The BirdGuides Podcast
The BirdGuides Podcast is the ultimate audio hub for birdwatching – wherever you are and whatever your experience. We discuss the latest sightings and stories, speak to the biggest birding names, delve into the best hot-spots and birding countries, remember famous moments, talk all things ID and so much more. The BirdGuides Podcast helps connects you to the birds, the places and the people that make the hobby so special.
The rules of listing
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.
In this episode
Different lists for different birdersWhat 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...Spectacular vis-mig, super Scilly, bird banknotes … and fishing Blackbirds?
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.
In this episode
Ian's week chasing rarities on Scilly!Chestnut Bunting in Shetland and other recent megasSpectacular Redwing vis-mig as autumn finally gets goingGrim Hen Harrier news from Co DurhamThoughts on the new banknotes featuring wildlifeBlackbirds 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
3...
Autumn thrush flight calls
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.
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...Georgia
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.
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 – Davi...
Nutcracker invasion incoming? Plus the future of Hen Harrier and incredible recent rarities!
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.
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...Five reasons why Scilly is great!
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.
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...
Remembering autumn 2016
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.
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 Engl...MigFest, American arrivals and turtle dove conservation controversy
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.
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...Britain's third Egyptian Nightjar found as autumn migration kicks off!
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.
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...
The Birding Girlies
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.
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<...
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 BritainEpisode timestamps
03:21 – Montagu's Harrier in Britain
10:50 – Why are they struggling?
17:00 – Protecting the nests
27:30 – Following the tagged j...
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 va...
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 en...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...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...
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 Su...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 2007Reliving the legendary first...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 – Gl...
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...