Fraser Bell

Fraser Bell’s love for birds and their conservation has taken him across five continents, where he has engaged in ornithological work ranging from banding (ringing) birds in the Peruvian Amazon, surveying for birds throughout Thailand, researching migratory species in Swedish woodlands, and teaching field courses in the Cypriot Mediterranean.

While he is a recent addition to Birding Ecotours, Fraser has been leading tours since 2016, with his most recent trips venturing into the Caribbean. His passion for bird guiding began during his undergraduate degree at university in Cornwall, where he enjoyed leading field trips and educating his peers about birds. Fraser loves birding in a group and relishes the satisfaction of helping someone see one of their target birds. Fraser's friendly and enthusiastic approach, coupled with his hardworking nature, has been highly valued by those he guides. He has recently joined us to lead tours in Europe, Jamaica, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia and elsewhere. He also plans to guide some Cornwall birding day trips for us.

Fraser has a particular fondness for migratory songbirds, and recently gained his PhD studying their conservation. This research has taken him to both English woodlands, where they breed, and West Africa (Liberia), where they spend their winters. While surveying for migrants across Liberia, he enjoyed getting to know West Africa’s birds, and was fortunate to find many of the region’s rare specials. Fraser is based in the southwest of the United Kingdom (UK), where his passion for migratory birds is fueled every spring and autumn when the region becomes a hotspot for vagrants from Europe, North America, and Asia.

Fraser also works within the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ center for Conservation Science, where he conducts research on key areas for birds across the Europe-African migratory bird flyway, and the avian influenza pandemic, which is adversely affecting waterbirds globally.

We are very excited to have Fraser join our team and we are sure his knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills are going to enhance your trip with him.