The Casual Birder Podcast

In episode 73, I look back to the Big Garden Birdwatch of 2020, recalling my sightings on the survey day, and we hear about the birds you saw. 
Featuring contributions from Euan, The Edinburgh Birdwatcher & Rachael, host of Hidden Wings and Bloodlust podcast. Also Hannah, from Hannah and Erik Go Birding Podcast tells us about the conservation efforts of the Champions of the Flyway event. Links: Ch...

Ornithologist and conservationist Dan Rouse joins me for a walk on Rhossili Headland, on the Gower Peninsula, Wales. A well-respected birder and wildlife educator, Dan tells me how she became interested in birds at a young age, and how her advocacy for conservation of Welsh wildlife has led to tv and radio appearances. During the walk, Dan helps me identify the differences between Skylarks and Mea...

In this bonus mini episode, listeners share their observations of their last birds of 2019 and first birds of 2020.   The Casual Birder Podcast Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (it's free!) Casual Birder Website Follow me on -  Twitter     Instagram   Podchaser or join the Facebook Group Thank you to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show. The theme music is Short Sleeved...

In episode 70, I take a look back on the casual birding moments that filled me with joy during 2019. Listeners share their favourite birding moments too. Episodes from 2019 that are referred to: #59 Mark Carwardine Watching whales in Baja California http://casualbirderpod.libsyn.com/59-mark-carwardine-watching-whales-in-baja-california #61 Backyard birds of Baja California http://casualbirderpod.l...

I speak with Stephanie Seymour, a singer/songwriter who is also a passionate birder. Stephanie recently released an album of her songs, all featuring birds, with titles such as Blue Jay, Ruby Crowned Kinglet and Veery. She tells me where she got her inspiration for the album, and all about the birds she sees from her back yard in New Jersey. Buy There Are Birds and find out more about   Stephanie...

The Casual Birder Podcast is 2 years old! To celebrate, we took a weekend break to the Isle of Wight to watch birds. Keiron Lee Vine, a keen birder and member of the show's Facebook Group, joined me for a bird walk at RSPB Brading Marshes. The weather was stormy, but we had a great time and saw lots of birds.   Follow Keiron on Instagram Follow Keiron on Facebook And do check out Keiron's art for...

For this special episode for International Podcast Month, join me for a morning stroll around the streets of La Jolla in San Diego, California to discover what birds local residents can see. List of birds seen: Northern Mockingbird Song Sparrow Yellow-rumped Warbler Anna's Hummingbird Rufous or Allen's Hummingbird House Sparrow European Starling Collared Dove Mourning Dove American Crow Red-tailed...

Even casual birding can turn up surprises. Suzy spends some time looking at the birds in a small London square. And is delighted when a Chiffchaff appears in her garden one day, along with a mixed flock of small birds.   Going to the London Podcast Festival? Suzy is co-hosting a session there for the Podcast Maker Weekend, along with Sam and Louise from the 90 Minutes or Less Film Fest podcast (@9...

More casual birding this week as I sit in my suburban garden in southern England and describe the birds that visit. The promo is from False Starts Pod. Follow them on Twitter @FalseStartsPod Birds that visited, or flew over, my garden during the recording of this episode: Dunnock, Rook, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, European Starling, Wood Pigeon, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Swifts, Greenfinch,...

Actor and podcaster Mark Gagliardi joins me in Lake Arrowhead, California, for his first bird walk. Will it live up to his expectations? What birds will we see? Listen and find out!   Shows mentioned: We Got This! with Mark and Hal Mark's podcast: Pod & Treasure Follow Mark on Twitter - @MarkGags Maximum Fun website ______________ Birds of Southern California: A Guide to Common & Notable Species (...

Amy Chillag is a writer and producer for CNN Special Projects. She is also a casual birdwatcher. She tells me about the joy she feels at seeing the birds that visit her backyard in Atlanta, Georgia, and the article she wrote about the power of birdwatching for peace of mind: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/12/health/sw-birding-for-health/index.html   Don't miss an episode: subscribe to the show (S...

Suzy has lost her voice! Heather from Sunshine and Powercuts Podcast has kindly stepped in to provide an introduction to this bonus episode. Twice a year, in March and August, Heather hosts the Sunshine Summit, a week of live-streams to recognise and celebrate connections and bring people together from around the world. In August 2018 Heather spoke with Suzy about The Casual Birder Podcast and abo...

