Hello birdwatchers Over the last week, in addition to my indoor and outdoor classes, I’ve managed to get some birding time with friends. On Tuesday I visited South Gare and RSPB Saltholme on Teesside for the first time in ages. We’d hoped for easterly winds so that we could see some visible migration however
Continue readingHello birdwatchers Another week has gone by, the leaves are turning golden yellow and there is a real autumn chill in the air this evening. I’ve just returned from holding a stall at the Big Green Weekend at the Trust for Conservation Volunteer’s Hollybush Farm in Kirkstall, Leeds. It has
Continue readingHello birdwatchers It is hard to believe that it is October already and that we are in the 5th week of Start Birding birdwatching classes at Rodley Nature Reserve. This week we will cover the subject of where to watch birds and the different habitats where birds can be found. We’ll also
Continue readingDear 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
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