A Dunnock in the Garden

We're returning to where it all began, with the robin!In this first edition of Life Through Feathers Revisited, we're bringing back our original robin episode from January 2026, with a few small edits and some fresh recordings of robins singing in our Sheffield garden on a November morning this week.LTF Revisited is a little different from our usual monthly episodes. We're taking another listen to the birds we've already featured, sharing the original recordings in a shorter, bird-focused format. There's no Final Flutter or additional features just our original conversations about the bird, with the occasional new recording from our garden.Whether you enjoyed our original robin episode or missed it the first time around, we hope you'll enjoy rediscovering this wonderful garden visitor.Life Through Feathers: The Garden Bird Podcast.Discovering the natural world, one bird at a time.Visit us at: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.ukFollow us on Instagram: @lifethroughfeathersTheme music: "Birds in Flight" by Dan Lebowitz

This episode on Life Through Feathers, we've got a double helping of birds!First, Daniel joins me for our Top 10 on the Great Spotted Woodpecker, that unmistakable black, white and red garden visitor. We look at what makes these birds so fascinating, how to spot and identify them, and some of the surprising things you might not know about one of our most exciting garden birds.Then it's time for another Final Flutter, as Dad and I turn our attention to Crystal Palace FC, the Eagles. We explore the club's connection with its famous bird nickname, along with a few fascinating eagle facts and a look at why eagles feature as mascots for football clubs around the world.Two very different birds, two very different conversations, and plenty to enjoy along the way!Thanks for listening, and happy birding.Website: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.ukInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersMusic: "Bird in Flight" by Dan Lebowitz

In this episode of Life Through Feathers we’re finishing our three-part series on making our gardens more welcoming to wildlife.This time we’re looking at wildflowers and the simple idea of letting part of your garden grow a little wilder, creating space for insects and other wildlife, and ultimately helping the birds that depend on them.Then it’s time for our Top 10, and Clare joins me to celebrate one of our favourite garden visitors: the Bullfinch. We talk about their beautiful appearance, their gentle call, and why we’ve seen fewer of them in our garden this summer.And finally, it’s Final Flutter. I’m joined by Dad to explore the rather unexpected connection between Bromley Football Club and ravens, including a memorable family trip to Hillsborough.Wild gardensBullfinchesBromley FC and ravensThanks, as always, for listening.Website: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.ukInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersMusic: “Birds in Flight” by Dan Lebowitz

This month we have a little something extra for you - an additional episode of Lifethroughfeathers where we stray from our usual garden bird podcast and head much further afield!Earlier this summer, the four of us headed to Costa Rica for a family holiday and, as you might expect, birds played a pretty big part in the adventure.In this special bonus episode, we’ve gathered around the kitchen table to talk about some of the birds we saw, the places we visited and the moments that really stood out to us. We chat about some of our favourites, including the Toucan, Scarlet Macaw and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, as well as some of the many other birds we encountered along the way.We've also included some of the actual bird sounds recorded during our trip, so you can hear a little of the Costa Rican soundtrack for yourself.And, of course, there were a few birds that got away! We talk about the ones we saw brilliantly, the ones we only caught aglimpse of, and the Toucan that somehow managed to avoid giving us the perfect view we were hoping for.Daniel took photographs of many of the birds we mention, and you can see them over on our Instagram page: @lifethroughfeathersSo, settle back and join us as we swap our Sheffield garden for the birds of Costa Rica.We hope you enjoy the journey!Instagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.ukMusic: "Birds in flight" by Dan Lebowitz

This month on Life Through Feathers, Daniel joins me for a Top 10 all about one of the most familiar, and perhaps most divisive, birds in our gardens: the magpie.We explore some of the fascinating facts behind this intelligent and unmistakable bird, from its familiar rattling call to its place in folklore and the way it has become such a regular visitor to our own garden.We then continue our three-part series on making our gardens more wildlife friendly. This month, we’re building a pond, but not quite in the way you might expect! We take you through how we turned an old tyre into a wildlife pond, and talk about how even a small pond can make a difference to the wildlife visiting our garden.Finally, in Final Flutter, I’m joined by my father-in-law Les. When he took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch earlier this year, his garden was so quiet that he recorded just two wood pigeons. But things have changed, and he’s now seeing many more birds visiting his garden. So, whether you like magpies, fancy building your own wildlife pond, or simply enjoy watching the birds that visit your garden, we hope you’ll join us for another relaxed stroll through the wonderful world of garden birds.Music: “Birds in Flight” by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.uk

