Tweet of the Day

Mark Cocker on the Wood Warbler

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nature writer Mark Cocker heard his first wood warbler at the age of thirteen. Now in middle age spring has not truly begun until he has heard the fir...

Mark Cocker on the Twite

27 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nature writer Mark Cocker recalls seeing twite feeding between the goalposts at his school in Derbyshire, however twite and its trilling song are a ra...

Mark Cocker on the Meadow Pipit

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nature writer Mark Cocker is in Derbyshire where he revels in the windblown melancholy of the meadow pipit's song, on these wild moorland landscapes h...

Richard Jones on the Gyr Falcon

23 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Avian vet Richard Jones introduces a strange tale from his surgery, involving a runaway Gyr falcon, a black hat, and a peculiar mating habit. Producer...

Richard Jones on the Peregrine

22 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Avian vet Richard Jones introduces the bird that inspired his career. A childhood trip to Anglesey led to an obsession with the fastest bird in the wo...

Matt Merritt on the Wheatear

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and editor of British Birdwatching magazine Matt Merritt revels in fast cheery song of the wheatear, which gave this bird the old name of English...

Matt Merritt on the Redstart

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and editor of British Birdwatching magazine enjoys seeing the first male redstart of spring, around April 20th, which has become Redstart Day for...

Matt Merritt on the Curlew

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Poet and editor of British Birdwatching magazine revels in sounds of approaching spring as the call of the curlew once more fills the air in this Twee...

Andy Clements on the Garden Warbler

16 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology explains why he rates the song of the Garden Warbler above that of the similar sounding Blackcap, o...

Sarah Harris on the Blackbird

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Harris of the British Trust for Ornithology recalls the excitement of watching clouds of migrating blackbirds arriving at Spurn in East Yorkshir...

Nick Moran on the Heron

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nick Moran of the British Trust for Ornithology describes the surprise he got when he listened back to a recording he had made during the night of bir...

Jennifer Border on the Whinchat

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Border of the British Trust for Ornithology has a special affection for whinchats even though research trips don't always go to plan as she r...

Andy Clements on Pink-footed Geese

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology explains why he finds the sound of Pink-footed Geese so exciting as they fly overhead calling to on...

Chris Baines on the Nuthatch

09 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode about the birds which are encouraged by his 'wildlife-friendly' garden in inner-city Wolverhampton, naturalist and environmentalist Ch...

Chris Baines on the Great Spotted Woodpecker

08 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which are encouraged by his 'wildlife-friendly' garden in inner-city Wolverhampton, naturalist and environmen...

Chris Baines on the Song Thrush

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines describes the wonderful song battles for territory and mates between Song Thrushes making home in his and...

Chris Baines on the Goldcrest

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In another of his TWEETS about the birds which visit his 'wildlife-friendly' garden, naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines revels in the sight ...

Chris Baines on the Bullfinch

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The striking-looking bullfinch is the subject of today's episode with naturalist and environmentalist Chris Baines. It is one of the birds he hears an...

Helen Moncrieff on the Shag

02 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ever since her first encounter with a Scarf as they are known locally when she was a child and her Mum rescued a casualty of an oil spill, Helen Moncr...

Helen Moncrieff on the Shetland Starling

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ever since childhood, Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland has been fascinated by the ways in which Shetland Starlings can mimic not on...

Helen Moncrieff on the Fulmar

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Fulmars defend their nests by launching their stomach contents at an intruder. Now this may not seem like an appealing behaviour but as Helen Moncrief...

Helen Moncrieff on the Northern Wheatear

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Known locally as Sten-shakker or Chek after their alarm call, Northern Wheatears never cease to delight Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Sco...

Helen Moncrieff on the Black Guillemot

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Helen Moncrieff, Shetland Manager for RSPB Scotland recalls some of her encounters with the Black Guillemot or Tystie as they are known locally in She...

Michael Morpurgo on the Swan

23 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Children's author and poet Michael Morpurgo reflects on the swan, celebrating its mysterious beauty and the wonder of its wings as they pass overhead....

David Rothenberg on the Song Thrush

22 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Music professor and philosopher David Rothenberg asks a simple question, why is the song thrush with its beautiful, exuberant and melodious song not f...

David Rothenberg on the Robin

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

David Rothenberg on the jazz artist of the bird world - the humble robin. David explains what the song of the robin has in common with experimental fr...

David Rothenberg on the Blackbird

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For professor of philosophy and music at the New Jersey Institute of Technology David Rothenberg, the blackbird is a beautiful melodic songster which ...

Joe Acheson on the Wren

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Joe Acheson of Hidden Orchestra describes how slowing down recordings he made of the diminutive wren song during a dawn chorus, sounded like ...

Penny Anderson on the Garden Warbler

16 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ecologist Penny Anderson learns how to differentiate between the songs of Blackcap and Garden Warbler when to her delight she hears a Garden Warbler s...

Penny Anderson on the Mandarin Duck

15 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mandarin Ducks are flamboyant, brightly coloured ducks which originally hail from the Middle East. A feral population established here in the last cen...

Penny Anderson on the Heron

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ecologist Penny Anderson wonders whether evolution is a work in her garden as the behaviour of the frogs in her ponds seems to be changing in response...

