Elliot Montieth

Former Young Ambassador

Elliot Montieth is a 20-year-old Naturalist, based seasonally on the untouched Isle of Alderney. He’s a life-long wildlife enthusiast, primarily studying bird migration in the Channel Islands and sliding into lepidoptery during the Summer months, with a soft spot for geology.

Starting off as a nobody with nothing, Elliot’s burning desire to reach his goals, supporting countless others along the way has seen him become an outspoken advocate of the Cameron Bespolka Trust, Assistant Warden of the Alderney Bird Observatory and Deputy Editor of Wader Quest.

Since 2017, Elliot has been a proud Ambassador of the Cameron Bespolka Trust following his 100-mile trek across North Wales to raise funds for the ‘CBT’.  Growing up in Merseyside, he quickly found that there were next to no opportunities for him or any young people to engage with nature or pursue a carrier in the environmental sector. It’s been from this lack of opportunities, that drove Elliot to work with the ‘CBT’ in piloting new schemes and building bridges to engage, educate and encourage todays youth to develop a love for Nature; “Children need Nature, Nature needs Children” is the charities moto.

Throughout his life, Elliot’s been extremely fortunate to experience some epic opportunities, thanks to the Cameron Bespolka Trust, Cornell Young Birders Event, lecturing at the British Birdfair, University of Cumbria and Bangor. In addition to attending and evaluating Brazil’s first Young Birders camp and advising both the British Wildlife Photography Awards and British Trust for Ornithology. All of this together has given Elliot some priceless experiences to learn from and a diverse array of skills, which is something that he is passionate about passing onto the next generation.

Being one to follow life lessons and inspirational quotes, Elliot lives his life by the saying “Be the change that you wish to see in the World” – Mahatma Gandhi. By working closely with the ‘CBT’, its partners and other members of the trusts Young Ambassadors program. He hopes to bring change to the despite change needed, to birding and conservation communities and create a world better for young people to develop a love for nature.

Elliot Montieth

Posts

  • Birdfair: The Bespolka Era

    For three decades, Rutland Water has hosted to the internationally acclaimed Birdfair; a festival dedicated to the birds, one described by many as the Glastonbury of birding.

    Here thousands descend, vast numbers of suppliers from binoculars, cameras, books and clothing, amongst various other equipment, tour companies, plus artists. In the thirty years its been in operation, Birdfair has attracted a larger youth audience and in 2019, it would be the year of youth.

    The Trust was out in force …

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  • Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve Walk

    I set an early wake-up call this morning to lead the 'Bespolka Bird Walk' at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve near Cheshire.

    We had several drop out at the last minute but still I'm happy that some could make it. The group enjoyed sightings of a wide range of species at the reserve from Black-necked Grebe and Garganey to 'British' Speckled Wood and Broad-leaved Helleborine butterflies.

    The early risers were rewarded with an enjoyable walk around the reserve

    Many thanks go to Brian Martin …

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  • 'The Little Fool'

    A species I've not caught up with in a few years is the Eurasian Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus). Current figures estimate the breeding population of Britain, where the species is now restricted to breeding in the Scottish Highlands, to be between 510-750 males.

    However, in Britain this beautiful monotypic wader used to be much more widespread and numerous than it is to-date. Its scientific name morinellus means 'little fool' and rightly so as the species tame nature made it an easy target …

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  • Fair Isle: Dream Isle

    Fair Isle; it’s a small isolated island no more than three miles long and a mile wide situated in the North Sea just 24 miles south of mainland Shetland. For those reading this who are Birders then this isle of legend needs no introduction, but for those who aren’t here’s a brief description.

    Arctic Skua. Photo: Elliot Montieth

    The isle is a haven for Birders & Twitchers alike; from its breeding seabird colony which is over 50,000 pairs strong, to breath taking scenery, …

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  • Cornell Trip Report

    For the past 2 years now The Cameron Bespolka Trust has awarded a scholarship for one young British ornithologist to attend a young birders event at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York state. For the first time in 2016, Hampshire’s very own Amy Hall jetted off on this once in a life time trip followed by Essex’s Max Hellicar in 2017 and on the 10th of April whilst out on a morning stroll with my partner, the news came through that’d been awarded this year’ …

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  • European Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls

    The European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus), are arguably the most familiar ‘seagulls’ we encounter on a daily in Britain. The misconception is that to the general public these iconic creatures are everywhere, they’re a pest that need to be controlled as the population is increasing; but that isn’t the case, is it?

    Data gathered by JNCC and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), shows us that both Lesser Black-backed Gull & …

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