (probably) - for the Swans!

Probably an extra outing in May 2026 - exact dates to be confirmed - Somerset Levels, RSPB Ham Wall etc. (including overnight stop)

For field outings you will require sensible outdoor clothing shoes to suit the time of year and weather. Loud colours are not ideal as the more we can blend in to the environment, the less likely we are to disturb the birds. Take special care to wear suitable footwear. Birding locations are almost always wet under foot in places. You will also really need binoculars to help locate and identify birds at distance and also to view them well when closer. We may be able to loan a pair for the day to new members depending on numbers but we expect anyone taking our group seriously to obtain their own pair. Guidance on binoculars can be found on the RSPB website (see below) and also if you contact me using the link above I am happy to offer suggestions.

Some links to very useful resources will also be found lower down this page.

Here are some of my photos from our Slimbridge outing on 17th July. Why not try your hand at identifying these? Some are easy, some less so...... you always contact me to ask or challenge/question anything. A bigger challenge if you want it is to not only identify the species but provide more information such as: How many? Adults (females/males?) or Juveniles? Winter/Summer/changing plumage? etc. In some photos there is more than one bird and for many you will need to click on the image to enlarge it which may often reveal more birds! Identify as many as you can (some will be practically impossible but all should be good practice). Do let me know how you do!

(Answers will appear soon in the (currently blank) document at the bottom of the page; try to avoid peeking until you've had a go at least).

Some Birdwatching Resources