PKBirding

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PKBirding Relaxed and friendly birdwatching tours, half or full days, with expert tuition on identification. Butterflies, dragonflies and wild flowers also covered.

I have, for the last 40+ years, been a keen and active birdwatcher and for the last 30 years or so I have been a wildlife guide and a tutor, teaching people how to identify birds and showing them how to get more from their hobby. Birdwatching holiday destinations have included Scotland, England, the Belgian Ardennes, the Jura, the Camargue and the Cevennes & Grands Causses, the last three being in France. Working as a wildlife guide in the Cevennes & Grands Causses for 15 years opened up a new opportunity as an author, when I was asked to co-write the Crossbill Guide to the Cevennes & Grands Causses. The area is one of the most diverse for wildlife in France with something to interest everyone. From wild orchids and wildflowers, through dragonflies and insects to birds and butterflies. I now share my time between Belaye in the Lot, France, and Beverley, East Yorkshire. Although now retired I still run wildlife outings in France and birdwatching/wildlife courses in East Yorkshire.

NORTH CAVE WETLANDS, Thursday 22nd OctoberJoin us at one of our favourites, the YWT reserve at North Cave which offers o...
19/10/2026

NORTH CAVE WETLANDS, Thursday 22nd October
Join us at one of our favourites, the YWT reserve at North Cave which offers open water lakes, shallow scrapes, reedbeds, rough meadows, trees and scrub, a great diversity of habitat. A long-staying Pectoral Sandpiper and a Jack Snipe could provide some extra interest on top of the large numbers of overwintering wildfowl. This will be an ideal opportunity to get familiar with several duck species in their eclipse plumage, which can be a little tricky.
This will be basically a morning trip, but we can extend into the afternoon if anyone would like to do so, and maybe make use of the Butty Bus for refreshment. There should be some great photographic opportunities here too.
As always, you can email me on [email protected] (NOT gmail) for more information or to book your places.
VENUE: North Cave Wetlands.
DATE: Thursday 22nd October.
TIME: Meet at the site no later than 9.30am.
DURATION: Around 3hrs morning, plus into the afternoon if you wish.
TERRAIN: A mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced roads and tracks. All walking is entirely on the level, no hills or gradients. There is one viewing hide which has a few steps to climb for access.
COST: £12.00 per person, payable on the day in cash, sorry, no card facilities. Please note there is a charge for parking now unless you are a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust member.
BINOCULARS: Please bring a pair if you have them, or you can borrow a pair if you request them when booking.
EXCLUSIONS: Please note, no dogs or other pets allowed.
LOCATION: What3words///punters.merchant.diner OS Map Reference: SE 886328 GPS 53°47’03.30N 0°39’21.48W

FACILITIES: There are a total of six hides around the reserve, together with a few viewing screens, allowing comfortable viewing. There are toilets situated near the entrance. Refreshments are available from The Butty Bus, which offers food and hot drinks – highly recommended.

Spurn yesterday with PKBirding was great. We managed to see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Beacon Ponds. It breeds in North Am...
15/10/2026

Spurn yesterday with PKBirding was great. We managed to see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Beacon Ponds. It breeds in North America and winters from the south of North America, to the far south of South America. Apparently it was blown off course during its migration. It's been here a couple of weeks.
BTW, other birds are available at Spurn and Beacon Ponds.

04/09/2026

I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I DO NOT GIVE MY PERMISSION FOR FACEBOOK OR META TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA.

A FEW VISITORS TO THE GARDEN. Just some of the Butterflies and Inse...
16/07/2026

A FEW VISITORS TO THE GARDEN. Just some of the Butterflies and Insects which have visited the garden in France during the last couple of weeks. An interesting selection, I hope you enjoy looking at them.

BIRDWATCHING at BEMPTON CLIFFS, Wednesday 10th June.Why not join us and get close to thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills...
04/06/2026

BIRDWATCHING at BEMPTON CLIFFS, Wednesday 10th June.
Why not join us and get close to thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Gannets, the latter breeding nowhere else on the mainland. Learn how to identify all these birds, including in flight, and learn their calls. Add to these S**g, Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows together with the possibility of Barn Owl and Peregrine Falcon, and you have a birding day to remember. Both Harbour Porpoise and Bottle-nosed Dolphin are regularly seen from the cliffs as they feed below.
This trip will be a morning and an optional afternoon section, visiting Flamborough Head and Thornwick Pools. Please bring a packed lunch if you wish, although refreshments are available from the reserve shop if you prefer. There are picnic tables which we can use after our morning session, but if you only wish to do a half day, you are welcome to leave at lunch time.
If you wish to book places on this trip, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on [email protected] (NOT gmail). Thank you.
TIME: Meet at the site in time for a 9.30am start.
DURATION: Around 3hrs morning, with a similar time in the afternoon if you wish.
COST: £12.00 per person, payable on the day in cash, sorry, no card facilities.
EXCLUSIONS: Please note, no dogs or other pets allowed.
EQUIPMENT: Please bring binoculars and telescope if you have them, although I do carry some spare pairs if you wish to borrow some. Please ask when booking.
LOCATION: What3words///trickster.makeovers.figure OS Map Reference: TA 196738 GPS 54°08’48.01N 0°10’09.79W

FACILITIES: There are toilets situated in the visitor centre.

