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.
Episodes
Waxwing winter and redpoll rush? Plus new British breeders, species splits and jet-lagged seabirds
Welcome to episode 23 of The BirdGuides Podcast! Ed, Ian and Josh are in the booth to catch up on the recent big stories in birding, from species splits and rare British breeders, to jet-lagged shearwaters and a bumper spell for eastern warblers, wheatears and buntings, plus much more.In this episodeIs Britain heading for a Waxwing winter?!Bumper redpoll numbers arriveWhat the new AviList splits m
Spectacular seawatching at the Bridges of Ross
Welcome to this bonus episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Brian McCloskey and Josh Jones are in the booth to talk about the Bridges of Ross, one of the best seawatching destinations in Ireland and Europe.In this episodeWhere is the Bridges of Ross and why is it so good for seawatching?Some of the classic species seenThe best conditions for seawatching at the BridgesBrian's 2026 seawatching efforts
Bird sounds with Arjun Dutta
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.In this episodeArjun's birding beginnings and early interest in acousticsThe BTO's acoustic pipeline – what is it and how does it work?Noc-mi
The robin and the nutcracker
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.In this episodeBritain's first twitchable nutcracker for decadesJosh and Sam
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 episodeDifferent 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 hav
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 episodeIan'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 o
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 e
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 episodeThe species that draw birders to Georgia.The
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 episodeWhy are Northern Nutcrackers irrupting into Western Europe?Could a bird possibly reach Britain?A look back at the last records of the species on B
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 episodeWhere 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 seawa
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 episodeThe weather that shaped an extraordinary run of eastern rarities in Britain.Ian's
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 episodeDavid and Josh are back from MigGest and talk about their weekend in East Yorkshire.Birding highlights from Spurn.Controversial European Tur
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 episodeRarity of the decade? Britain's third Egyptian Nightjar stuns birders in Shetland.A look back at the previous British record
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 episodeHow The Birding Girlies began.The early birding lifes of Alicia and Tash.What The
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 episodeThe 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.W
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 episodeThe 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.Kn
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 episodeAI's growing influence on bird photography – is it time to draw the line?When e
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 episodeZitting Cisticola breeds in Suffolk again. Is this species going to become Britain's next colonist?The guys discuss the seabird season s
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 episodeFrom Wood Sandpiper to European Golden Plover, which waders should be on your August radar?Going
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 episodeRemembering Bill Oddie, Britain’s best-kno
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 episodeWhy midsummer, typically thought of as a quiet time of year for birding, can deliver some of the rare
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 episodeGlobal Birdfair 2026 thoughts: what did the guys make of this year's event?Britain's second Long-tailed Shr
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
