A beginner's guide to birdwatching in the Yorkshire Dales
Are you interested in birdwatching? The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a great location. Learn more about the species you can spot.
Looking out of a car window on the B6265 between Pateley Bridge and Grassington, you're treated to some splendid sights. But you might not realise that you're driving over some extraordinary caves.
Yes, deep below the Yorkshire Dales National Park lies Stump Cross Caverns – an enchanting network of chambers and passageways, brimful of stalagmites, stalactites and other gorgeous limestone formations.
But there's another hidden treasure in the Yorkshire Dales – and that's the region's rich population of birds.
The area's limestone pavements, cascading waterfalls, drystone walls, nestled villages and dramatic scars are home to a whopping 468 species of birds (that we know of).
Visitors to Stump Cross Caverns get a ringside view of this natural beauty – whether ambling around the grounds or unwinding in our Time Cafe.
It's a great spot for birders, so why not include a trip to the caverns in your ornithological itinerary?
The birds of the Yorkshire Dales
It would be quicker to say what birds you can't see in the Yorkshire Dales.
You won't see a dodo and phoenixes are in short supply. But with a decent pair of binoculars and a favouring wind, you can feast your eyes on a rich array of species – from wildfowl to waders, from hedgerow-hoppers to birds of prey.
One of the many pleasures of birdwatching is looking for specific birds in their habitats. It's an unmatchable way of connecting with a landscape. When you're scanning the horizon for a goshawk or nightjar, you're really looking.
A book like
Birdwatching Walks in the Yorkshire Dales is a great example of this. It provides 30 walks of different lengths, from a 2K amble to a 19K trek.
You could head to Grimwith Reservoir in search of a short-eared owl, or take a trip to Wharfe Valley to see a low-flying red kite.
On the fell tops, you might see golden plovers and red grouse. Skylarks and ring ouzel on the moorland fringes. Waders and wagtails in the meadows. Merlins soaring over the heather.
Why choose birdwatching?
Birdwatching can be as simple as looking at the birds in your garden – or as involved as the 22 birders who've logged over 9,000 species in their "life lists".
It's a great way to get out in the fresh air, explore a landscape and get mindful. And while you might think it's the preserve of old white men, it's a surprisingly diverse demographic – especially since the pandemic, which saw an influx of new birders.
Above all, it's about seeing. Birding can be a calm, meditative experience – but you need to have your wits about you.
As Essex-born nature writer J.A. Baker put it: "Binoculars, and a hawk-like vigilance, reduce the disadvantage of myopic human vision." Perusing the landscape takes concentration – it's like giving your windscreen a good wipe.
Concentration – and also patience. It's a bit like charity shopping. Sometimes you turn up a gem, other times you come home empty-handed.
Unlike, say, trainspotting, there's no guarantee that you'll see what you're looking for. But when you do, it can be deeply satisfying – and exciting.
"Sometimes," writes memoirist Lynn Thomson, "I think that the point of birdwatching is not the actual seeing of the birds, but the cultivation of patience… Even if we don't see anything remarkable – and sometimes that happens – we come home filled with light anyway."
How do you get started?
'"I had forgotten you were a bird-watcher till you reminded me just now… What’s the procedure?" I went on. "I suppose you lurk in a bush till a bird comes along, and then you out with the glasses and watch it."'
P.G. Wodehouse,
Aunts Aren't Gentlemen
(1974)
Since P.G. Wodehouse wrote that in 1974, there's been one big advance in birdwatching: apps.
Traditionally, you would take a field guide with you – one that's specific to your location, of course. (You're not going to find a penguin in Wensleydale.)
They're great resources – and often beautifully presented. But apps are only as big as your phone, and they have useful features. Some, for example, allow you to record a snatch of birdsong and find out what you're listening to.
It's not an either/or. Many birders draw on apps and books to help them spot and identify birds.
In theory, you don't need anything to be a birder apart from your eyes. "I honestly think," says Meghadeepa Maity from the Feminist Bird Club, "that if somebody wants to start birding, there are birds everywhere – and you just need to go outside or look out your window."
That said, binoculars can improve the overall experience. An entry-level pair of binoculars – or "bins" as they're sometimes called – can be bought for as little as £30. But the more seriously you take it, the more you'll want to spend.
If you can't stretch to buying a pair, or just want to have a go without investing in gear, you might be able to borrow a pair from a local group.
When birding in the Yorkshire Dales, you need to dress for the occasion. That means a sturdy pair of walking boots. Trainers or sandals won't cut it.
If you're out on the moors in hot weather, remember to slip-slop-slap – and take a waterproof just in case. You want to aim for comfortable layers so that you can quickly adjust to changes in temperature.
The Dales isn't a hotspot for ticks – but it's not inconceivable that you'll pick one up when out and about.
They tend to lurk in long grass, bracken and heather. So, if you do go off the beaten track, make sure to cover any exposed skin and use insect repellent.
Whether you're new to birding or a seasoned pro, why not join us here in the Yorkshire Dales? You'll be amazed at what you can find.
And while you're here, make sure to visit our incredible underground
caves near Pateley Bridge. There's nothing like a spot of adventure to warm you up after a long day's birding…
