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My Favourite Yorkshire Birding Day 2025 - Richard Baines
Sat 13th Dec, 2025
Spring in an ancient Oak woodland just after dawn when the first rays of sunshine catch the vibrant colours of English Bluebells is hard to beat. When I was thinking about which day was my best of the year, the sounds of Pied Flycatchers and Common Redstarts immediately sprang to mind.
Spring in an ancient woodland - North Yorkshire © Richard Baines
On the 1st May 2025 I carried out a reconnaissance trip for my spring Firetail Safaris in and around Hawnby on the western side of the North York Moors National Park. I was a little nervous because due to busy work commitments I had left it a little later than I would have liked. My first event was only two days later!
Rising early, I made sure I was deep in the woods at daybreak. The first sound I heard was a Common Cuckoo followed closely by Green Woodpecker and then a Mistle Thrush. These wonderfully loud songs echoed around the narrow glacial valley, increasing the volume and impact. The atmosphere and tranquillity of the place was magic.
Pied Flycatcher - North Yorkshire © Richard Baines
It didn’t take long before I heard my first Pied Flycatcher singing. A few minutes later what I thought was a Tree Pipit sang loudly close by. A few song lines later I realised it was a male Redstart mimicking a Tree Pipit. This was a great result. I was listening to one of my favourite birds and at the same time marvelling at yet another case of acoustic gymnastics from one of Europe’s best mimics.
A short walk into the woods and I was surrounded by sound Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Nuthatches, Eurasian Treecreepers, Marsh Tits, Eurasian Siskin and Red Kite calling overhead and to top it all a Eurasian Curlew singing over the trees, it was brilliant!
Common Redstarts (male) - North Yorkshire © Richard Baines
Life was bursting forth all around me. My thrill was probably increased by a feeling of relief that my reccy trip was going well. Phew!
At times like these I like to stop and sit amongst the sounds and colours and drink in the experience. There is so much more to hear when we take time to stop moving and really listen. Sitting on the ground also changes our body shape which encourages wildlife to move closer. Within a few minutes a male Redstart appeared at the top of a nearby tree singing its heart out. I slowly picked up my camera but even my slight movement was enough to spook it. I decided to not think about photography anymore and get back to enjoying the atmosphere.
Tearing myself away from the woods I walked down the valley and found an area with good numbers of Lapwing, Curlew and Common Snipe. Three Snipe were drumming, chasing each other directly above my head.
Nearby three Northern Wheatears were feeding on invertebrates around mole hills. They were almost certainly on migration, probably heading to Iceland with lots of refuelling stops on the way. In Bracken close by were European Stonechats and Dunnocks defending new breeding territories with their distinctive songs.
Time moves really fast when I am immersed in birding. It was suddenly early afternoon and time to move on. I was looking forward to sharing these amazing places with my first Firetail Safari guests in a couple of days.
Dippers (adult & juvenile) - North Yorkshire © Richard Baines
The whole season of Firetail trips were a huge success. As the spring changed to early summer the sights and sounds changed, no two days were the same. In mid-May the first Spotted Flycatchers arrived and I found two White-throated Dipper families on the river which was real treat. In early June the first Redstart chicks popped out of the nest giving us a lesson in how the adults keep their young safe out of the nest using a variety of strategies including changes in their calls. A really rich learning experience for both me and my guests.
If you would like to join one of our Firetail Safaris 2026 CLICK HERE
Director & Wildlife Guide