David Phillips

David’s enthusiasm for nature began at an early age. During family camping holidays in the New Forest in Hampshire he would enjoy looking for newts and snakes and watching birds and deer.  David has also been interested in astronomy since childhood. As a student he took astronomy courses as part of his degree and became chairman of the university's Astronomical Society. For the past 18 years he has worked in the travel industry and, during that time, he has organised and led many natural history and astronomically themed tours. He has seen ten solar eclipses across six continents and spent many nights viewing the spectacular Northern Lights from northern Iceland, one of his favourite places.

David is interested in many aspects of the natural world from studying the stars and planets above to watching birds, butterflies and mammals and down to the flora and the geology beneath his feet.

Back in the UK David carries out butterfly surveys for Butterfly Conservation and is also involved in a project spearheaded by the RSPB that involves working with local farmers to provide supplementary seed to support a population of breeding Turtle Doves. In the spring he spends many mornings in the field monitoring the birds.