THE DOCUMENTARY - FLYING HIGH: THE RETURN OF THE PEREGRINE FALCON (320kbs-m4a/61mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 12th September 2024
The peregrine falcon is not only the fastest animal on our planet, but also the most widely distributed bird of prey, found on every continent apart from Antarctica. In the 1960s Falco peregrinus was close to extinction, but it has since made a remarkable comeback and is hailed as a global success story of conservation.
Recent decades have also seen the trend of this speedy raptor notably settling, nesting and flourishing alongside us, in man-made environments around the globe. Broadcaster, naturalist and writer David Lindo, aka 'The Urban Birder’ travels from a hospital in London to a museum in Madrid and a power station in Kentucky, to explore how an iconic, apex predator is bouncing back from the brink, thriving in cities and towns across the world.
Along the way David highlights their incredible hunting ability and how both our responsibility for the decline of the peregrine and our pervading fondness for it, have helped to contribute to its astounding recovery.
Producer: Neil Kanwal
Executive producer: Pete Shevlin
A C60Media production for BBC World Service
(Photo: A peregrine falcon in flight. Credit: Getty images)
THE DOCUMENTARY - THE FLIGHT OF THE VULTURE (320kbs-m4a/61mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 17th February 2025
With their fearsome talons, acid poo and a penchant for rotting carcasses, the vulture has long been shouldered with associations of death, and dishonour. This taboo often puts them bottom of the list for conservation projects. Nevertheless, they are a keystone animal in every environment they live in. And in nearly every one, they're in trouble.
Conservationist Sacha Dench travels visits three different vulture species, each with an extraordinary story of persecution and survival.
In India, vulture populations collapsed by 99.9%, the sharpest decline of any animal ever recorded, in the 'Indian Vulture Crisis'. Debbie Pain and Chris Bowden describe the urgent international collaborative effort that brought them back from the very brink of extinction.
In South Africa, the White Backed Vulture has become collateral damage in the ongoing war between poachers and game-keepers. Sacha meets Kerri Wolter and Alistair Sinclair of Vulpro, the organisation that’s rescuing and rehabilitating these innocent bystanders.
Finally, in Guinea-Bissau, vultures are the victim of cultural practices which see their bodies as having magical properties. Sacha talks to Jose Tavares from the Vulture Conservation Foundation, and Andre Botha from the IUCN Vulture Group, who reveals the cultural practices which put the birds at risk.
THE DOCUMENTARY - BIRDING THE GENDER GAP (320kbs-m4a/61mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 14th August 2025
During the annual World Series of Birding in New Jersey, US, teams compete to see who can identify the most bird species in 24 hours. For team Galbatross the goal is different and much harder - they only identify female birds. This self-imposed restriction is a form of activism, calling into question centuries of ornithology that has focused primarily on male birds, with their bright plumage, elaborate dances, and loud songs.
We follow team Galbatross as they attempt to break their own record for the most female birds spotted during the World Series of Birding. Along the way, we hear from scientists and birders alike about how we got where we are, and how expanding science to be more inclusive of species of all genders can change our perspective on ourselves and the environment.
Producer and presenter – Daniel Semo
A Dennis Funk for Written in Air production
MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 14 - 6. UNST (SHETLAND PART 2) (320kbs-m4a/87mb/38mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 11th November 2025
6/6 - Unst - 'The Island Above All Others'.
After performing in Lerwick earlier in the series, Mark's Shetland adventure concludes in Unst, as far north as you can get.
There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.
Written and performed by Mark Steel
Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for Radio 4
MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 14 - 5. LERWICK (SHETLAND PART 1) (320kbs-m4a/94mb/41mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th November 2025
For the fifth stop of the series, Mark travels to Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, perched at the far edge of Britain, where everyone's on first-name terms with the fog.
It's a place where Viking heritage meets oil rigs and knitting patterns, where the winter fire festival Up Helly Aa lights up the darkness, and where the locals are masters of making their own fun.
This is the first of Mark's two shows from Shetland, recorded in front of an audience in Lerwick. Later in the series he'll also be visiting Unst, the UK's most northerly inhabited island.
This is the 14th series of Mark's award winning show where he travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.
As well as Shetland, in this series, Mark be will also be popping to Oakham in Rutland, Wrexham, Lewisham and Cambridge.
There will also be extended versions of each episode available on BBC Sounds.
Written and performed by Mark Steel
Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinators Caroline Barlow and Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for Radio 4
MARK STEEL'S IN TOWN: SERIES 12 - 3. THE ISLES OF SCILLY (320kbs-m4a/96mb/42mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 5th September 2022
Mark Steel is back with the 12th series of his award winning show that travels around the country visiting towns that have nothing in common but their uniqueness. After thoroughly researching each town, Mark writes and performs a bespoke evening of comedy for a local audience.
In this third episode Mark visits The Isles of Scilly.
In this series, Mark will also be popping to Nottingham, Tring, Salisbury, Newport and Paris. And for the first time, there will be extended versions of each episode available on BBC sounds.
Written and performed by Mark Steel
Additional material by Pete Sinclair
Production co-ordinator Sarah Sharpe
Production co-ordinator Katie Baum
Sound Manager Jerry Peal
Producer Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
RADICAL WITH AMOL RAJAN - A WAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE: ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS LOSING THE FIGHT? (CHRIS PACKHAM) (320kbs-m4a/152mb/66mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 27th November 2025
What does it mean to confront climate change? Amol speaks to broadcaster and campaigner Chris Packham who says conservationists like him have not done enough to protect nature.
