Get Birding

Latest Episodes:

Migration and Conservation with Ben Watt Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Sean Bean returns to RSPB Arne in Dorset, where autumn migration is bringing birds in from further north. We’ll discover why Poole Harbour is such an important winter haven for waders and waterfowl, and get to know some of the reserve’s remarkable birds of prey.

Plus, we’ll meet musician Ben Watt, best known as a member of Everything But The Girl, as he takes us around his local patch at Brent Reservoir in North London. Ben shares how he fell in love with birding and why he’s campaigning to protect the wildlife and habitats on his doorstep.

We’ll also hear about the devastating wildfires at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk and their impact on the birds and habitats that will take years to recover. Meanwhile, the BTO’s satellite-tagged cuckoo, Bean, continues his remarkable journey south.

Dr Mya-Rose Craig is back with her dad, Chris, to answer your birding questions about migration after dark, and Maya takes a closer look at spotting scopes and what might be best for your birding.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

Learn more about Ben Watt’s environmental group, Cool Oak

https://www.cooloakgroup.com/

And the Brent Resovoir

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/places-to-visit/brent-reservoir-welsh-harp

Track our satellite tagged cuckoo, Bean. https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/cuckoo-tracking/bean

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Birding at RSPB Arne with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage at RSPB Arne, where they explore the reserve and discover how Dartford Warblers have bounced back, from just two pairs at Arne in 1965 to 97 pairs last year. Simon talks about how birds have found their way into his poetry, his love of their names, and one very questionable identification during a 24-hour bird race.

We’ll also get ready for October Big Day with Stephen Menzie from Merlin, as birders around the world head out on 10th October to record the birds they see. We’ll hear how hundreds of thousands of people can come together to build a picture of birds around the world, and discover why Falsterbo in Sweden is such an incredible place to watch autumn migration.

Plus, Dr Mya-Rose Craig is back to answer your birding questions and help you get to grips with what all those numbers on your binoculars really mean.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Generational Birding with Dr Mya-Rose Craig Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we’re exploring generational birding and how a love of nature is passed down through families. Sean Bean is joined by lifelong birders Dr. Mya-Rose Craig and her dad Chris at RSPB Arne, who share memories of birding together, from Mya-Rose’s first twitch at just nine days old to an overnight trip to Orkney to see a rare Sandhill Crane.

We’ll also meet 16-year-old conservationist Joe Scorey and his dad Paul in Bushy Park, where they reveal how birdwatching has brought them closer in a digital age when father-son relationships can be difficult, giving them a way to talk, travel and explore together.

Plus, Rachel, London Ambassador for Birds and the Belles, takes us back to where her love of birding began and how it has given her moments of mindfulness while navigating the grief of losing a parent. We’ll also answer your autumn birding questions, from departing summer migrants to the arrival of winter visitors.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Birds of Prey with Dan O'Neill Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by wildlife biologist and broadcaster Dan O’Neill at RSPB Ham Wall, where they explore the wildlife of this wetland habitat, from ospreys and cormorants to marsh harriers, kingfishers and dragonflies. They also reflect on their shared childhood passion for birds of prey and how spending time in nature can put life into perspective.

We’ll also meet Donna Davis and Rufus, the Harris Hawk who has worked at Wimbledon, Westminster Abbey and Lord’s Cricket Ground, to discover how falconry is used to deter gulls and pigeons in urban environments.

Plus, Dr Mya-Rose Craig returns to bust some birding myths, from the surprising truth about “seagulls” to why owls might not be as wise as they look.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

Tiger Island https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002x3br/tiger-island

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The birds that stay with us feat. Kirsty Gallacher and Amy Tan Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by broadcaster and lifelong birder Kirsty Gallacher to explore the seminal moments that have shaped her love and appreciation for birds, from peregrines and racing pigeons to a powerful encounter with an owl during a time of grief.

We’ll also hear from bestselling author Amy Tan about The Backyard Bird Chronicles and the year she spent observing, drawing and keeping a journal of the birds in her garden transformed the way she understood survival, habitat and our relationship with the natural world.

Plus, wildlife writer and communicator Lucy McRobert from The Sound Approach explores the overlooked voices of female birds and the gender gap in birdsong, nature beatboxer and composer Jason Singh reveals why the blackbird and song thrush are among his favourite birds, and Dr Mya-Rose Craig returns to answer your questions about the sounds of summer and the remarkable lives of swifts.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

The Sound Approach https://soundapproach.co.uk/

The Backyard Bird Chronicles https://amytan.net/backyard-bird-chronicles

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holiday Birding Spots with Jim Moir and Samuel West Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Sean Bean is back at RSPB Ham Wall with long-time birder Jeff Holmes to explore the changing fortunes of Britain's birds, from wintering whooper swans and cranes to the continental species arriving as our climate changes.