NOTE: There is a charge for admission to the reserve if you are not an RSPB member. Please bring your membership cards.

Come and see one of the best nature reserves in East Yorkshire, which is free for the day, with many wildlife organisati...
04/06/2026

Come and see one of the best nature reserves in East Yorkshire, which is free for the day, with many wildlife organisations there to answer your questions and to tell you about wildlife in our region. You can find out more about Birds, Bats, Butterflies, Dragonflies, Hedgehogs and much, much more. I shall be there on my PKBirding stand, please come and say hello. See you all there!!

03/06/2026

TOPHILL LOW BIRD LIST, 3rd JUNE 2026
Despite an awful weather forecast, we managed to stay dry with no real rain to speak of throughout the day. Despite the wind doing its’ best to keep everything down there were some good sightings of many species, including five different damselflies. The Ruff on South Marsh was a highlight, as were the Common Terns catching fish. The full list of species is below.

Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Little Egret
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Little Ringed Plover
Lapwing
Ruff
Black-headed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Woodpigeon
Swift
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Reed Warbler
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Jay
Chaffinch
Reed Bunting Total:- 40 species seen.

DAMSELFLIES
Banded Demoiselle
Common Blue Damselfly
Azure Damselfly
Red-eyed Damselfly

BUTTERFLIES
Common Blue
Red Admiral
Painted Lady

BIRDWATCHING at TOPHILL LOW NATURE RESERVE, Wednesday 3rd June 2026.Come and join our friendly group for a superb day ou...
27/05/2026

BIRDWATCHING at TOPHILL LOW NATURE RESERVE, Wednesday 3rd June 2026.
Come and join our friendly group for a superb day out birdwatching at one of the best reserves in East Yorkshire. At this time of year all birds are busy feeding young, which usually affords us good views as they actively search for food. Otters have been seen here too in recent weeks, and we shall also look at butterflies damselflies/dragonflies, now flying in good numbers. Many wildflowers can be seen around the reserve too, and the wild Orchids should be in flower now.
This trip will be a morning and afternoon trip taking in two separate loops, covering the two reservoirs, marshes, woodland, wet grassland and wader scrapes. Please bring a packed lunch and refreshments as there are no catering facilities at the reserve. There are picnic tables in the car park which we can use between the two loops. There are toilets situated at the car park. Of course, if you only wish to do a half day, you are welcome to leave at lunch time after the first loop. Alternatively you can join us just for the afternoon session at around 1.00pm.
If you wish to book or if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me either by PM on facebook, or email at [email protected] (NOT gmail). Thank you.
VENUE: Tophill Low Nature Reserve
DATE: Wednesday 3rd June 2026.
TIME: Meet at the site in time for a 9.30am start.
DURATION: Around 3hrs morning, with a similar time in the afternoon.
COST: £12.00 per person, for a half or full day, payable on the day in cash. There is also an admission charge to the reserve of £4.00/person or £3.00/person concessions, members have free admission.
EXCLUSIONS: Please note, no dogs or other pets allowed.
LOCATION: What3words///pokes.kennels.examine OS Map Reference: TA 073485 GPS 53°55’20.80N 0°22’01.87W

FACILITIES: There are NO refreshments available on the reserve, you will need to bring your own food and drink.

BIRDWATCHING at POTTERIC CARR NATURE RESERVE, WEDNESDAY 20th MAY 2026. *** NOTE CHANGE OF DATE ...
09/05/2026

BIRDWATCHING at POTTERIC CARR NATURE RESERVE, WEDNESDAY 20th MAY 2026.
*** NOTE CHANGE OF DATE ***
Come and join our friendly group on a birdwatching day with expert guidance on bird identification. Potteric Carr is the flagship reserve of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is the home to breeding Bittern, Marsh Harrier and Avocets, to name just a few. The reserve is a wildlife oasis, a remnant of the fenlands which once covered the Humber basin all the way to the coast. Over 230 bird species have been recorded here, as well as 23 species of dragonfly and damselfly and many species of butterfly. It is possible to see up to 9 species of warbler here and Bearded T**s have also been seen this month.
This trip will be an all-day one giving us a chance to explore much of this superb and varied reserve. Please bring a packed lunch and there is a café in the visitor centre which serves hot drinks and snacks. There are toilets in the visitor centre at the reserve. Of course, if you only wish to do a half day, you are welcome to leave at lunch time after the first loop.
If you would like to book places or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me either by PM on facebook, or email at [email protected] (NOT gmail). Thank you.
TIME: Meet at the site in time for a 9.30am start.
COST: £12.00 per person, for a half or full day, payable on the day in cash, sorry, no card facilities. There is an admission charge to the reserve of £6.00/person, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust members are free on production of their membership card.
EXCLUSIONS: Please note, no dogs or other pets allowed.
EQUIPMENT: Please bring binoculars if you have them. I do carry spare pairs if you wish to borrow some. Please ask when booking.
LOCATION: What3words///beaters.scooters.error OS Map Reference: SE 588006

Some photos of the wildlife, including some birds, at Spurn Point today!Hope you like them.
07/05/2026

Some photos of the wildlife, including some birds, at Spurn Point today!
Hope you like them.

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Molescroft
Beverley
HU177QF

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