Penny Anderson on the Spotted Flycatcher

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When a pair of Spotted flycatchers decided to build a nest in a gap in the wall, ecologist Penny Anderson had to stop the pointing work being done to ...

Penny Anderson on the Red Grouse

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ecologist Penny Anderson has always liked Red Grouse and they never fail to make her laugh as she reveals in this recollection about her encounters wi...

Mike Toms on the Tawny Owl

09 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology describes his night-time encounters with Tawny Owls in Thetford Forest in Norfolk.Tweet of the Day has ...

Ben Darvill on the Common Rosefinch

08 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Darvill of the British Trust for Ornithology recalls his first encounter with the Common Rosefinch after it woke him up when he was camping on the...

Dave Leech on the Water Rail

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Leech from the British Trust for Ornithology describes his excitement at finding a Water Rail nest containing the most beautiful eggs after havin...

Bonita Johnson on the Robin

06 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bonita Johnson of the British Trust for Ornithology recalls seeing a pair of Robins locked in combat on a woodland floor until they were surprised by ...

Andy Clements on the Golden Plover

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Andy Clements of the British Trust for Ornithology describes how he was first bewitched by the captivating sound of the Golden Plover in summer above ...

Tony Juniper on the Linnet

02 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist Tony Juniper grew up in a neighbourhood where linnets were kept in captivity. As he recalls they were popular not only because of the...

Tony Juniper on the Black-tailed Godwit

01 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist Tony Juniper recalls his first encounter on the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel with an "elegant beauty"; a large wading bird ...

Tony Juniper on the Whitethroat

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist Tony Juniper recalls catching a whitethroat in a mist net in Portugal which had been ringed in Dorset and listening to their song as ...

Tony Juniper on the Corn Bunting

30 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist Tony Juniper recalls his delight at seeing a Corn Bunting; a bird whose song was part of his childhood, before the population decline...

Tony Juniper on the Woodcock

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Environmentalist Tony Juniper recalls his encounters with woodcock, from startling them in a woodland during a daytime walk to enjoying the curious si...

Jane Smith on the Whitethroat

26 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife artist Jane Smith describes her excitement at hearing the song of the whitethroat heralding his return to her garden every year.Producer: Sar...

Jane Smith on the Ringed Plover

25 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by a group of Ringed Plovers and their ability to seemingly appear and disappear before her eyes so good is t...

Jane Smith on the Great Northern Diver

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife artist Jane Smith listens in the fog to a Great Northern Diver and is drawn towards the strange eerie call of the bird.Producer: Sarah Blunt ...

Jane Smith on the Barnacle Goose

23 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife artist Jane Smith is captivated by Barnacle geese arriving from the Arctic Tundra and filling the air with their barking yapping sounds and w...

Jane Smith on the Snipe

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife artist Jane Smith reveals why she feels such a strong connection with Snipe which produce a drumming sound which seems to encapsulate the sou...

Kathy Hinde on the House Martin

19 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As she watches House martins land and take off from telegraph wires, audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde was struck by how they looked like notes on a mus...

Kathy Hinde on the Knot

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

"Its one of the most breathtaking experiences I've witnessed" says Kathy Hinde as she recalls watching thousands of Knot being forced by the incoming ...

Kathy Hinde on the Barnacle Goose

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Migrating Barnacle geese inspire audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde to create an installation in Scotland to celebrate their winter residence.Producer: S...

Kathy Hinde on the Pink-footed Goose

16 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde enjoys the sounds of a flock of Pink-footed Geese as they take to the air. Producer: Sarah Blunt Photograph: Tom Mckib...

Kathy Hinde on the Common Crane

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Audio-visual artist Kathy Hinde has always loved cranes, ever since she learned to make origami cranes as a child. Here she recalls a magical sunrise ...

Andy Radford on the Green Woodhoopoe

12 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol describes the role of sound when it comes to competing choruses of Green ...

Andy Radford on the Pied Babbler

11 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol describes how the Pied Babbler uses the Watchman's song in its role as a ...

Andy Radford on the Superb Fairy Wren

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavourial Biologist at the University of Bristol describes the fascinating abilities of Superb Fairy Wrens to recognise th...

Andy Radford on the Robin

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The variety of sounds produced by Robins has long fascinated Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol. Tweet of th...

Andy Radford on the Curlew

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Andy Radford, a Behavioural Biologist at the University of Bristol recalls how the evocative cries of the Curlews on the Yorkshire Moors fir...

Doug Allan on the Giant Petrel

05 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his encounters with Giant Petrels in Antarctica with mixed feelings as he recalls their baleful stare, steely gr...

Doug Allan on the Wandering Albatross

04 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the fourth of five recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls his excitement at lying under...

Doug Allan on the Snowy Sheathbill

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In his recollections about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls watching an opportunistic Snowy Sheathbill t...

Doug Allan on the Snow Petrel

02 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Recollecting about his encounters with birds in Antarctica, wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls ringing Snow Petrels with mixed feelings. Producer: ...