Recorded in the garden of our vacation rental in Baja California, Mexico. The casita had a mature garden, and 13 bird species visited during our first full day there. Birds mentioned this episode: Orange-crowned Warbler Hooded Oriole Cactus Wren Turkey Vultures Common Raven Gila Woodpecker White-winged Dove House Sparrow Californian Scrub Jay Northern Cardinal Lesser Goldfinch House Finch Northern...

Birder Jeremy Schwartz, and his colleague Jeff Morgenroth, have created the Backyard Birding card game that is not only fun to play, but will teach people about the birds they might see in the Pacific Northwest where they live. Visit www. BackyardBirdingGame.com to see videos of gameplay and read the blog posts.   Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free) Follow me on - T...

Mark Carwardine is a conservationist, broadcaster and wildlife photographer. He is also a whale expert and leads wildlife tours around the world. I was recently on one of those tours, in Baja California. I spoke with Mark about the wildlife we saw and his conservation work. Mark's website can be found at https://www.markcarwardine.com/   Whales and Dolphins seen on the whale-watching tour (in orde...

Dusty Gedge has been an avid birdwatcher since childhood. Find out how the Black Redstart changed the course of his professional life … and hear his birding anecdotes!   The Casual Birder Podcast Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free) Follow me on - Twitter: https://twitter.com/CasualBirderPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casualbirderpodcast/ or join the Facebo...

The Common Swift is in decline. Jamie Wyver of the RSPB tells us how we can help this awesome little bird. Also, as the RSPB celebrates its 130th Anniversary, Jamie tells us more about the conservation work that it does.   Bird Described: Common Swift   Previous episodes mentioned: Big Blind Walk at: bit.ly/CasualBirder25 And find Jamie's interview about the Big Garden Birdwatch at bit.ly/CasualBi...

This week, it's the Corvids! Find out why I was spooked by a Raven, and hear some awesome vocalisations from a Rook that visited my garden! Also, feedback on the birds listeners saw during the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. Birds described in this episode: Raven, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Chough.  Please also listen to my episode on Eurasian Jays, Blue...

This week my guest is Paul Cheall, host of Fighting Through podcast. He tells us about the birds he sees in his Norfolk garden and, following on from my last episode, there's some further tips about feeding garden birds.   The Casual Birder Podcast Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free) Follow me on - Twitter: https://twitter.com/CasualBirderPod Instagram: https://www....

I talk to Claire Boothby, from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), about feeding garden birds, feeder hygiene and the BTO Garden Birdwatch. (Bird feeding tips below) Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show (Subscribing is free) Follow me on - Twitter: @CasualBirderPod Instagram: @CasualBirderPodcast or join the Facebook group at bit.ly/CasualBirderFB _____ LINKS BTO Garden Bird Watch Li...

I take a walk around the London Wetland Centre in Barnes with my guest, conductor, author and bird watcher: Lev Parikian. Read more about Lev's book 'Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?' and his blog posts at https://levparikian.wordpress.com/ For further information about the London Wetland Centre, visit: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london/   Don't miss an episode - subscribe to the show...

Join me as I look back to a bird walk I took in the summer in Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, NYC. Also, hear about the birds I saw on a recent birdwatch on the Isle of Wight and Mum, co-host of Rough Giraffe podcast, sets us a challenge about the birds she sees in Spain.   Contributions from: Rough Giraffe Podcast Sunshine and Power Cuts   Contact the Show: Twitter Instagram Casual Birder Podcast Fac...

This week, I take a walk in the grounds of The Vyne, a National Trust property near to where I live in Hampshire, give an update on my garden bird count and share some bird sightings from listeners. Also Stacey, from Rough Giraffe Podcast, tells us about some inquisitive Jays in her garden. Find the show here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/rough-giraffe/id1214743716?mt=2      

Focussing on my local birds, I start the first of a series of weekly bird watches in my garden. With descriptions and recordings of the birds seen. This week we also have lots of bird sightings from listeners around the world.   During the count, I recorded the following birds: Red-Legged Partridge Dunnock  Wood Pigeon Greenfinch Chaffinch Collared Dove  House Sparrow Coal Tit Magpie

This week, I speak with Mort Putnam about the birds we saw on a walk I led at Lake Arrowhead in California back in June, and I share some of the bird songs and calls I recorded there. Birds seen: Nuttall's Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker American Robin Steller's Jay Spotted Towhee Red breasted Nuthatch   Brewer's Blackbird Blackheaded Grosbeak   Birds heard: Scrub Jay Cooper's Hawk   This week's guest...