This month on Life Through Feathers, we're celebrating one of Britain's most charismatic woodland birds, the nuthatch. Clare joins me as we count down our Top 10 fascinating facts, from its incredible climbing ability to its unmistakable call and its unique habit of plastering mud around nest holes.We're also beginning the first part of a new three-part series on making our gardens more wildlife friendly. Together, Clare and I explore some simple changes that can make a real difference for the birds and other wildlife that share our outdoor spaces.Finally, in Final Flutter, Dad returns as we head to South Wales to discover the story behind Swansea City AFC and the swan that has become such an important symbol of the club.Whether you're a lifelong birdwatcher or simply enjoy the wildlife outside your window, we hope you'll join us for another relaxed stroll through the wonderful world of garden birds.Music: “Birds in flight” by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.uk

The gentle cooing of the Wood Pigeon is one of the defining sounds of a British garden, yet it's a bird many of us barely notice. In this episode of Life Through Feathers, we're slowing down to appreciate this familiar visitor. You'll hear recordings from our own garden, alongside the calls of an unusually vocal Chaffinch that seemed determined to steal the show!We'll be exploring some fascinating facts about the Wood Pigeon, discussing our vocal Chaffinch and, in our Final Flutter segment, my friend Ben joins me as we take a look at the Liver Bird and its special connection with Liverpool FC.Together, these everyday garden sounds remind us that even the most familiar birds have remarkable stories to tell if we take the time to listen. Put the kettle on, settle into your favourite chair, and spend a little time with us in the garden.Music: "Birds in Flight" by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.com

In this month’s episode of Life Through Feathers, James and I take a closer look at one of Britain’s most overlooked garden birds, the Dunnock. Quiet, shy and often mistaken for a sparrow, this little bird turns out to have a surprisingly fascinating life.Together we count down our Top 10 Dunnock facts, before I explore the hidden world of garden birds, and finish with a chat with dad about the old word “Throstle” and its connection to West Bromwich Albion. I hope this episode encourages us all to slow down and appreciate the birds we see every day outside our own windows.Music: "Birds in Flight" by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.com

Spring is in full swing, and this episode of Life Through Feathers is packed with birdsong, family chat, and a few unexpected connections.We begin with the cheerful sounds of the blue tit, one of the UK’s most recognisable and charismatic garden birds. I’m joined by Clare as we count down our top 10 fascinating facts about these tiny acrobats - from their colourful plumage to their cheerful chatter.Next, I sit down with Daniel and James to discuss new guidance from the RSPB advising people not to put out seeds and peanuts between May and October. We explore what this means for garden bird lovers, why the advice has beenintroduced, and whether it might change our own feeding habits.Finally, in this month’s Final Flutter, my dad joins me for a look at football and birds as we explore Tottenham Hotspur andtheir iconic cockerel emblem. Where did it come from, and what’s the story behind one of football’s most distinctive symbols?Whether you’re here for birds, family conversations, or a bit of sporting history, there’s something for everyone in this episode.Music: "Birds in Flight" by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.uk

In this episode of Life Through Feathers we turn our attention to the wren, though for the first time, there’s no wren in our garden. Joined by my dad, we share a Top 10 full of memories (including the wren on the old British farthing). Then, with Clare and Daniel, we explore bird photography and the rise of AI images - what it means for trust, conservation, and capturing real moments. The episode closes with Final Flutter, where birds and football collide. James and I look at Newcastle United and their famous magpie connection.Music: "Birds in Flight" by Dan LebowitzInstagram: @lifethroughfeathersWebsite: www.lifethroughfeathers.co.uk