The BirdGuides Podcast

The BirdGuides Podcast

by BirdGuides
Nature
Mega Montagu's Harrier breeding success with Mark Thomas
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. 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.
E9
Aug 26, 2026
50:17
Six things every new birder should have
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. 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.
E8
Aug 19, 2026
58:55
AI's influence in bird photography and mixed fortunes for rare breeders
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. 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 🐦 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.
E7
Aug 14, 2026
34:28
Suffolk cisticola success, seawatching season so far and an intriguing Irish egret
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. 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 other birdwatchers find the show! The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
E6
Aug 11, 2026
43:53
Celebrating August – the perfect month for patch birding!
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. 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 Group Publications.
E5
Aug 5, 2026
43:22
Bad news for dotterel, good news for heathland birds and remembering Bill Oddie
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. 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. 📧 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. Music by Matt Phelps. Common Redstart × Black Redstart recording by Dante Shepherd
E4
Jul 29, 2026
50:22
Remembering July rarities
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. 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 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. Music by Matt Phelps
E3
Jul 22, 2026
39:16
Global Birdfair thoughts and stunning midsummer megas!
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. 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 BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications. Music by Matt Phelps
E2
Jul 17, 2026
41:17
Welcome to The BirdGuides Podcast
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. 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 website: For sightings, breaking news and other birding content, visit www.birdguides.com/podcast. 📧 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 on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help other birdwatchers find the show! The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
E1
Jul 15, 2026
35:32