Home: - Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham, England Date of Birth: 20th July 1962. Phil has been interested in wildlife since birth, especially birds. He soon became a leading light in his county, breaking year list and county life-list records. Although he is one of the leading listers in the UK, listing is not his passion; it is seeing something new, different, or better than before, that keeps him striving to make new discoveries. Voluntary environmental positions held: A lifelong interest in Natural History has led to Phil occupying the posts of Chairman of the Idle Valley Society (a Nottinghamshire environmental group) and Chairman of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts Sites (Reserves) Committee. This latter position makes him accountable for the management of over 64 reserves owned by the Trust as well as evaluating future acquisitions. He also sits on the Council of the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, regularly advises on environmental matters, undertaking negotiations with Landowners, Environmental Agencies, Mineral Planning Authorities, etc. Phil is also a member of the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers Rarities Committee. Publications: In August 2000 Phil's first book was published detailing the first accounts of every bird species recorded in Britain since 1600. A project that took five years of research. It was the best-selling publication at the 2000 British Birdwatching Fair. He is proud to have written the Biodiversity Action Plan for the Nightjar and he has been involved with the publication of several articles, notes, artwork and photographs in: British Birds, Birding World, Birdwatch, UK400, The Nottinghamshire Bird Report, Cage & Aviary Birds, The Nottinghamshire Naturalist, Birdwatching, The Idler, the Birds of Spurn, Isles of Scilly Bird Report, Skuas - an identification guide, the local press, etc. Census work and natural history associated experience: Phil regularly undertakes consultation and survey work including a twelve-year Nightjar and a project surveying rain forest habitat in Indonesia. He has also been called as an expert witness in two successful court cases brought by the RSPB. Working part time for Birdguides' BAFTA winning website, Phil helps run their Rare Bird alert, and also works as a tour leader for Bird Holidays, a very successful UK based tour company. Photography: Phil's work has appeared in many magazines and he undertakes a lecture tour annually to some 30+ Natural History clubs and societies within the UK. He has a broad knowledge of general Natural History with published photographs of non-bird related subjects. He was responsible for discovering an orchid considered extinct in Nottinghamshire for at least 80 years. Other Qualifications: First Aid and a clean driving licence. Philip conducts EarthFoot's "Birding & Photography Trips" program