Tweet of the Day

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Natural Sciences
**Tweet of the Day**

Discover birds through their songs and calls. Each Tweet of the Day begins with a call or song, followed by a story of fascinating ornithology inspired by the sound.

Latest Episodes:

Sophie Pavelle on the Merlin Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

Nature writer Sophie Pavelle has been searching for the merlin, but is yet to see one.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

Tom McKinney on the Fieldfare Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

For broadcaster and musician Tom McKinney the autumn arrival of fieldfare to the UK's east coast is one of the country's greatest wildlife spectacles. He describes being immersed in fieldfare at places like Spurn Point in East Yorkshire, with a constant stream of flocks coming in off the North Sea, and the noise of their cackles and wheezes becoming an overwhelming cacophony.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This programme features audio by from Xeno-Canto by Simon Elliott and Stanislas Wroza (XC633551 and XC600107 - Fieldfare).

Susan Calman on the Goldfinch Sep 20, 2026

Show notes

After seeing a flock of goldfinch in a neighbour's garden, comedian Susan Calman suffered from a bout of 'bird jealousy', and describes the great lengths she went to in order to entice them into hers.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This programme features audio by David Bissett from Xeno-Canto (XC811560 - European Goldfinch).

Mike Dilger on the Pink-footed Goose Sep 13, 2026

Show notes

Every autumn naturalist Mike Dilger looks forward to the arrival of pink-footed geese to the Moray coast in Scotland. With its feet always caked in brown estuarine mud, Mike thinks this might be one of the more confusingly named British birds, and wonders if the 'chocolate-headed goose' would be more appropriate. Mike describes the spectacular skeins of birds as they arrive at the coast, and fly between mudflats and their farmland feeding grounds.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This programme features audio from Xeno-Canto by Agris Celmins (XC1049856 - Pink-footed Goose).

Isabella Tree on the White Stork Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

Conservationist Isabella Tree describes how the bill-clattering of white storks has become a characteristic sound of spring at Knepp in West Sussex. Since 2020 they've been nesting at the top of oak trees, and are the first to breed in England for centuries. Knepp is one of two sites where the White Stork Project has established a colony, where wild white storks are now breeding with re-introduced birds.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This programme features audio recorded at Knepp by Hazel Reeves.

Jasmine Donahaye on the Mallard Aug 30, 2026

Show notes

On a hot summer walk, author Jasmine Donahaye feels refreshed by the sound of mallards, as it announces the hidden presence of water. She's reminded that the familiar quack sound is the voice of the female, as they dabble on the water, corralling ducklings and sounding alarms. In summer the males molt their bright feathers and temporarily resemble the females, though their quieter, raspy quack gives them away.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

Sophie Pavelle on the Skylark Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

Nature writer Sophie Pavelle describes why the skylark has become an iconic avian muse. From Shakespeare and Wordsworth to First World War battlefields, the skylark has become a symbol of love and new beginnings. Despite being one of the UK's fastest declining birds, skylarks have soundtracked some of Sophie's most cherished memories walking Devon's coast and moorlands, hearing its liquid song tumbling from the air.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.

This programme features audio from Xeno-Canto by Simon Elliott (XC590432 - Eurasian Skylark).

Horatio Clare on the Herring Gull Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

Writer Horatio Clare describes why he finds the herring gull to be a fascinating and surprising bird, from their use of vomit in courtship, to how to deter them from stealing your chips.

Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.

This programme features audio from Xeno-Canto by Jack Berteau and Irish Wildlife Sounds (European Herring Gull - XC717834 and XC741653).

Isabella Tree on the Common Whitethroat Aug 09, 2026

Show notes

Common whitethroats arrive back at the Knepp Rewilding Project in West Sussex just as the hawthorn begins to bloom. Its numbers have increased there nearly 300% over the last 20 years. The secret of its success is the mass of scrubland habitat which has colonised this land since they gave up farming, providing insects and berries to eat. Conservationist Isabella Tree describes begin able to pick up the fast, scratchy, song of this long-distance migrant, above the cacophony of the dawn chorus.

Presented by Isabella Tree and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol.

This programme features audio recorded at Knepp by Hazel Reeves.

Anita Sethi on the Dunlin Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

On a summer walk in Upper Teesdale on her way to the great Cow Green Reservoir, nature writer Anita Sethi realises she is lost. Without her map, she turns to nature for a sign of where she is, and is rewarded with the call of the dunlin.

Once known as the red-backed sandpiper because of their rusty-red and black summer plumage, dunlins are small waders that nest on upland landscapes in the summer months, where peaty pools provide habitat for food. In the winter, their plumage transforms to greyish-brown and white. They can also be found on the UK's coastline and estuaries all year round.

Despite their relatively small size, dunlins are capable of producing a very loud song. Anita follows the bird's low burrs and high trills and eventually finds herself at the edge of the vast reservoir, nestled between the North Pennine hills - a perfect spot for birdwatching.

Presented by Anita Sethi and produced by Jo Peacey. A BBC Audio Bristol production.

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