Bird Club Speakers

Wirral Bird Club - Speakers

Gordon Yates
Gordon has a life long interest in birds, starting when he was 4 years old, and joined the RSPB when he was 9. Now a full time photographer, he has made 30 one hour films in 30 years: and has filmed in lapland, Iceland, Greenland and Spitzbergen. A specialist in cine film, a rare interest these days, he is renowned in the birding world for his images of rare birds, which exist in wild locations. Visit www.gordon-yates.com for more information

KeithOfford
Keith established a passion for birds at an early age, and a childhood of birdwatching led to a particular interest in birds of prey. He studied bird of prey hunting behaviour at university as part of his Zoology degree. Although primarily a field ornithologist, he is also a keen photographer and has a wealth of slides to illustrate his talks. Each title is a careful blend of science, anecdote and humour and will appeal to both novices and experts alike. See www.keithofford.co.uk

Michael Leach
Michael has been a full-time wildlife photographer and author since 1977 and is now one of Europe's top professionals. He has travelled extensively in search of subjects, visiting some of the wildest and most remote areas on Earth. For more information visit www.michael-leach.co.uk

George Challinor
"Life through the Lens" is the tale of a local amateur and his story as he rises through the ranks to reach the final in the critically acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the year. Filled with facts and fun George explores the amazing world of Birds and Photography .A home grown talent inspired by the talks from the likes of Michael Leach and Gordon Yates at the Wirral Bird Club, George now tries his hand at the talking.

Mike Roberts
Mike currently works as the Trees & Woodlands Officer with St. Helen's Council but has also been a Ranger working with communities in Halton and Warrington to improve their local environment. He went trekking in Nepal in the eighties and has since visited Canada, Peru, Costa Rica, India and Uganda to photograph wildlife. His talk will look at the wildlife, primarily birds, of the Spanish Steppe in Extramadura and the hills and mountains of Monfrague and the Sierra de Gredos.

Mike McKavett
A local speaker from Southport. His talk is the story in pictures of his quest to photograph 10 species of birds with an almost exclusively eastern Mediterranean distribution. The talk takes us to the enchanting Greek island of Lesvos and the Taurus mountains of southern Turkey

Alan Heath
Alan has been giving talks for 5 years. He was the excursion co-ordinator for the Shropshire Ornithology Society for 8 1/2 years and holds a licence to ring birds.

Prof. David Norman
David has recently written the 'Bird Atlas Book' now for sale, The talk is related to his latesr book about changes in bird population and bird behaviour

David Tolliday
The wildlife and sights of Shetland, starting on Fair Isle and finishing with a view of Out Stack.

Paul Rowlands
Paul is a member of the club and a local speaker from Wallasey. His talk will be an informative and humorous presentation on everything to do with birds. An identification quiz (pictures and sound), stories, jokes and songs are all planned. 'Expect the Unexpected'

Steve and Carol Davidson
Steve and Carol have spent many years working with the raptor rescue organisation in Warrington. In their joint presentation they will explain the origins and work of Raptor Rescue, which is a charitable organization dedicaated to ensuring that all sick and injured birds of prey are properly cared for. The ultimate objective is to return these birds to their natual place in the wild.

Valerie McFarland
Valerie has led bird watching tours worldwide. She served on the Council of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and maintains a deep interest and concern in conservation. She is also the author of the 'RSPB Guide to Birdwatching on Anglesey and Lleyn'.