We'll also hear from past guests including artist and comedian Jim Moir, actor Samuel West and ornithologist Dr Mya-Rose Craig as they share their favourite holiday birding spots.

Plus, RSPB wildlife gardening expert Adrian Thomas shares simple ways to help birds during hot weather, composer Jason Singh explains why the hoopoe is a bird that gives him hope, and author Charlie Corbett reflects on how reconnecting with birds helped him through grief and inspired his book 12 Birds to Save Your Life.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Birding World Comes to Rutland Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the Get Birding team are headed to Rutland Water and the Global Bird Fair, where birders, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts from around the world come together to share ideas and inspire action for nature.

We’ll hear from Global Bird Fair founder, Tim Appleton and Mya-Rose Craig is on the ground discovering the latest innovations in birding gear, and learning why the birdwatching community is more diverse and welcoming than ever.

We’ll also meet Tim Sexton and Tim Mackrill from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust to learn how the pioneering Rutland Water Osprey Project helped bring breeding ospreys back to England after more than 150 years, and why their remarkable return remains one of British conservation's greatest success stories.

Plus, Jon Carter from the British Trust for Ornithology reveals the extraordinary migration of "Bean", the newly named satellite-tagged cuckoo.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production in collaboration with Swarovski Optic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Boom of the Bittern with Jeremy Vine Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we're exploring the reed beds of RSPB Ham Wall, where decades of habitat restoration have helped some of the UK's most spectacular wetland birds make a remarkable comeback.

Host Sean Bean is joined by broadcaster Jeremy Vine, who proves you don't need to know your sparrows from your sparrowhawks to enjoy birdwatching. Sean also meets Stephen Couch from the RSPB to learn more about the wetlands and their inhabitants, and is introduced to a new friend of the show, lifelong birder Jeff Holmes, whose decades of watching—and listening to—the Somerset Levels have given him a unique insight into the wildlife that lives there.

Plus, Dr Mya-Rose Craig is back to answer your birding questions, while nature beatboxer Jason Singh explores the unmistakable booming call of the bittern.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning to Fly with Dr Mya-Rose Craig Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we're following a new generation — from fledgling birds leaving the nest for the first time to young people discovering the natural world for themselves.

Host Sean Bean is joined by conservationist and author Dr Mya-Rose Craig, who explores the rapid rise of birding among Gen Z, how spending time with nature can support mental wellbeing, and why making the outdoors accessible to everyone is more important than ever.

Jenny Shelton from the Wildlife Trusts reveals the remarkable journeys young birds take as they prepare for their first flight, from branching owls to globe-trotting swifts, while nature beatboxer Jason Singh helps us tune into the sounds of the corvid family — crows, rooks and ravens — and the stories and folklore that surround them.

Plus, young birders from around the world share how watching birds has helped them slow down, switch off from the digital world, reconnect with nature and find a sense of community.

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

The podcast is made in collaboration with Forest Holidays, which encourages birdwatching as part of their guests’ stays, with nature sensitive cabins available in 13 incredible locations across the UK. Use the code GETBIRDING26 when booking, for £40 off a 3-night break or £60 off a 4 or 7 night break. The code expires on 30 June 2026 and is for breaks bookable until 1 October 2026.

To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singing with Nightingales Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

In this special episode, our resident birder, composer and nature beatboxer Jason Singh heads into the Sussex woods after dark for Singing with Nightingales — a unique experience that draws guests and musicians back year after year to witness one of nature’s most enchanting performances.

For a brief period between mid-April and the end of May, around five thousand pairs of nightingales migrate from Sub-Saharan Africa to southern England, where males fill the night air with their remarkable courtship songs.

Alongside folk singer, nature activist and founder of Singing with Nightingales, Sam Lee, Jason explores the beauty, mystery and musicality of the nightingale, while reflecting on the challenges facing this iconic bird and why its song matters now more than ever.

Singing with Nightingales

https://www.singingwithnightingales.co.uk/

Produced by Hana Walker-Brown. Executive Producer is Jane Gerber.

This is a Get Birding Production.

To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.