Birds, Birders, Firsts & Lasts - The Dartmoor Podcast Episode Twenty

I visit Yarner Wood and the nearby Trendlebere Down to 'tick' the spring migrant birds as they return to our hills. Also, I try and explain what birding means to me. Enjoy!
Starring Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Pied Flycatchers, Tree Pipits, a very shy Whitethroat and a rogue Cuckoo. Supporting cast of Mandarins, Chaffinches, Stonechats, Linnets, a Yellowhammer, a Blackbird, a very loud Song Thrush, a very brief Blue Tit, a Great Tit, and a Grey Wagtail. Oh, and a Buzzard!
My Twitter: @DartmoorPodcast
My Facebook: / thedartmoorpodcast
My wild camping and birding books: www.amazon.co....

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Oh, a marketing afterthought - I wrote a little book on this sort of thing! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1672352878?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tpbk_1&storeType=ebooks&qid=1660730339&sr=8-4

[@jonathanpork-sausage617]

Bought it as a proper paper book.

[@georgebeddow2975]

What a blooming lovely video this is. The script, narration and photography are beautifully realised and imbued with cynicism-free gratitude and a sense of wonder. Nobody in the 'wild camping' community is, I think, making videos with such sincerity, (usually self-deprecating) wit and wisdom. If you are indeed a teacher, George then your students are very lucky indeed.

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

That's really kind - thank you! And, yes, I'm afraid I am a teacher!

[@georgebeddow2975]

@@thedartmoorpodcast I'm not "afraid" that you're a teacher - I'm heartened by it. If your lessons are as thoughtful, creative and generously-spirited as your videos, then you will be remembered long after your students have left for pastures new. Dartmoor's very own Mr Chips!

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Very kind! There seem to be a few students menacing the comments section, so I'll let them be the judge of my lessons!

[@mariumrajah]

Lovely video enjoyed watching your work Thank you 🙏 Fellow Patcher

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Thank you for watching - wishing you an exciting autumn!

[@TigerLily7.]

Magnificent..! Fantastic script, wonderful shots, pleasantly educational, truly beautiful, poetic... I love it and you know it.;) 💚

[@orbit1347]

After seeing this brilliant video, I will forever call Willow Warblers 'Willy Wobblers'

[@peterbudd44]

Enjoyed that . I live not too far from Bovey Tracey and would love to see a Pied Flycatcher ... Thanks.

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Well, they're 'nailed on' as they say :) . If you familiarise yourself with the little 'zing zilphzilph' call they make, then they're very easy to find right along the main path through Yarner. Good luck!

[@jontron380]

You manage to demystify and make birding less nerdy in this video, it is still quite nerdy though 😁 I try not to put myself in a labled box, as i am a very general naturalist ( not to be confused with a natrurist, different video) i enjoy observing all nature and the surrounding habitat. My favourite birding moment this year was seeing 3 cuckoo's in an aerial display in the east okement valley, getting proper cross with each other.😊

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Nice! Cuckoos are magic - definitely got plans to do an episode on them at some point.

[@zanzan150m]

Really enjoying your *podcast. Going to watch them all over the next few days when I visit for the first time. Do you know any good birding spots other than Yarner Wood please? Are there any good nightjar locations?

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Thank You! Not a great time of year for birding, but the area round Challacombe Farm and Soussons Plantation is usually pretty good - a nice variety of habitats and species including Nightjars.

[@spectaclemusic594]

I'm a vermin spotter. Got 2 rats, 5 rabbits and 3 grey squirrels yesterday.

[@HeffalumpHorralump1]

My birder parents would always correct people who called them twitchers

[@HeffalumpHorralump1]

@@jonathanpork-sausage617 it was exactly how you imagine

[@JiminyHiccup]

I had a friend tell me that they had seen brown crow... which turned out to be a Jay.

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

That actually shows quite a perceptive grasp of bird size and shape - they're a natural birder!

[@donnlol7703]

I think I saw Nathan the horse running in the background

[@JiminyHiccup]

Haha! I miss Nathan. Bring back Nathan!

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

I like the idea that he's still running with that lady chasing after him shouting!

[@TigerLily7.]

@@thedartmoorpodcast Nathan, nooo..!!!

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

I'm sure. We definitely felt bad about it at the time, but as I say in the cycling video, I don't think it was our fault - just a very nervy horse!

[@stuarttyler6724]

@@thedartmoorpodcast I like to imagine he's somehow teamed up with Fenton the dog

[@TheBigZinkz]

where’s nathan

[@fatfreefarmer4023]

Wonder if the broad appeal of this video wiil attract a few more viewers. You are undersubbed there George.

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Oddly the nature ones seem to do the worst in terms of views. Luckily, I'm not too fussed how many people watch - I just like making the sort of thing I wish existed. You'll know when I go for broad appeal when I resort to Jay's Grave and the Hound of the Baskervilles!

[@thedartmoorpodcast]

Interesting! I'm hoping to talk with someone later in the month about Molinia and grazing on the moor which I reckon will touch on this subject.