Doug Allan on the Emperor Penguin

01 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wildlife cameraman Doug Allan recalls hearing a Emperor Penguin chick for the first time.Tweet of the Day has captivated the Radio 4 audience with its...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 12 of 12

31 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 11 of 12

29 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 10 of 12

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 9 of 12

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 8 of 12

26 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 7 of 12

25 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 6 of 12

24 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 5 of 12

22 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the ...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 4 of 12

21 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 3 of 12

20 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and for many a song or a carol to bring merriment to the co...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 2 of 12

19 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the ...

Alison Steadman - The Twelve Tweets of Christmas 1 of 12

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During this season of goodwill our thoughts turn to crackling fires, being with the family and, for many, a song or a carol to bring merriment to the ...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Pied Butcherbird

15 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Having recorded a number of bird calls in Australia, back home musician Fyfe Dangerfield manipulates their speed and pitch to experiment in music and ...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Woodchat Shrike

14 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Childhood holidays in France, sitting in the back of the car were for musician Fyfe Dangerfield a great opportunity to view rare birds, such as the wo...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Bluethroat

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

For musician Fyfe Dangerfield seeing a rare bird on his travels is as exciting as seeing a celebrity on the street, and the bluethroat he saw in India...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Grey Heron

12 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Fyfe Dangerfield loves being in places which feel removed from modern life where the prehistoric looking grey heron can be a great leveller.P...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Golden Oriole

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As a child, musician Fyfe Dangerfield learnt bird calls from a sound tape borrowed from the library, meaning he was able to hear before seeing a golde...

Mark Cocker on the Short-eared Owl

08 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Despite having a call like an asthmatic dog, for birdwatcher and naturalist Mark Cocker, the flight of a wintering short-eared owl is one of the most ...

Tara Robinson on the Cuckoo

07 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The simple call of the cuckoo in spring has inspired theatre director Tara Robinson to create a play all about bird migration.Producer Andrew Dawes Ph...

Tara Robinson on the Treecreeper

06 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

While in Spain, theatre director Tara Robinson recalls seeing a treecreeper close on a tree while she and her partner were relaxing by the poolside.Pr...

Sue Perkins on the Great Horned Owl

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Sue Perkins recalls attending the Staffordshire Country Show where she came face to face with a great horned owl possessing a powerful grip.P...

Greta Scacchi on the Goldfinch

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Actress Greta Scacchi compares the birds she once knew in Australia with those who now visit her London home, especially the goldfinch which makes her...

Michael Morpurgo on the Greater Flamingo

01 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

On a visit to the Camargue National Park in France, author Michael Morpurgo found getting close to beautiful and elegant flamingos, and hearing their ...

Michael Morpurgo on the Dipper

30 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Author Michael Morpurgo doesn't go out looking for birds, but when out walking along a river he loves to glimpse a dipper and would love to get up clo...

Michael Morpurgo on the Oystercatcher

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Children's Author and playwright Michael Morpurgo enjoys talking to oystercatchers on his annual visit to the Isles of Scilly.Producer: Tom Bonnett Ph...

Michael Morpurgo on the Buzzard

28 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Children's author Michael Morpurgo recounts how his daily walk in the Devon countryside is often enlivened by the call of buzzards overhead for this T...

Michael Morpurgo on the Magpie

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Children's author and poet Michael Morpurgo discusses the cackling magpie in this Tweet of the Day, a bird that seemingly never dies.Producer: Tom Bon...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Gannet

24 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Fyfe Dangerfield describes being enthralled by the rapid, bombing dive of a gannet fishing out at sea and the magic of unexpectedly seeing on...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Pigeon

23 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Fyfe Dangerfield enjoys how his young son's interest in some of our more common birds helps stop him from overlooking everyday avian beauty.P...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Black-throated Diver

22 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The jewel-like patterns of the black-throated diver have musician Fyfe Dangerfield in awe as he heads to Highlands in search of space to write.Produce...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Bee-Eater

21 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Fyfe Dangerfield imagines his perfect outfit, a technicolour dreamcoat resplendent in the shimmering hues of the bee-eater.Producer: Mark War...

Fyfe Dangerfield on the Guillemot

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Musician Fyfe Dangerfield tells the story of an inspirational trip to the 'birdland' of the Farne Islands where a seabird inspired the name for the ba...

Dermot O'Leary on the Dunnock

17 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The dunnock is a newly-appreciated bird in the O'Leary household and as Dermot potters around the garden he admires the work ethic and understated bea...

Dermot O'Leary on Swifts and Swallows

16 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Presenter Dermot O'Leary relishes the effortless soaring of swifts and remembers the joy of the independence of his first car and the feeling of takin...

Dermot O'Leary on the Greater Black-backed Gull

15 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Presenter Dermot O'Leary hails the greater black-backed gull as an 'Alsatian of the skies' as he marvels at their hardy survival skills and effortless...

Dermot O'Leary on the Coal Tit

14 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Since his early teens, presenter Dermot O'Leary has into birdlife and from his kitchen in Central London he loves gazing into the garden and watching ...

Dermot O'Leary on the Sea Eagle

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Presenter Dermot O'Leary goes in search of sea eagles in the Highlands. He's enlisted wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan to help him track them down b...