Talks
Mike regularly gives presentations to various natural history and bird groups in the south west.
Fees for an evening talk are:
£80 in Devon plus fuel expenses
£90 Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset plus fuel expenses
Further afield please contact Mike
A list of his talks include:
Make a note of it/What’s that Bird?
An interactive evening that will help to improve your birding and observational skills. A fun and entertaining evening, but not a personal test!
Better Birding
A follow up to the previous talk looking at different aspects of birding skills (but does relate to all wildlife), counting birds, calls and song also tricky pairs.
Clennon Lakes
A ramble through the site’s history, its wildlife and the trials and tribulations of keeping a local public site thriving for wildlife.
The Yucatan, Humming Birds to Whale Sharks
Following eight holidays on this fascinating peninsula Mike will guide you through the best natural history, birding sites and Mayan ruins.
Berry Head, 40 of 400 million years a birding brief encounter
Having watched the headland since a YOC member aged 11, Mike takes you through a brief history of the site the fauna and flora and some of the sea and land birds to be found there.
A life time illustrating birds, and the history of field guide illustration
As a professional illustrator for 35 years, Mike explains the process by which a field guide is born and eventually published. The history of bird illustration and particularly field guide illustration is studied.
Upcoming Talks
Wednesday 18th January 2023 Plymouth RSPB 19.30hrs start
Wildlife of Lyme Bay
Lyme Bay might not have the deep water or continental shelf edge pelagic species but it can offer some very exciting wildlife watching from land and boat. For the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater the bay is of international importance. Mike will talk through the species, identification pointers plus times of year and weather to make the most of any time in the field.
Plymouth RSPB Group (Google map)
Event details »
Friday 20th January 2023 South Somerset RSPB 19.30hrs start
Wildlife of Lyme Bay
Lyme Bay might not have the deep water or continental shelf edge pelagic species but it can offer some very exciting wildlife watching from land and boat. For the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater the bay is of international importance. Mike will talk through the species, identification pointers plus times of year and weather to make the most of any time in the field.
South Somerset RSPB Group (Google map)
Event details »
Tuesday 14th February 2023 Exeter RSPB 19.30hrs start
Wildlife of Lyme Bay
Lyme Bay might not have the deep water or continental shelf edge pelagic species but it can offer some very exciting wildlife watching from land and boat. For the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater the bay is of international importance. Mike will talk through the species, identification pointers plus times of year and weather to make the most of any time in the field.
Exeter RSPB Group (Google map)
Event details »
Monday 20th March 2023 South Devon Devon Birds Group 19.30hrs start
50 years of Change in Devon Birdlife
A look at the changing status and our understanding of some of the birds recorded in Devon over the last 5 decades. From Egrets to Crests to Sparrows and Buntings, even Shelduck and Guillemot plus many more.
Devon Birds South Devon branch (Google map)
Event details »