Biography - Steve West

Steve West

Steve West, hailing from Hampshire, has been living in northeast Spain (Lleida, Catalunya) since 1988 and has birded the region intensilively and extensively since then. Apart from his own book, Where the Birds are in Northeast Spain, based largely on his own experiences of the region, he has also made significant contributions to other bird-related publications such as the Catalan Bird Report (of which he is an area recorder), the Catalan Breeding Bird Atlas and other books of more local interest, in particular the "Ocells de la plana de Lleida", awaiting publication.

He has been leading birding tours since 1997, and as such has worked with British, American, Canadian, Dutch and Swiss tour leaders or operators. He has also personally organized birding tours to the Canary Islands, the North Norfolk Coast and Scotland.

On a more personal level his passion for birding has led him to discover a good number of local, regional, and Spanish rarities including Siberian Stonechat, White-rumped Sandpiper, Long-legged Buzzard, Pacific Golden Plover, Black-throated Thrush, etc. Along with a variety of near misses!

When not involved in planning trips most of his time is taken up either by bird census work (Catalan Common Bird Census), bird-related lectures and courses (raptor, finch and protected species identification, introduction to birdwatching) or translation work.

He is fluent both in Catalan and Spainsh.

If you are looking for a local guide/ground agent for a birding tour, or if you wish to purchase a copy of his book Where the Birds are in Northeast Spain then contact: steve@birdinginspain.com