Alle afleveringen
21 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Bird sounds with Arjun Dutta
4 november 2026 · 52 min
Welcome to episode 21 of The BirdGuides Podcast! David and Josh are joined by Arjun Dutta, Bioacoustics Support Officer at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), to discuss bird acoustics, sound recording, noc-mig, the BTO's Acoustic Pipeline and much more. Lees meer
In this episode
Arjun's birding beginnings and early interest in acoustics
The BTO's acoustic pipeline – what is it and how does it work?
Noc-mig addiction!
Sound recording field highlights
Favourite birdsong
How perfect can AI sound recognition models become?
Episode timestamps
01:20 – Arjun's birding beginnings and early interest in acoustics
10:23 – The BTO Acoustic Pipeline
30:32 – Noc-mig and field recording
42:03 – Future outlook
Links
Enjoy our special Black Friday deal with 61% off Bird News Pro until the end of November.
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Have you experimented with noc-mig or other sound recording before? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
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The robin and the nutcracker
31 oktober 2026 · 21 min
Welcome to this bonus episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Two rarities, the Rufous-tailed Robin in East Yorkshire and Slender-billed Nutcracker in Norfolk, have made major headlines this autumn. Josh and Sam are joined by Brian McCloskey to talk about these birds, their British rarity context and the twitches they sparked. Lees meer
In this episode
Britain's first twitchable nutcracker for decades
Josh and Sam tell the stories of their twitch to Norfolk
Mainland Rufous-tailed Robin draws massive crowds to Flamborough Head
Brian describes twitching the robin from Ireland.
More nutcrackers to come?
Episode timestamps
01:15 – Nutcracker in Norfolk
09:30 – Rufous-tailed Robin in Yorkshire
13:45 – Tough viewing at Flamborough
Links
BirdGuides 30% off offer.
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Did you see the robin or the nutcracker? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Rufous-tailed Robin photo by Ian Curran.
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The rules of listing
28 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
Welcome to episode 19 of the BirdGuides Podcast! Lots of birders keep lists – but what counts, what doesn't, and who gets to decide? In this episode, David, Ian, Josh and Sam debate the various grey areas within the hobby. Lees meer
In this episode
Different lists for different birders
What counts as seeing – or identifying – a bird?
Does a heard-only bird count in the same way as one seen?
Where does a bird have to be for it to count?
Is there a difference between seeing a bird in a place and seeing it from that place?
Should a bird count if it has been assisted by a ship, either deliberately or accidentally?
Why do people keep Britain and Ireland lists?
Episode timestamps
02:10 – The most important lists for the guys
04:03 – Observation type
24:10 – Boundaries
33:28 – Human intervention
52:30 – The British recording area
58:18 – Final thoughts and dream list additions
Links
BirdGuides 30% off offer.
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. What list is most important to you? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publi…
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Spectacular vis-mig, super Scilly, bird banknotes … and fishing Blackbirds?
21 oktober 2026 · 48 min
Welcome to episode 18 of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, David, Ed, Ian and Josh catch up over the latest news from the birding world, recent British and Irish sightings and Ian's week on Scilly. Lees meer
In this episode
Ian's week chasing rarities on Scilly!
Chestnut Bunting in Shetland and other recent megas
Spectacular Redwing vis-mig as autumn finally gets going
Grim Hen Harrier news from Co Durham
Thoughts on the new banknotes featuring wildlife
Blackbirds hunting fish?
Episode timestamps
03:53 – Ian's week in Scilly
11:50 – Chestnut Bunting in Shetland and other megas
29:38 – Exciting vis-mig as Redwings arrive
34:00 – Hen Harrier persecution in Durham?
37:38 – Wildlife on banknotes
42:03 – Blackbirds eating fish?
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. What do you think should be done about raptor persecution in the UK? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Sora photo by Richard Stonier.
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Autumn thrush flight calls
18 oktober 2026 · 24 min
Welcome to the 17th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today is the first episode in our bonus Extra series, with David Campbell kicking things off by taking a look at typical flight calls of autumn thrushes. Now is the peak time to enjoy visible migration, including thrushes on the move, so in this episode David talks you through six species and explains how to learn their vocalisations. Lees meer
In this episode
How to pick out Redwing and Fieldfare flight calls.
Learn the sounds of two underappreciated autumn migrants: Song Thrush and Blackbird.
Get familiar with fly-over Mistle Thrush.
Tune in to the calls of autumn Ring Ouzel.
A look at the very rare Black-throated Thrush!
