Suzy shares some of her bird experiences while on vacation in Portugal, and tells how you can join our team for the Global Big Day - an important and exciting event in the birding calendar! On the Global Big Day people around the world will go birding and then upload their checklists to eBird. In this way, not only are they enjoying our wonderful bird life, but they are providing important data via community science to widen knowledge around bird populations during migration time. Suzy explains how you can be join the Casual Birder Podcast Team for the event! Stay listening for a short recording of a Nightingale, Blackbird, Collared Dove and European Goldfinch. Links Join the Casual Birder Podcast Team for the Global Big Day 2023. Sign up here: https://casualbirder.com/global-big-day-2023 Please donate to our Just Giving page for BirdLife International - and share the link with your friends: https://www.justgiving.com/page/suzy-buttress-casualbirderteam

On a pre-birthday outing, Anneke (from the show's FaceBook group) joins Suzy and her husband John for a day’s birding at RSPB Nagshead in Gloucestershire. The woods are alive with birds singing, engaging in courtship displays, and building nests. Anneke and Suzy share their bird encounters from the day, and some surprising mammal ones too! Links: Last episode: Spring is here! RSPB Nagshead webpage Short video of our day at RSPB Nagshead Marylee's video of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet Join the Casual Birder Bird Club  

Suzy is back! In this episode, she shares her recent birding experiences and encounters with fellow enthusiasts, and the excitement of watching nesting Blue Tits, characterful Rooks and some unexpected Grey Wagtails. Suzy also announces the launch of the Casual Birder Bird Club, and invites listeners to join the show's team for the Global Big Day birding event on 13th May 2023. Links mentioned in the show: Sign the Swift petition here The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up! Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store Facebook group link The Bearded Tit Podcast  Join our Team for the Global Big Day Support the show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 Introduction Suzy introduces the episode and shares the changes she's noticed as the breeding season ramps up. She also requests listeners to sign a petition created by Hannah Bourne Taylor to help increase the number of suitable nesting sites for the Swift birds in the UK. Sign the Swift petition here 00:02:51 Dawn Chorus and Springtime Dawn Chorus and Springtime, Suzy shares the beautiful sound of the Dawn Chorus she recorded and talks about the changes she has noticed in the garden as the weather gets better. She also discusses her plans for the podcast for the coming months. 00:06:16 Casual Birder Bird Club Suzy talks about the monthly virtual Casual Birder Bird Club she launched and how listeners can join. She also mentions her plans to invite specialists to give talks on bird identification and other related topics. The Casual Birder Bird Club - sign up! 00:08:24 Shoutouts to members of the birding community Suzy thanks the members of the show's Facebook group for their support and mentions Karin for taking over moderating duties. She also gives shoutouts to birders she met while out and about over the last couple of months and talks about the birds she saw. Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store where embroidered hats, shirts and sweatshirts featuring The Casual Birder Podcast artwork are now available to buy. Join the show's Facebook group: Facebook group link 00:22:53 Nest Box Season Suzy shares her excitement about the nesting season in her garden and how a Blue Tit has returned to her garage nest box. She also talks about another Blue Tit checking out their Camera nest box. 00:24:19 Rooks are full of character Suzy talks about how her garden makeover has affected Rooksy the Rook's visits to her house. She describes how Rooksie now parades on their patio until someone notices it and gives it treats. We are introduced to Rooksy's mate Billy, and the behaviour of Patches demonstrates how each bird has their own character. 00:27:50 Advert for The Bearded Tit Podcast  00:28:16 Hampshire Ornithological Society Members Day - report Suzy recently joined the Hampshire Ornithological Society and on 1st April attended a Members Day, which had talks given by various bird experts. 00:31:51 Global Big Day 13th May 2023 Suzy invites listeners to join the Casual Birder Podcast team for the upcoming Global Big Day on May 13th. The team will be raising funds for Birdlife International. Join our Team for the Global Big Day 00:34:16 Wrap and Close Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com The Casual Birder Podcast   https://casualbirder.com/ Don't miss an episode - follow the show! Thank you to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show. The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Finches Friend founder Dick Woods and wildlife presenter Martin Hughes-Games join Suzy to talk about the unintended consequences of feeding garden birds that can affect their health. Dick showcases a revolutionary easy-clean feeder that he designed to reduce the transmission of disease among birds visiting feeders. He says the key is to keep birds' feet and faeces out of their food. Timestamps & Links: 00:00:00 Announcements Big news!  Embroidered hats, shirts and sweatshirts featuring The Casual Birder Podcast artwork are now available to buy. Visit The Casual Birder Podcast clothing store 00:00:48  Last Episode 118 A weekend of waders at the Hampshire coast 00:01:04 Casual Birder Weekly newsletter Sign up here! 00:01:31 Introduction to the episode 00:04:37 Interview with Dick Woods and Martin Hughes-Games Finches Friend Website 00:47:10 Wrap-up A Wild Life: My Adventures Around the World Filming Wildlife by Martin Hughes-Games Martin Hughes-Games' website Garden Wildlife Health Garden Bird Health 00:48:06 Wrap and Close Support the Show - Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show. The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Following a weekend spent at the Hampshire Coast at the end of August, join me and my birding partner & husband, John, as we review the waders and other birds that we saw. I also talk about the BTO course on wader ID that I took, and we hear from past guest Natasha about the benefits she has found using the Merlin Bird ID app. And there are shout-outs to all the wonderful birders who have shared sightings with me over the past few weeks. Timestamps & Links: 00:00:00 Pre-roll & announcements Contribute to our JustGiving fundraiser in support of BirdLife International 00:01:18  Last Episode Birding in Lithuania with Boris Belchev 00:01:39 Suzy and John review their wader weekend Part 1 00:19:22 Casual Birder Weekly Sign up here! 00:19:46 Suzy and John review their wader weekend Part 2 00:28:16 BTO wader ID course and Yearlist so far Sign up to the BTO e-Newsletter here Suzy compares her year list with The British List 00:31:17 Keep in touch Keep in touch 00:35:49 Suzy's recent birding and Shout-outs 00:45:37 Support the Show Buy me a virtual coffee on Ko-Fi.com 00:46:05 Wrap and Close The Casual Birder Podcast website  https://casualbirder.com/ Don't miss an episode - follow the show! Thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show. The theme music is Short Sleeved Shirt by The Drones. Thanks to them for letting me use it. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net