Birding in Leeds

As well as teaching people about birds, I love to show people all the special places in my city to watch wildlife

Leeds is one of the finest places in the UK to watch birds with its many parks, nature reserves, post-industrial wetlands and wildlife corridors. Around 4,000 hectares of green space managed by Leeds City Council including estates such as Lotherton Hall, Temple Newsam and Roundhay as well as an extensive network of woodland, public rights of way, parks and nature reserves.

Some of these areas are managed in partnership with the RSPB and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. There are also special places such as the Harewood estate, where the Yorkshire Kite Project was born; Eccup Reservoir; Rodley Nature Reserve; and areas managed by the Canals and Rivers Trust in the Aire Valley. Farmland and moorland add more valuable habitat for wildlife around the perimeter of the city.

In addition, there are lots of special places that most people are not aware of and I love taking people to discover these wonderful green spaces.

“I’ve lived in Leeds all my life and I never knew this place existed”. When I hear that phrase, I feel that I’ve achieved something wonderful. The great thing is that I hear it a lot!

Over 262 birds have been recorded in the Leeds area. Some of these are very special birds such as bittern, bearded tit, black-necked grebe, dipper, spoonbill, little egret, kingfisher, pintail, barn owl, little owl, swift and red kite. We have peregrines nesting in the city centre; a regular pied wagtail invasion in the winter and even occasions where you can watch watch large flocks of waxwings in city centre parks.

Dipper

Visiting birders

There’s so many great reasons to come to Leeds. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, take some time to watch the wildlife in and around the city.

• Book a bespoke session and get picked up from your hotel or B&B
• Choose how long you’d like to be out
• Choose which habitat you’d like to visit

I can provide lunch on request. I can also provide trips to places further afield such as the Yorkshire Coast, Bolton Abbey, Spurn Point, Humberhead Peatlands, Saltholme and The Yorkshire Dales National Park.

It’s so easy to get to Leeds by car (A1, M1, M62), rail or by plane (Leeds and Bradford Airport) and you can even get here by boat via the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.