Suzy is joined by her husband John to review their birding experiences from February 2026. From trying to spot a Snow Goose amongst a flock of Whooper Swans (in a blizzard!) to seeing Spoonbills and Slavonian Grebes on a cold rainy day, their experiences highlight the realities of birding in February in southern England. Despite the weather, their report of their favourite sightings and the friendly birders they met provides an engaging listen. So grab a cuppa, and enjoy their birding tales.

Chapters

00:00:36 Introduction

00:02:07 Abberton Reservoir

00:13:46 John solo birding 1

00:15:07 Deeping Lakes

00:21:23 Nene Washes

00:29:38 Snow Goose search

00:31:37 Willow Tree Fen

00:33:49 Grafham Water

00:36:03 New Forest

00:37:30 Normandy Lagoon, Lymington

00:44:26 John solo birding 2

00:47:11 Final species for February

00:48:57 Join our community

Links Alex (photographer) - we met at Deeping Lakes Instagram link Casual Birder Community Away from the noise of other social media platforms, our community is a supportive and encouraging space for sharing your birding stories and connecting with others. Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community Your bird stories Tell me about your bird stories - contact me Support the show If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here Keep in the Loop Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/ Don't miss an episode - follow the show! Credits My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

Suzy speaks with Mary Colwell, founder of Curlew Action, who describes her fascination with Curlews, and the need for urgent conservation to reverse their population decline in the UK.

Advocating an approach that engages with policymakers, farmers, and field workers, Mary emphasizes the need for landscape management and public engagement to support Curlew conservation.

This interview was recorded in front of an audience at Global BirdFair.

Thanks to Curlew Action for the beautiful Curlew recording used in this episode, to Charlie Bingham for scheduling and organisational help at Global BirdFair and to Oscar Henderson for recording and producing the shows.

Links

Curlew Action Global BirdFair

Casual Birder Community

Away from the noise of other social media platforms, our community is a supportive and encouraging space for sharing your birding stories and connecting with others.

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

Credits

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website

Suzy is joined by her husband John to review their birding experiences from January 2026, covering winter birding in Norfolk, and coastal birding in Hampshire, UK.

They each saw over 100 bird species including two lifers (birds they had never seen before): a Taiga Bean Goose and a Killdeer.

See the list of the birds that Suzy saw, along with some photos, here

Casual Birder Community

Away from the noise of other social media platforms, our community is a supportive and encouraging space for sharing your birding stories and connecting with others.

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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 https://m.soundcloud.com/capepolly Dale's book: Habitats of Europe: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists. More about Swarovski and its wildlife interests https://www.swarovskioptik.com/int/en/birding/about-us/sustainability-at-swarovski-optik/nature-and-species-conservation Casual Birder Community Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community 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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us. Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club Your bird stories Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website Support the show If you would like to help support the show's production, buy a virtual coffee here Keep in the Loop Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/ Don't miss an episode - follow the show! My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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: https://greatbustard.org/

Langford Lakes: Information sheet

Martin Down: https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/finder/martindown

Blashford Lakes: https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/blashford-lakes-nature-reserve

Graham Snelgar: Instagram page

eBird trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/404742

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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us.

Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club

Casual Birder Community

Away from the noise of other social media platforms, our community is a supportive and encouraging space for sharing your birding stories and connecting with others.

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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 mental health benefits of being in nature and helping others find their place in the birding community. Amy opens up about the challenges young birders face, especially when people underestimate their knowledge. But she's all about turning that around, creating connections, and inspiring others through her school conservation club.

Amy brings a fresh perspective on what it's like to be a young birder today, facing challenges but always finding inspiration in the natural world.

If you're curious about bird ringing, surveys, or dreaming of a career in wildlife conservation, this chat has it all. Amy's passion is infectious, and her stories remind us why every little bit of effort counts in protecting the amazing birds around us.

Links

Amy's presentation at the Hampshire Ornithological Society's Members' Day 2025

https://youtu.be/ExMy1eAIouU

See all of the presentations here:

https://www.hos.org.uk/welcome-to-the-hos-website/walks-events/reports/members-day-2025/

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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us.

Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club

Casual Birder Community

Away from the noise of other social media platforms, our community is a supportive and encouraging space for sharing your birding stories and connecting with others.

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Share your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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 their work monitoring Pied Flycatchers

• Kelly Keegan finally spotted an elusive Blackcap

• Tom Morath described a magical Barn Owl encounter

• Stephen Moss reminisced about an extraordinary butterfly-filled day

• Sarah Humphrey shared her joy of witnessing a full Nightingale breeding cycle

• Jack Perks found beauty in a newly emerged dragonfly

Whether you're a seasoned birder or simply curious about the natural world, the Global Bird Fair offers something for everyone.

Join us as we relive the highlights and look forward to next year's gathering of passionate nature enthusiasts.

Links BirdLife international https://www.birdlife.org/donate/ Charlie Bingham - https://linktr.ee/charliebingham Chris Bell - https://www.instagram.com/chrisbellbirding/ and https://birding-experience.com/en/home/ Naomi Davis - @NaturNaomi on Insta, BlueSky, Twitter and Tiktok https://www.instagram.com/naturnaomi/ Kelly Keegan - https://www.instagram.com/bird.brain.pod/ Tom Morath - https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/podcast/ Stephen Moss - https://www.stephenmoss.tv/ Sara Humphrey - https://www.instagram.com/sussex_sara Jack Perks - The Bearded Tit's Podcast https://beardedtit.podbean.com/ Global BirdFair https://globalbirdfair.org/ Casual Birder Community Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community 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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us. Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club Your bird stories Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website Support the show If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here Keep in the Loop Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/ Don't miss an episode - follow the show! My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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 prevent further decline.

Simon also tells how his long experience allows him to interpret bird behavior and vocalizations, adding depth to his observations and enhancing his connection with the avian world.

Whether you're a seasoned birder or simply curious about the natural world, Simon's insights and experiences will inspire you to look at the wildlife around you with fresh eyes and renewed appreciation.

Recorded live at Global BirdFair.

Links

The Wildlife Community website is: https://thewildlifecommunity.co.uk

Global BirdFair - get your tickets now: https://globalbirdfair.org/

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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us.

Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club

Casual Birder Community

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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

https://birdbanter.com/

Suzy's episode on The Bird Banter Podcast:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bird-banter-podcast-192-with-suzy-buttress/id1450449001?i=1000712244457

Global BirdFair - get your tickets now:

https://globalbirdfair.org/

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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us.

Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club

Casual Birder Community

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net

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 spotting different species in diverse locations. This episode is also available to watch on YouTube, with added photos and videos of the birds seen.

Links

YouTube

Click here to watch the episode, which includes photos and videos

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 friendly people from around the world to talk about the birds you've seen sounds like something you'd like to do, you'd be very welcome to join us.

Find out more here: The Casual Birder Bird Club

Casual Birder Community

Start your free trial here Casual Birder Community

Your bird stories

Tell me about your bird stories - contact me on the casualbirder.com website

Support the show

If you would like to help support the show's production, by buying a virtual coffee here

Keep in the Loop

Sign up here for email notifications of news, blogs and episodes

The Casual Birder Podcast https://casualbirder.com/

Don't miss an episode - follow the show!

My thanks to Randy Braun for designing the artwork for the show and to The Drones for the theme music Short Sleeved Shirt. Check out their website at www.dronesmusic.net