The BirdGuides Podcast

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 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
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Support the show
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The BirdGuides Podcast is brought to you by Warners Group Publications.
Ruddy Shelduck photo by Mark Woodhead.

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 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.

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 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 recording by Paul Kelly, Fieldfare recording by Jarek Matusiak, Song Thrush recording by Phillipe Grange, Mistle Thrush recording by Lars Edenius, Blackbird recording by Stuart Fisher, Ring Ouzel recording by Benjamin Drillat and Black-throated Thrush recording by Cedric Mroczko.

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 – 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.

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
🦋 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.
Northern Nutcracker photo by Ian Wells.