Fraser Bell
Tour Leader
Fraser Bell’s love for birds and their conservation has taken him across five continents, where he has engaged in ornithological work ranging from banding (ringing) birds in the Peruvian Amazon, surveying for birds throughout Thailand, researching migratory species in Swedish woodlands, and teaching field courses in the Cypriot Mediterranean.
While he is a recent addition to Birding Ecotours, Fraser has been leading tours since 2016, with his most recent trips venturing into the Caribbean. His passion for bird guiding began during his undergraduate degree at university in Cornwall, where he enjoyed leading field trips and educating his peers about birds. Fraser loves birding in a group and relishes the satisfaction of helping someone see one of their target birds. Fraser's friendly and enthusiastic approach, coupled with his hardworking nature, has been highly valued by those he guides. He has recently joined us to lead tours in Europe, Jamaica, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia and elsewhere. He also plans to guide some Cornwall birding day trips for us.
Fraser has a particular fondness for migratory songbirds, and recently gained his PhD studying their conservation. This research has taken him to both English woodlands, where they breed, and West Africa (Liberia), where they spend their winters. While surveying for migrants across Liberia, he enjoyed getting to know West Africa’s birds, and was fortunate to find many of the region’s rare specials. Fraser is based in the southwest of the United Kingdom (UK), where his passion for migratory birds is fueled every spring and autumn when the region becomes a hotspot for vagrants from Europe, North America, and Asia.
Fraser also works within the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ center for Conservation Science, where he conducts research on key areas for birds across the Europe-African migratory bird flyway, and the avian influenza pandemic, which is adversely affecting waterbirds globally.
We are very excited to have Fraser join our team and we are sure his knowledge, enthusiasm, and skills are going to enhance your trip with him.
Join Fraser Bell on the following upcoming tours:
Read Fraser Bell’s feedback from clients:
Fraser Bell is extremely personable and goes the extra mile to make sure each person gets a look at each bird, and not just a look but a really good look, even if we have to try multiple times. He was always available both early and late for any issues and always willing to look for nocturnal and early morning activity. I would welcome the opportunity to travel with him again.
Sheryl - On Fraser
We really enjoyed this tour, and it is one of our favorite tours to date. Fraiser Bell was an excellent guide as was the local guide Lester on Trinidad. Both Asa Wright center locations on Trinidad were perfect for us, and we give it 5 stars out of 5. The accommodations, food, and guiding staff were top notch. We highly recommend this place for your future tour guests.
Tim - On Fraser and Trinidad and Tobago
This was a very enjoyable trip, and Fraser was one of my favorite guides ever! Not only is Fraser an excellent birder but he has the perfect personality to lead groups. He is personable, witty, considerate and handled the logistics with a deft hand. He’s a star! We had a very cohesive group of excellent birders and guides. We swept all of the endemics and were able to put together a pretty substantial list. I would highly recommend this trip.
Yvelisse - On Sri Lanka and Fraser
We had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka. A beautiful, clean and hygienic country with some of the friendliest people on the planet. Great vistas at every turn and fabulous wildlife. With a focus on the endemics of the country this tour provided us with the opportunities to see them all. Can highly recommend. Fraser was a huge asset on our tour. Attentive to everyone's needs with a great skill set, he ensured the tour was as successful as it was. Would recommend Fraser to anyone considering joining a tour he leads.
David and Sue - On Sri Lanka and Fraser