Nearly 60 Bird Species Spotted During Dales Moorland Safaris

Nearly 60 bird species were recorded during a series of wildlife safaris across the Yorkshire Dales, giving visitors a rare opportunity to explore managed moorland and observe upland birds in their natural habitat.

Around 60 people took part in the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group’s first bird safaris of 2026, which were held across three managed moors in Wensleydale and Swaledale.

The two-day event offered members of the public the chance to learn more about moorland management and its role in supporting wildlife, while enjoying close-up views of some of the Dales’ most iconic bird species.

Gamekeepers and volunteers provided transport across the moors in 4×4 vehicles and shared their knowledge of the landscape and its wildlife.

Among the highlights were sightings of merlins, golden plovers and grouse, while several rarer species were also recorded over the weekend.

Darren Chadwick, coordinator of the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, said: “It was nothing short of a resounding success.

“Getting the public out onto our moors, sharing the wildlife and having face to face conversations is undoubtedly the best way of proving that managed estates are delivering outstanding results for nature.

“The messages of gratitude from our safari goers are testimony to the hard work of our teams, and we are grateful to everyone for their involvement.”

Money raised through the safaris will be donated to charity and local conservation projects, with beneficiaries to be chosen once this year’s programme has concluded.

Previous recipients have included Swaledale Mountain Rescue, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Mind and Cancer Research UK.

Two further bird safaris are scheduled for June 6 and June 13, with both events already fully booked.

This article originally appeared on the Richmondshire Today.