Episode timestamps
02:51 – Redwing
04:49 – Fieldfare
07:55 – Song Thrush
10:15 – Mistle Thrush
13:20 – Blackbird
16:39 – Ring Ouzel
20:38 – Black-throated Thrush
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. What other calls would you like us to showcase? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Redwing photo by Andew Moon, Redwing rec…
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Georgia
14 oktober 2026 · 45 min
Welcome to the 16th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, David, Ed and Ian are joined by Brian McCloskey for the first show in our new Travel series. Today's destination is Georgia, a small country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia that is renowned for dramatic alpine landscapes, massive raptor migration and rare regional endemics. Lees meer
In this episode
The species that draw birders to Georgia.
The wide variety of habitats.
Twitching Great Rosefinch on horseback.
Spectacular raptor migration at Batumi.
Epic encounters with Wallcreeper.
Episode timestamps
03:00 – Brian's Great Rosefinch quest
14:00 – David's two visits to Georgia
19:29 – Spectacular raptors at Batumi
29:00 – Chasing wild pheasants
36:37 – Brilliant Georgian birding
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Have you birded in Georgia before? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Great Rosefinch photo by Imran Shah.
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Nutcracker invasion incoming? Plus the future of Hen Harrier and incredible recent rarities!
7 oktober 2026 · 52 min
Welcome to the 15th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, David, Ed and Ian catch up on some of the recent big stories, including the Northern Nutcracker irruption and some exciting megas, as well as good breeding news for Hen Harrier. Lees meer
In this episode
Why are Northern Nutcrackers irrupting into Western Europe?
Could a bird possibly reach Britain?
A look back at the last records of the species on British shores.
Good news for Hen Harriers at Geltsdale RSPB, but what's the outlook like for the species in Britain?
A round-up of the rare and scarce news for late September and early October.
Analysis of the latest BBRC report.
Episode timestamps
01:16 – Ian's weekend at Flamborough
06:06 – Nutcracker invasion into Western Europe. Britain next?
19:29 – Hen Harrier success in Cumbria and their UK status
28:15 – Recent rarities, from Shetland to Scilly
45:58 – BBRC report thoughts
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Have you seen any of the recent rarities discussed in the show? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by War…
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Five reasons why Scilly is great!
30 september 2026 · 45 min
Welcome to the 14th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, Ian and Josh are joined by Lucy McRobert to chat about the Isles of Scilly and, specifically, five things that make the islands one of Britain's premier birdwatching destinations. Lees meer
In this episode
Where are the Isles of Scilly and why is it so good for birdwatching?
The joy of not having to use a car to go birding.
Scilly's spectacular seawatching.
The archipelago's famous track record of rare North American species.
Memorable food on the islands!
Scilly's special community.
Episode timestamps
06:50 – Being able to bird on foot
16:30 – Scilly's special seabirding
24:08 – Epic food!
30:00 – North American vagrants
41:35 – Scilly's community spirit
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Have you been to Scilly before? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Red-eyed Vireo photo by Kit Day.
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Remembering autumn 2016
23 september 2026 · 45 min
Welcome to the 13th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, David, Ed, Ian and Josh are joined by Sam Viles as they take a trip down memory lane to remember the epic easterly autumn of 2016, which was filled full of incredible vagrants including Britain's first – and so far only – Siberian Accentors. Lees meer
In this episode
The weather that shaped an extraordinary run of eastern rarities in Britain.
Ian's magical day on Fair Isle in early October.
Josh's dramatic twitch of Britain's first Siberian Accentor and the subsequent run of records.
A bumper day for Sam in North-East England.
What it was like working at Dungeness during autumn 2016.
Episode timestamps
03:30 – The weather that started it all
06:30 – Ian's super Sunday on Fair Isle
17:08 – Britain's first Siberian Accentor on Shetland
25:06 – More accentors and an epic day at Spurn
31:50 – Sam's big day
35:07 – Best of the rest
39:49 – Autumn 2016 at Dungeness
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. What was your highlight of autumn 2016? Did you see one of the Siberian Accentors? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the …
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MigFest, American arrivals and turtle dove conservation controversy
16 september 2026 · 49 min
Welcome to the 12th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, David, Ed and Josh catch up to talk about the recent MigFest at Spurn, as well as an arrival of American vagrants in Britain and Ireland and news of turtle dove releases in Hampshire. Lees meer
In this episode
David and Josh are back from MigGest and talk about their weekend in East Yorkshire.
