The BirdGuides Podcast

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 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
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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.
Northern Nutcracker photo by Ian Wells.

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 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.

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 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 show!

The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Siberian Accentor photo by James Lowen.

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 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.

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 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.