Wildlife Walks

Wildlife Walks in Nature

Location:  Mainly around the LS29 area
Distance: Usually Easy & up to 3 miles max
Skill Level: All abilities
Duration: 2-3 hours & 6-8 hours
Group Size: 3-6 Max
Cost: £35 - £70

Wildlife-watching walks in nature. Enjoy the thrill of wildlife encounters while learning new fieldcraft skills that will enhance your future nature-watching adventures. 
Led by trained enthusiast and award-winning photographer Rich Bunce. Learn key fieldcraft skills in a small friendly group of like-minded people. 

2024 Dates 

Wednesday 24th July, 6.30pm - 9.45pm - Owl Talk & Walk (£35) 

Sunday 11th Aug, 6am - 8.30am Otter Trekking (condensed)  (£35) 

Wednesday 14th Aug, 3pm - 9pm - Otter Trekking Day (£70) 

Wednesday 21st Aug, 8.30am - 11.30am - Kingfisher Talk & Walk (£35) 

Friday 13th Sep, 10am - 1pm - Kingfisher Talk & Walk (£35) 

Monday 9th Sep, 6pm - 8.30pm Otter Trekking (condensed)  (£35) 

Wednesday 13th Nov, 1pm - 4.30pm - Owl Talk & Walk (£35) 

Friday 15th Nov, 7.30am - 1.30pm - Otter Trekking Day (£70) 

Friday 13th Dec, 1pm - 4pm - Surprise Wildlife Walk

Walks with Nature are about sinking into an environment with or without a camera and exploring nature at its best.

Each event is delivered in small groups, carefully designed to share fieldcraft tips and techniques for responsibly and ethically enjoying wildlife behaving naturally in its natural environment. 

Can't make the dates?
Private tours and guiding days are available, and costs are flat rate so you can bring friends/family at no additional cost. Private bookings get more and more popular as the year progresses so please get in touch well in advance with any booking enquiries.

This series of nature walks are about exploring habitats in a sensitive and responsible way. Observing natural wonders with little to no impact on their environment. Learning ethical fieldcraft that allows you to experience wildlife at its most spectacular... Natural and undisturbed.

While cameras are more than welcome and there will be opportunities to discuss photography, the photography component is not a key part of the walk. 

Please remember that wildlife is unpredictable and there can be no guarantees on what species we'll see on any nature walk. However, you are guaranteed a relaxing, informative and inspiring time with like-minded people enjoying nature. 

In Search of Owls

Location: 95 Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire LS29 7BU

Duration: 3 hours approx

Seeing an owl is always magical and seeing them in their own environment behaving naturally is unbeatable.

The event begins with a talk introducing Yorkshire's native breeding owls with first-hand accounts, key facts and fieldcraft tips. 

Followed by a specially designed walk, exploring the habitats of at least three of our owl species (Barn Owl, Little Owl & Tawny Owl) and in the right conditions, a fair chance of seeing them! 

• Learn responsible and ethical in-the-field techniques of spotting wild owls and their habitats 
• Experience a range of inspiring environments offering a diverse range of wildlife including Curlew, Lapwing, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, Red Kite, Buzzard, Little Owl, Tawny & Barn Owl.
• Nature Notes: Fact sheet handout full of info on UK owls, their habitats and the best way to find and observe them (emailed as a download after the event)
• Maximum of 4 participants

In Search of Otter

Location: Ilkley and surrounding area, West Yorkshire

Duration: 2-3 hours (1-2 miles) & 6-7 hours (3-4 miles)

For many (me included) otters are the pinnacle of any waterside wild encounter. Just a glimpse can have you walking on air for weeks!

Spotting otters isn't always easy and luck can play a big part. However, there are ways and techniques that will improve your chances tenfold.

I've been enjoying watching our local otters and piecing together their story for over 5 years now. And what I've learned has even helped me spot otters in new, unfamiliar locations.

This walk & talk will share some of my top-tips and secrets for wild otter encounters. Of course I'll be pointing out all the other exciting wildlife we'll doubt experience. 

• Improve your understanding of the riverside habitat with expert guidance
• Experience the diverse wildlife of the riverside. Sightings could include Kingfisher, Dipper, Heron, Goosander, oystercatcher, common sandpiper, and with some luck, otters! 
• Nature Notes: Fact sheet handout full of info on otter, their habitats & the best way to find and observe them (emailed as a download after the event)
• Maximum of 4 participants

Otter Trekking Walk (Day)

Exploring several territories we'll increase our chances of seeing these enigmatic creatures. The walks are divided with a break at the studio for a tea-break and a slideshow talk, before heading out again for further encounters. 

Otter Trekking Walk (Short)

For the shortened otter walk we'll head straight to a territory that offers the best chances for spotting otters at that time. We'll explore spotting techniques in the field and look at the signs of the otters presence in that location. 

In search of Kingfisher

Location: Local to the LS29 area

Duration: 2-3 hours 

Whether it’s a flash of orange and blue whizzing past, or a kingfisher presenting a fish to a potential mate, experiencing a Kingfisher in its natural habitat is always exhilarating!

I've been enjoying watching our local kingfishers for over 10 years now, and I still get that same buzz with every encounter. 

This carefully considered talk and walk shares top tips and secrets for enjoying wild kingfisher encounters. Sharing behaviour and habitat knowledge you'll be able to build up your fieldcraft skills to ensure lots more spectacular kingfisher encounters in the future. 

• Improve your chances of seeing and experiencing a Kingfisher under expert guidance, so you can responsibly watch them in their natural habitat on future, self-led walks 
• Experience the diverse wildlife of the riverside including Kingfisher, Dipper, Heron, Goosander, oystercatcher, common sandpiper and (very) occasionally otters! 
• Nature Notes: Fact sheet handout full of info about Kingfishers their habitats and the best way to find and observe them (emailed as a download after the event)
• Maximum of 4 participants

Surprise Special

From Waxwings to hoopoes and everything in between, there aren't many weeks where something special doesn't turn up within a short drive. This event offers an exciting opportunity to head out looking for the not so common and most exciting wildlife opportunity based on up-to-the-minute intel through a variety of local sources and networks. 

The River & Moor Tour

Location: Ilkley

Duration: 8 hours (4-6 miles) approx

Spend a special day exploring a variety of habitats at one of the best times for witnessing the spectacular British wildlife. River & Moors tour takes in some of the most diverse and rich habitats you can experience, and on a good day can offer some truly magical experiences.

As always, we'll focus on responsible and positive ways to watch and experience nature. Sharing in-the-field techniques that will help you to continue enjoyable and ethical wildlife encounters in the future.  

Using up-to-date knowledge while leaning on over 10 years local experience we'll head over to the current hot spots for great wildlife encounters. 

On the river we'll be looking out for star species like kingfisher, common sandpiper, goosander and dippers, all of which will be pretty active with the breeding season well underway. The spectacles don't stop there with colonies of sand martins, swifts, swallows and raptors like red kites flying over head while herons, egrets and otters make the most of the peak riverside activity. 

On the moor we should be treated to an abundance of activity as ground-nesting birds return for another dramatic season. Curlews and Golden plover with their  disorientating calls, lapwings performing death-defying aerial displays and snipe exhibiting that utterly unique "drumming" behaviour. Like the rivers, increased activity over the moorland vistas also attracts predators, red kites, owls, weasels, stoats and kestrels and more ensure plenty of drama!      

Possible moorland sightings: Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Stonechat, Snipe and Cuckoo, Curlew, Red Grouse, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, Oyster Catcher, Red Kite, Kestrel, Merlin, Short Eared Owl, Barn Owl, little owl Brown Hare & much, much more!