Birding highlights from Spurn.
Controversial European Turtle Dove releases in the South Downs National Park.
Signs of recovery for Iceland's Gyr Falcons.
An arrival of American rarities in Britain and Ireland.
Recent quality patch finds for David and Josh.
Episode timestamps
02:50 – David and Josh report back from MigFest
13:20 – turtle dove conservation controversy
27:00 – Gyr Falcon recovery in Iceland?
35:30 – Arrival of American vagrants
41:00 – Patch goodies for David and Josh
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Did you go to MigFest? Let us know!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper photo by Seán Holland.
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Britain's third Egyptian Nightjar found as autumn migration kicks off!
9 september 2026 · 39 min
Welcome to the 11th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Today, Ed, Ian and Josh discuss the shock news of Britain's third Egyptian Nightjar in Shetland at the weekend, as well as other recent national birding highlights and their own autumn patch efforts so far. Lees meer
In this episode
Rarity of the decade? Britain's third Egyptian Nightjar stuns birders in Shetland.
A look back at the previous British records of Egyptian Nightjar.
A nice run of Nearctic waders and Ortolan Buntings.
Mixed fortunes for the English-born Montagu's Harriers.
Recent patch action.
Episode timestamps
01:30 – Egyptian Nightjar in Shetland!
11:25 – Remembering overseas encounters with Egyptian Nightjar
14:25 – Other rare and scarce news
22:30 – Recent patch action for Ian and Josh
29:30 – What's on the September patch radar?
34:50 – Appreciating common warblers
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show.
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Egyptian Nightjar photo by Rebecca Nason.
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The Birding Girlies
2 september 2026 · 41 min
Welcome to the 10th episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. Today, David and Josh are joined by Alicia Hulland and Tasha Noble from The Birding Girlies to talk about their birdwatching community and social media movement that they created to make the hobby fun, supportive and accessible for women and girls. Lees meer
In this episode
How The Birding Girlies began.
The early birding lifes of Alicia and Tash.
What The Birding Girlies stands for.
The invisible barriers that women face within birding.
What the future holds for The Birding Girlies and how you can follow.
Episode timestamps
00:50 – Introducing The Birding Girlies
03:50 – Spark birds
08:15 – The slippery slope of twitching
13:36 – How The Birding Girlies began
25:00 – The perils of social media
30:40 – Advice for men
37:27 – What the future holds
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show.
The Birding Girlies Instagram
The Birding Girlies Facebook
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
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Mega Montagu's Harrier breeding success with Mark Thomas
26 augustus 2026 · 50 min
Welcome to the ninth episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. Today, David, Ian and Josh are joined by the RSPB's Mark Thomas to talk about the exciting recent news that six Montagu's Harrier chicks fledged in England this summer. Lees meer
In this episode
The status of one of Britain's rarest breeding birds.
The unexpected breeding of 2025.
How Mark safeguarded two Montagu's Harrier nests.
GPS-tagging two juveniles.
What the future holds for 'monty's' in Britain
Episode timestamps
03:21 – Montagu's Harrier in Britain
10:50 – Why are they struggling?
17:00 – Protecting the nests
27:30 – Following the tagged juveniles
34:01 – How to keep up to date with their movements
41:12 – What the future holds
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show.
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
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Six things every new birder should have
19 augustus 2026 · 59 min
Welcome to the eighth episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. Today, David, Ian and Josh chat about six important things that anyone who is new to birdwatching or looking to take their interest in birds to the next level. Lees meer
In this episode
The importance of binoculars and what size and brands are best.
The most effective way to learn bird identification.
Beginning to take photos and enjoy bird photography.
Knowing what to look for and where.
How to share your sightings.
Listener questions answered.
Episode timestamps
03:49 – Listener questions
10:00 – Binocular basics
18:40 – The value of field guides
29:58 – An introduction to cameras
39:09 – Getting a patch
48:43 – How to stay in the loop and know where to go
54:05 – Sharing your sightings
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Browse our range of field guides in the BirdGuides Bookshop
Buy The Complete Guide to Patch Birding from the BirdGuides Bookshop.
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. If you're new to birding, tell us what tools you've found most valuable.
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
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AI's influence in bird photography and mixed fortunes for rare breeders
14 augustus 2026 · 34 min
Welcome to the seventh episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. In this bonus episode, Brian, David, Ian and Josh offer their thoughts on AI's influence on bird photography and ask whether standards should be set among birders. Meanwhile, there is news of mixed fortunes for breeding Ring Ouzel and Roseate Tern. Lees meer
In this episode
AI's growing influence on bird photography – is it time to draw the line?
