Alex Rhodes

Alex joined the Heatherlea team in 2019 and brings with him some sharp eyes and ears. Originally from the Southwest, he completed a BSc in Zoology at the University of Bristol. He was a licenced ringer for a period of 5 years; during which time he frequented Fair Isle Bird Observatory as a volunteer (once during a seabird-monitoring summer, and again in exciting autumn migration), volunteered at a conservation research station in the Peruvian Amazon and worked briefly at Falsterbo fågelstation in Sweden.

He has been passionate about the accessibility of birding, becoming involved in promoting birdwatching to the younger generation in conjunction with the BTO during an internship. His work has, in part, led to the availability of grants and financial assistance for youngsters to stay at accredited Bird Observatories and purchase ringing equipment. He has also spoken widely to various audiences, BBC Springwatch and on Radio 4 about these topics.

When not birding himself, he works as a qualified Mountaineering Instructor across the Highlands, North Wales and the Peak District. The Isle of Skye, especially the Black Cuillin, has a real magnetism for Alex…not least because of some memorable eagle encounters up on the ridge!

He says, “if I ever make it ‘big-time’ and get invited to interview on Desert Island Discs, I’d be asking for a moorland soundscape complete with bubbling Curlew, forlorn Golden Plover and mournful Diver calls as one of my tracks. Those haunting sounds are so evocative and remind me of the wild, remote spaces we have.”