Dale Forbes - Drawing inspiration from the natural world
The Casual Birder Podcast
Dale Forbes shares his passion for nature, how he is inspired by soundscapes, and his fascination with how habitats define the birds found there. He also tells us how he would spend his fantasy birding day. Dale is the Head of Marketing Strategy & Insight at Swarovski Optik, is a member of BirdLife International's Advisory Board, and is the regional coordinator for eBird in Austria. The interview was recorded at Global Birdfair. Links Dale's recordings on soundcloud Dale's book: . More about Swarovski and its wildlife interests Casual Birder Community Start...
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Great Bustards, Grey Partridge and Quail, Oh My!
The Casual Birder Podcast
Join me as I recount my recent birding adventure in Wiltshire and Hampshire. From impressive Great Bustards to the elusive Common Quail and the unexpected Grey Partridges, our weekend was filled with unforgettable moments. We share the excitement, challenges, and pure joy of birding in the beautiful landscapes of Wiltshire and Hampshire. Links Great Bustard Group: Langford Lakes: Martin Down: Blashford Lakes: Graham Snelgar: eBird trip report: The Casual Birder Bird Club The Casual Birder Bird Club is an online bird club that meets every month. If meeting up with a group of...
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Focus on Birders: Amy Squire
The Casual Birder Podcast
Amy Squire is a passionate young birder and conservationist who has grown up exploring the wild spaces of Hampshire. With a childhood spent outdoors, Amy quickly became fascinated by all aspects of nature, but birds really captured her imagination. Amy combines her interest in field observation with artistic pursuits, often sketching the birds she encounters. Her curiosity and love for wildlife have led her to get involved in conservation efforts, such as participating in important bird surveys. Amy’s dedication isn’t just about spotting new species; she genuinely cares about sharing the...
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Global BirdFair 2025
The Casual Birder Podcast
Global BirdFair has wrapped up for another year, and Suzy shares her experiences of this incredible festival of nature. The inspiring talks, interactive events, and vibrant community atmosphere made this year's event truly unforgettable (despite the searing heat)! To capture the essence of the event, Suzy spoke with several attendees about their time at BirdFair and asked about a recent wildlife experience that brought them joy: Charlie Bingham shared a frustrating yet beautiful sunset birding attempt Chris Bell recounted a thrilling Wallcreeper sighting in Romania Naomi Davis discussed...
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Simon King: A lifelong love of nature
The Casual Birder Podcast
The celebrated naturalist and professional filmmaker, Simon King, recounts how he turned his childhood interest in wildlife into a successful career. Whilst he has travelled the world to bring us film of incredible wildlife encounters, Simon stresses the importance of local conservation efforts in protecting habitats and species. He emphasises the value of maintaining a childlike curiosity about the natural world, the role of media and education in fostering an interest in wildlife, and how connecting with nature is crucial if people are to notice changes in the natural world and act to...
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Dr Ed Pullen - The Bird Banter Podcast
The Casual Birder Podcast
Suzy is joined by Dr Ed Pullen, a former family doctor turned keen birder and podcast host. During a trip to the Everglades with his late wife Kay, Ed found himself fascinated by the birds they saw. That trip led to a lifelong love of birding. Ed shares his evolving approach to birding, which now emphasizes experiences over bird listing, and how his genuine interest in connecting with fellow birders led to the creation of his podcast. Links The Bird Banter Podcast Suzy’s episode on The Bird Banter Podcast: Global BirdFair - get your tickets now: The Casual Birder Bird...
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Birding Diary - February 2025
The Casual Birder Podcast
In this month's birding catch-up, Suzy chats with her husband John about the birds they saw in February. After a slower start to the year thanks to a holiday abroad, they were keen to get back out birding and boost their 2025 bird list. The conversation delves into the sites they visited, their top birding moments, and their respective bird counts for the month, which adds a lighthearted competitive aspect to their birdwatching activities. Their shared passion for birdwatching and dedication to documenting their bird sightings is evident throughout the conversation, as they share the joy of...
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Birding in Peru - Rob Williams
The Casual Birder Podcast
Conservationist and bird guide Rob Williams shares the wonder of birding in Peru. From the coastal deserts to the Amazon Basin, Rob highlights the diverse habitats that are home to over 1800 bird species. Rob also shares how he would spend a fantasy birding day. Recorded live at Global BirdFair 2024. Links PromPeru’s birding website is: Rockjumper - Global BirdFair Casual Birder Community The Casual Birder Podcast has a new online community away from the noise of other social media platforms. It has become a lovely space to share our bird experiences, get tips on all...
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Celebrating Women Birders
The Casual Birder Podcast
For International Women’s Day 2025 we hear from women birders from around the world. They share the motivations behind their birding passion and provide insights into the impact of birdwatching on personal well-being. Participants: Emily, Nish, Sarah, Colette, Charlie - UK Kristina - Germany Kate, Kirsty - Australia Chiara - Italy Steph - USA Links - photographer. Read the results of her survey ‘ The Hidden Obstacles for Women in Wildlife Photography - photographer has written a book entitled 'The Life Affirming Magic of Birds' - available soon - the Weekend Birder Podcast...
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In search of Hen Harriers at Wicken Fen - with Ajay Tegala
The Casual Birder Podcast
Suzy takes a late afternoon walk with conservationist and author Ajay Tegala at Wicken Fen nature reserve in Cambridgeshire. As they sit in a hide waiting to see Marsh and Hen Harriers coming in to roost, Ajay shares the captivating diversity of wildlife he encounters in his work, and the management techniques that preserve this internationally important fenland. Recorded in January 2024 Episode 136 Links Casual Birder Community Start your free trial here The Casual Birder Bird Club The Casual Birder Bird Club is an online bird club that meets every month. If...
info_outlineSuzy 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.
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