John Horton

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John Horton

John Horton is the warden of Europe’s best known bird observatories at Cape Clear Island in The Republic of Ireland. Prior to becoming a warden and member of the Bird Observatories Council of Britain & Ireland (BOC) he was a wildlife crime investigator for the Metropolitan police for 15yrs. Discovering Alderney Island and making it his home, he was instrumental in setting up the first bird observatory in the British Channel Islands, his endeavours featured on BBC Countryfile in the spring of 2016. Whilst birdwatching is John's forte, he is a proficient all-rounder, over nine years he added over 100 species of flora of fauna not previously recorded on the various Bailiwick Islands. He maintains close links with The Channel Islands as the Chairman of the Channel Islands Bird Ringing Scheme. He represented the British bird observatories delivering presentations at the 2019 International bird observatories council AGM in Israel, and at the 2025 Global Bird fair. He spent the winter of 2025/26 in South Africa where he compiled the framework and protocols for the launch of South Africa’s first ever bird observatory. He is sponsored by Zeiss optics. John has a world birding list of over 5000 species and his globetrotting working with and seeking wildlife has included several months exploring the wildlife of several Asian countries. John's most memorable wildlife moments are sitting amongst a family of Mountain Gorillas in the African Congo and the world’s first ringing of a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in Southwest India on Valentines Day in 1989. He loves leading our tours and derives great pleasure in sharing his experience and knowledge, playing his part in monitoring and protecting the natural world.

Upcoming tours with John Horton...

Date
Tour
Availability
Sharing
Price
  • 08 Jan - 24 Jan 2027
    Birding the Philippines
    Availability: Yes

    £6995

  • 05 May - 11 May 2026
    Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way - 'the road to Tory Island'
    Availability: Full

    £1895