Global Birdfair thoughts and stunning midsummer megas!
7/17/202641 min
Welcome to the second episode of The BirdGuides Podcast! Join your regular hosts Josh Jones, David Campbell and Ian Lycett as they discuss the recent midsummer megas, including Long-tailed Shrike and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, and reflect on Global Birdfair 2026.
What you'll learn in this episode
- Global Birdfair 2026 thoughts: what did the guys make of this year's event?
- Britain's second Long-tailed Shrike. Hear about David and Josh's epic twitch to Fife.
- This week's Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Orkney is discussed.
- The Hudsonian Godwit in East Anglia and other midsummer surprises.
Episode timestamps
00:30 – Global Birdfair 2026: thoughts and reflections
09:00 – Ian and David go birding on Josh's patch
12:10 – Britain's second Long-tailed Shrike turns up in Fife
22:15 – break
22:20 – Blue-cheeked Bee-eater in Orkney
27:40 – Hudsonian Godwit and other recent rarities
Links
Get in touch by emailing podcast@birdguides.com
Stay updated with the latest news at www.birdguides.com/podcast
Contact Josh, David or Ian directly via the BirdGuides Team page
Enjoyed our second episode? Please subscribe or follow on your favourite podcast app and leave us a 5-star review to help other birders discover the show. Tell us your own memories of Global Birdfair 2026 and whether you have seen any of July's mega rarities on our socials!
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Music by Matt Phelps
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDavid Campbell· Host0:00
The Bird Guides Podcast.
Josh Jones· Host0:02
[bird chirping] [upbeat music] Welcome to the Bird Guides Podcast with me, Josh Jones, and I'm joined today by David Campbell. Hi, David. How are you?
David Campbell· Host0:37
Hiya, not bad. How's it going?
Josh Jones· Host0:38
Very good, thank you very much. And Ian Lycett's here, too. How are you doing, Ian?
Ian Lycett· Host0:43
I'm all right, thanks, Josh. I'm, yeah, feeling pretty good. Thanks.
Josh Jones· Host0:46
Good stuff. And, uh, yeah, we're recording in the days shortly after Global Bird Fair's come to pass, just recovering after a long and busy and exciting weekend in the sun. How did you guys find the event?
Ian Lycett· Host0:58
Hot. [laughs] The Friday was like a sauna in the marquees, but it's always great to see so many familiar faces. I think this is the, something like the 27th Bird Fair I've done, so quite a lot of the familiar faces I've seen for many years. We've all got slightly older, fatter, grayer, or bald together. Yeah, always good to catch up with people in the tents and, you know, talk birds with people from all around the world. Great. Loved it.
Josh Jones· Host1:24
And tw-27 Bird Fairs for you, Ian, but that was your first as a,