Hello birdwatchers The word of the month in the birding world has to be waxwings. They’re everywhere but if you haven’t seen any yet then this is because they are very nomadic and faithful to their favourite places -places that are filled with berries. In Leeds, one such nomadic flock
Continue readingYes I know I said that I probably wouldn’t do this but I’ve now got a Twitter account and have sent out my first tweet. I thought I’d dip my toe in the water and see what happened. The aim is to publicise Start Birding to a wider audience and
Continue readingHello birdwatchers For me, October has been a month of cloudscapes, colour and snipe. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many snipe on my Start Birding trips before. wonderful cloudscapes over North Cave Last Saturday we even managed to add a jack snipe to our list. This smaller cousin
Continue readingHello birdwatchers If you’ve been feeling depressed by the wet, cold summer then I urge you to take a trip outdoors this weekend and reap your reward. That dreadful, torrential rain and flooding that we’ve all had to tolerate has created a rhapsody of autumnal splendour around our cities, parks
Continue readingHello birdwatchers How lucky we have been with the weather this week on Start Birding birdwatching trips. We’ve been treated to the best of autumnal weather with dramatic mists hanging in the valleys, blue skies and wispy clouds. The diffused light has enhanced the seasonal yellow, gold and russet hues of
Continue readingHello 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 reading
