Celebrating episode 100!
Episode 100 Celebration |
My garden birds this week |
Tip of the week: Provide fresh water |
In case you missed it: Bird is the Word, episode 2 |
Podcast recommendation: Women Birders (Happy Hour) |
My latest episode: #101 Focus on Birds: The Nightingale. A conversation with Mike Drew. |
I recently released the 100th episode of The Casual Birder Podcast - a milestone that I was extremely proud to reach.
Birders Marylee Stephenson and Stephanie Seymour joined me for a live-streamed celebration. You can hear the conversation, along with messages from past guests and friends of the show here.
Newsletter status
This newsletter has been on an unanticipated hiatus since the end of April but will be returning to a weekly schedule from now on.
There will be some changes to the format, and I welcome any feedback on what you enjoy (or don’t enjoy) about the content.
Thank you for remaining as subscribers.
Suzy’s Bird Notes
My garden birds
I'm writing this from our vacation rental, a renovated barn in the Cotswolds, a picturesque area of western England famous for villages built of honey-coloured stone and rolling hills (or 'wolds').
Looking up from my laptop I can see across a farm field to a hill topped by a church. Occasional cars drive past on the lane. I can hear the twittering of Swallows as they swoop past, and the distant calls of Blue Tits and Magpies. We are currently experiencing very hot, sunny weather and during the hottest part of the day the birds disappear, no doubt to cool down in leafy trees.
Our bedroom window looks out to an Ash tree and a lovely little garden owned by the people who live on the ground floor of this building. From that window I have seen a nice variety of birds:
Carrion Crow,
Magpie,
Blue Tit,
Great Tit,
Blackbird,
Robin,
Stock Dove,
CollaredDove,
Wood Pigeon, and
Great-spotted Woodpecker.
We are only here for a week, and I have been out birding every day. A few days ago I met up with Anneke, a listener from the Facebook Group, and we spent a (very hot) morning birding at Coombe Hill Canal and Meadows, where I clocked up 3 lifers: Sedge Warbler, Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper.
I have heard Sedge Warblers before, but never seen one. There were a good many on our walk along the Canal to the bird hide, so I had plenty of opportunities to notice details about their plumage and behaviour. You can be sure that their song will be turning up in an episode of my podcast soon!
Update on my garden Blue Tits
I am pleased to report that not only did Spot and his partner lay 9 eggs in the nest cam box, but 4 of them hatched and they fledged on 31st May.
I checked the camera on the 30th and they all looked like they would be ready to leave soon, with 2 of them sitting outside of the nest cup, preening and stretching their wings. When I checked the camera on the 31st I was surprised to see the nest was empty!
Spot had been collecting mealworms all that day, but I watched his last two collections a little more carefully and saw him take them over the fence towards the shrubs lining the road. I guess that’s where the youngsters were hanging out.
Later that day I spotted one of the youngsters (I assume) in the Conifer near the nest box, but other than that there has been no sign of them!
Spot continued to come frequently for individual mealworms for the next two weeks. If he was feeding them to the fledged chicks, I am surprised that they care for the young birds so long after them leaving the nest.
For the past few weeks, Spot has not been seen, but I hope he is still in the neighbourhood.
Tip of the week: Provide water for your garden birds
In much of the UK this week we have been experiencing very hot weather. A ready supply of fresh water is so important to birds, both for drinking and bathing. An additional benefit is that other animals (such as Hedgehogs) and various insects can also take advantage of the water you put out.
As well as your main birdbath, I recommend placing plant saucers of various sizes around your garden or other outside space. This helps the shyer birds find quiet and space they need away from the more gregarious visitors.
Keep your birdbaths clean. You will often find the base turning green with algae, so empty and scrub them at least every other day and give them a deeper clean every week with a 10% bleach solution or proprietary animal-safe cleaner.
In case you missed it:
I was delighted to be featured on episode 2 of Bird is the Word, hosted by Faraaz Abdool.
I shared stories of my encounters with birds while travelling, as well as from my own backyard.
Podcast recommendation - Women Birders (Happy Hour)
This is a great podcast which gives voice to women birders around the world. Hosted by Hannah (who also co-hosts Hannah and Erik Go Birding) each episode features a conversation with a woman birder, including birding guides, avian scientists, and enthusiasts (I appeared on episode 1)!
In celebration of each guest or topic, Hannah creates a dedicated cocktail or mocktail which you can make and enjoy as you listen to the show!
I really enjoyed the recent episode featured Natasha, a birder living in Shetland, who will be familiar to members of The Casual Birder Podcast Facebook group where she often posts wonderful descriptions of her birding days.
The Casual Birder Podcast
Current episode:
#101 Focus on Birds: The Nightingale. A conversation with Mike Drew.
The Nightingale has a beautiful song that has been celebrated by poets and musicians alike.
Mike Drew tells us about his work managing the nesting habitat for this small bird, which migrates from Africa to breed in Europe.
Past episode suggestion:
#99 Global Big Day 2021
On May 8th bird watchers around the world took part in the Global Big Day.
This 24-hour event encouraged birders to see as many species as possible within their local area.
The Casual Birder Podcast team had a range of birding experience, from novice to expert. We saw 430 species in locations in Australia, UK & Europe and North America.
Hear about Suzy’s experience of the Big Day where she saw 54 species, visited two RSPB reserves and did a spot of garden bird watching from the bedroom window in the morning.
Visit my website for photos, blogs, and episode transcripts
Keep in touch
I love to hear about your bird sightings and experiences. You can send me a voice or written message here:
Support the show
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