John McLoughlin BSc Hons

Birding/Wildlife Guide

Qualifications: BSc Hons Ecology

Personal Profile:

John, better known as "Johnny Mac", is an experienced bird and wildlife tour leader. Born in Doncaster, he has had a life-long love of nature.  He was inspired early in life whilst witnessing a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes and watching the RSPB film "The Kites are Flying".  Whilst still at school he volunteered at the local Potteric Carr YWT reserve. 

An early achievement was gaining an honours degree in Ecology at Leeds University. This led to a series of contracts with the RSPB, the NCC and Birdlife International. These projects included studies of Dippers in mid Wales, Merlins on the North York Moors and even Gurneys Pitta in peninsular Thailand. You may already know him as the voice of Birdline North East, the birders' telephone information service. In addition, he managed the In Focus optics store at Denby Dale in West Yorkshire. He is currently a principal tour leader with Bird Holidays Worldwide based in Yeadon, Leeds.

Johnny's great passion is his love of birds and wild places. Ask him, “What makes a good guide?” and he will answer “Someone who shares with the group the excitement of a new sighting or discovery”.  

A specialist in Upland birds and their habitats, John has long been involved with species such as the Merlin, Hen Harrier and Black Grouse. He now wishes to share this knowledge with the Yorkshire Coast Nature community.

He is also a father with three sons and they have all had the good fortune to join him on his many adventures. Johnny has endured a long and sometimes painful love affair with Leeds United. As a teenager he followed many punk bands and became a face on the Two Tone tour poster of the late seventies.