When editing an images changes the reality.
How will records committees deal with the increasing use of AI alteration?
A bleak future for Ireland's breeding Ring Ouzels.
England's Roseate Terns enjoy a bumper breeding season.
Episode timestamps
01:00 – The problems with AI in bird photography
12:30 – How to moderate and the future of records
21:55 – Ring Ouzel going extinct in Ireland?
27:33 – Good news for Roseate Tern in England
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us your own thoughts on the use of AI in bird photography.
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
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Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
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Suffolk cisticola success, seawatching season so far and an intriguing Irish egret
11 augustus 2026 · 44 min
Welcome to the sixth episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. Today, David, Ian and Josh are joined by Irish birder Brian McCloskey as they talk Suffolk Zitting Cisticola breeding success, the seawatching season so far and an intriguing egret in Co Kerry. Lees meer
In this episode
Zitting Cisticola breeds in Suffolk again. Is this species going to become Britain's next colonist?
The guys discuss the seabird season so far and Brian shares his exciting sightings from western Ireland.
An unusual Little Egret in Co Kerry got birders briefly excited about Snowy Egret.
The best of the rest of the rarity news.
Josh's dream bird observatory is up for sale!
Episode timestamps
01:03 – Ian's back from Sweden and introducing Brian
07:30 – Zitting Cisticolas breed in Suffolk again
13:43 – Seawatching season so far
20:30 – Bulwer's Petrels in Spain
24:50 – Break
24:55 – Odd egret in Kerry
30:32 – Tern excitement in Northumberland
33:35 – Touring Black Storks and Montagu's Harriers
40:55 – Josh's dream island
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us about your own experiences of the seawatching season so far and if you've seen the Suffolk cisticolas!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help ot…
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Celebrating August – the perfect month for patch birding!
5 augustus 2026 · 43 min
Welcome to the fifth episode of The BirdGuides Podcast. August is here and it's an epic time to get out on your local patch! In the latest episode, David, Josh and Ian chat all things patch and local birding in the month of August, from waders and Whinchats to skywatching and seabirding. Lees meer
In this episode
From Wood Sandpiper to European Golden Plover, which waders should be on your August radar?
Going through gulls and other waterbirds.
Why seawatching and skywatching can be rewarding.
Finding good habitat in your local area.
Looking for passerine migrants.
Episode timestamps
01:10 – Why is August so good for patch birding?
06:00 – wonderful waders
17:15 – going through gulls
21:00 – August seawatching
22:20 – eyes to the skies
27:30 – finding good habitat in your area
32:05 – Whinchat, a classic August bird
36:25 – favourite August patch memories
Links
Buy The Complete Guide to Patch Birding from the BirdGuides Bookshop.
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us about your own memories of August patch birding and what you hope to see this month!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners…
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Bad news for dotterel, good news for heathland birds and remembering Bill Oddie
29 juli 2026 · 50 min
Welcome to the fourth episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Join Josh Jones and David Campbell as they reflect on Bill Oddie's sad recent passing and dissect some of the biggest birding stories of recent weeks, including the plight of Britain's breeding Eurasian Dotterel, the tickability of Bearded Vulture, the latest rarity news and much more. Lees meer
In this episode
Remembering Bill Oddie, Britain’s best-known birder and long-time Birdwatch contributor.
Thoughts on the recent Eurasian Dotterel survey results, with the species precarious status as a breeding bird at risk.
Positive news from the Heathland Bird Survey with increases and expansions.
Bearded Vulture is now tickable in the Netherlands – should it be in Britain as well?
A mega Common Redstart × Black Redstart hybrid in Wales.
Britain’s second Long-tailed Shrike, night herons arrive, big Wilson's Storm Petrel counts and the latest rarity news.
Episode timestamps
03:15 remembering Bill Oddie who sadly passed away on Monday
08:25 dotterel in trouble? Worrying trends form the recent survey of Britain's breeding population
21:55 break
22:00 good news from the 2025 Heathland Bird Survey
31:05 redstart hybrid in Wales
36:05 Bearded Vulture tickable in the Netherlands. Britain next?
