Dear birdwatchers I’m writing this blog on a very dark, wet morning, It has been raining for about 36 hours and I’ve just heard that the River Aire has broken its banks in Leeds. We’ve currently got a “dartboard low” pressure system over Britain and the winds continue to come
Continue readingWhat a fantastic week it has been for Start Birding. The new beginner’s birdwatching classes are going well at Rodley Nature Reserve on Mondays and Wednesdays with my new students learning the basics of how to become a better birdwatcher. Already we have covered how to get the best out
Continue readingDear readers This week marked the start of my new programme of birdwatching walks and classes. I was really excited to open the new line-up with my Birdwatching for Beginners classes which will be taking place regularly at Rodley Nature Reserve on Monday and Wednesday evenings. This week my new birdwatchers learned what
Continue readingDear readers I fully intended to keep up to date with my blog this month however, between trips, I’ve been hastily publicising my new classes which will be starting at Rodley Nature Reserve in Leeds at the beginning of September. Thanks to everyone who has signed up – I’m really
Continue readingWell what a changeable season we have had so far! The theme of low temperatures and torrential rain has continued into summer with only the occasional few days of sunshine. As we await the news of how this record breaking spring and summer has affected the breeding success of British birds, I’ve
Continue readingTo say that May has been a bit mad would be a bit of an understatement. June has also kept me on my toes with more weekends away, walks, surveys and reconnaissance trips for my next programme of events. Since my last post, my birdwatching walks have included evenings at Timble Ings and Folly Hall
Continue readingMay is usually a very busy month for Start Birding and this year is no exception. Not only are the spring weekend and evening birdwatching classes in full swing, but also the Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) are now underway. Despite the wet and cold start
Continue readingOver the coming weeks, Start Birding will gradually be re-branding with a new website and new business materials. I hope that you like the new colours and the new logo. The logo I’m using (shown on this page) is a design by the artist Natasha Newton called Magic Forest. If you click on
Continue readingHello everyone Just to let you know that Start Birding has organised a new “Birdwatching for Beginners” class at Rodley Nature Reserve in Leeds. The class will commence on Monday 3rd September, 7-9 p.m. and will initially run for 8 weeks. Places are limited so please book early to avoid
Continue readingI’m writing this post on the first sunny, spring day since the April “showers” began. What a relief it has been to be warm and dry for a change. This week, I led another trip to Fairburn on Tuesday evening. The weather wasn’t too bad but it was very cold and it had
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