43:30 latest rarity news including another Long-tailed Shrike
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed our second episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us about your own encounters with dotterel and thoughts on the Heathland Bird Survey results on our socials!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 New…
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Remembering July rarities
22 juli 2026 · 39 min
Welcome to the third episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Join Josh Jones, David Campbell and Ian Lycett as they take a thrilling trip down memory lane to look back at the jaw-dropping mega rarities that have sent British twitchers into a frenzy during previous Julys. Lees meer
What you'll learn in this episode
Why midsummer, typically thought of as a quiet time of year for birding, can deliver some of the rarest vagrants.
The legend of Brean Down legend: we look back at the incredible story of the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross in 2007
Reliving the legendary first twitchable Amur Falcon in Cornwall that drew hundreds of birders overnight.
The mega frigatebird photographed by tourists in Scotland
Which mega species should you be scanning the skies and coastlines for right now?
Episode timestamps
00:30 – write July off at your peril and favourite midsummer twitches
03:25 – the 2007 Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross, released in Somerset and touching down in Lincolnshire
06:20 – the 2013 Ascension Frigatebird in Scotland
09:30 – one rare tern deserves another
14:00– the Sheffield Audouin's Gull
21:00 – time for another Caspian Plover?
24:07 – break
24:30 – Amur Falcon twitch
28:30 – Fair Isle's Brown Flycatcher in 1992
34:32 – what to seek out in July
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Enjoyed our second episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us your own memories of Global Birdfair 2026 and whether you have seen any of July's mega rarities on our socials!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekl…
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Global Birdfair thoughts and stunning midsummer megas!
17 juli 2026 · 41 min
Welcome to the second episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Join your regular hosts Josh Jones, David Campbell and Ian Lycett as they discuss the recent midsummer megas, including Long-tailed Shrike and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, and reflect on Global Birdfair 2026. Lees meer
What you'll learn in this episode
Global Birdfair 2026 thoughts: what did the guys make of this year's event?
Britain's second Long-tailed Shrike. Hear about David and Josh's epic twitch to Fife.
This week's Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Orkney is discussed.
The Hudsonian Godwit in East Anglia and other midsummer surprises.
Episode timestamps
00:30 – Global Birdfair 2026: thoughts and reflections
09:00 – Ian and David go birding on Josh's patch
12:10 – Britain's second Long-tailed Shrike turns up in Fife
22:15 – break
22:20 – Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Orkney
27:40 – Hudsonian Godwit and other recent rarities
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Contact Josh, David or Ian directly via the BirdGuides Team page
Enjoyed our second episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us your own memories of Global Birdfair 2026 and whether you have seen any of July's mega rarities on our socials!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com.
📧 Newsletter: Sign up to our award-winning weekly newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Monday.
Follow us on social media:
📸 Instagram: @_birdguides
👥 Facebook: BirdGuides
🦋 Bluesky: @birdguides.bsky.social
🐦 X (Twitter): BirdGuides
Support the show
Please take 30 seconds to rate and review us. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show!
The BirdGui…
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Welcome to The BirdGuides Podcast
15 juli 2026 · 36 min
Welcome to the very first episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Join your regular hosts Josh Jones, David Campbell and Ian Lycett as they introduce the show, share their birdwatching backgrounds and discuss the future of the ultimate audio hub for birdwatchers. Whether you are a casual patch birder in the UK or a big global lister, this episode sets the stage for our upcoming birding adventures. Lees meer
What you'll learn in this episode
Meet the team: get to know the birding histories and local patches of Josh, David and Ian.
The podcast vision: what to expect from future episodes.
Global vs local: discussions on everything between British twitching and exploring the world’s birds.
Latest news and sightings: from Wood Sandpiper and Common Quail influxes to Britain’s first Western Reef Heron
Episode timestamps
00:00 – welcome to the The BirdGuides Podcast
02:25 – meet David Campbell and Ian Lycett: formative birding moments and their local patches
11:20 – recent trips to Western Sahara, Finland and Sri Lanka and autumn birding plans
17:20 – meet Josh Jones: birding from a young age and a previous twitching life
24:50 – break
25:00 – looking back at spring and summer 2026, from Wood Sandpiper influxes to mega rarities
28:55 – the summer 2026 Common Quail influx including a close encounter for Josh
32:35 – Britain’s first Western Reef Heron in Wales stuns twitchers
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Contact Josh, David or Ian directly via the BirdGuides Team page
Enjoyed our debut episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us your own 'spark bird' story and about your local patch on our socials!
How to stay connected
📱 Download the BirdGuides app: Real-time bird news in the palm of your hand. Get the BirdGuides app for iOS on the App Store / Android on Google Play.
💻 Visit the we…