After the COP climate summit in Brazil ended without new targets to reduce the use of fossil fuels, he wants the UK government to lead a global emergency action plan as it did in World War Two and during the 2008 financial crisis to address what he calls climate and nature breakdown.
The Springwatch and Winterwatch presenter also highlights the importance of biodiversity, how carbon emissions affect our health, and the practical steps individuals can take to make a difference.
But ultimately he says we need a policy shift, which makes polluters pay.
Chris also speaks candidly about his neurodiversity, his compulsion to speak truth to power and the personal price he pays for his campaigning.
(00:06:27) The scale of the climate crisis
(00:09:22) What he wants the UK government to do
(00:12:23) Why climate change has fallen down the political agenda
(00:14:52) Short term vs long term decisions
(00:20:26) Are net zero policies working?
(00:33:55) Environmentalism as a form of misanthropy
(00:40:14) Radical solutions
(00:44:02) What Chris does to help the environment
(00:45:40) Why he thinks he and other conservationists have failed
(00:48:01) What individuals can do
(00:57:38) The price he's paid for his campaigning
(00:59:55) Neurodiversity
(01:02:38) Amol's reflections
GET IN TOUCH
* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480
* Email: radical@bbc.co.uk
Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan
Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.
Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Johnny Baker. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD (320kbs-m4a/156mb/68mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th to 22nd August 2025
When Brett Westwood began a wildlife diary aged 15, little did he think that he'd still be writing notes, nearly 40 years later about the same local patch in North Worcestershire.
In this series Brett returns, diaries in hand, to five different habitats in his local patch and compares notes from the past with the landscape and wildlife of today.
There are genuine shocks and revelations.
Wildlife Sound Recordist: Chris Watson
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2015.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD - 1. FARMLAND (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 18th August 2025
Brett visits an area of arable and pasture land where corn buntings sang their crackly songs, grey partridges creaked in spring dusks and the pee-wit cries of lapwing were regular sounds.
But intensive farming in this area has had a huge effect on how the land is managed, resulting in the loss of hedges, use of pesticides, loss of winter stubble. All these changes have impacted on the insects, shelter and nesting sites for wildlife.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD - 2. VALLEY (320kbs-m4a/31mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 19th August 2025
Since Brett started visiting his local patch, the landscape in the valley has changed more radically than any other area - not as a result of management, but of nature taking its course.
The valley is a sandstone dip between two horse pastures and its steep sides have deterred any cropping or grazing.
As a teenager, this is where Brett soaked in the scents of basil and thyme which carpeted the banks. Young hawthorn saplings attracted whinchats and tree pipits. Turtle doves nested here in summer.
Instead, fieldfares and redwings roost in the thorns in winter and in summer chiffchaffs and blackcaps are commoner than ever.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD - 3. SEWAGE (320kbs-m4a/31mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 20th August 2025
When Brett was a teenager, sewage was pumped out from a farm at Whittington onto an area of about a square mile where cattle were grazed. In icy winters the fields did not freeze owing to the warmth provided by the sewage and the life breeding in it.
Unusual for the West Midlands in winter, a regular flock of up to 200 curlews were joined by a pink-footed goose, pintails, wigeon, and in winter 1976 two spotted redshanks.
The old methods of spreading sewage stopped in the 1980s and the curlew flocks have gone but Brett still visits the area, and in recent years has been rewarded with sightings of barn owls and buzzards.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD - 4. WOODLAND (320kbs-m4a/31mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 21st August 2025
Fairy Glen is a small natural woodland in Brett's patch carpeted with bluebells in spring.
What was once oak has become a sycamore wood. However, it's now a great place to spot warblers; chaffinches and bramblings feeding on aphids in spring, and during his visit Brett watches a pair of Nuthatches bringing back food for their young to their nest hole in the trunk of a tree.
But for Brett, the attraction is the buzzards soaring over the canopy, which have returned and bred in the area since the 1990s.
There are ravens too – another bird which Brett would never have dreamed of seeing when he was a teenager on his local patch.
THE DIARIES OF BRETT WESTWOOD - 5. CANAL (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 22nd August 2025
The River Stour has its source in the industrial Black Country and flows through Brett's local patch on its way to the Severn, about 9 miles away.
Today, although it is polluted, the river is far clearer than in years gone by, thanks to rigorous controls on pollutants. With their absence, fish have returned and damselflies such as the white-legged damsel which is sensitive to pollution, skim across the surface.
Last year Brett heard what he's convinced was the 'plop' of a water vole and saw footprints in the riverside mud for the first time in 15 years. With mink now well-established, could these water voles survive?
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS (320kbs-m4a/156mb/67mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 28th July to 1st August 2025
Here's a helpful, practical guide to help you sort your Blue Tits from your Great Tits and your Hedge Sparrows from your Tree Sparrows.
Recorded on location in the Somerset Levels, Brett Westwood and wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson are in the garden of keen birdwatcher, writer and broadcaster, Stephen Moss.
Packed with useful information and helpful tips, the series will appeal to both the complete novice, and the experienced birdwatcher who simply wants to know more about the birds in their garden.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in May 2007.
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS - 1. THRUSHES (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 28th July to 2025
For starters, they're setting out to sort out the members of the Thrush family, including Blackbird, Mistle-Thrush, Song Thrush and Robin.
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS - 2. TITMICE (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 29th July to 2025
It's time to observe and sort out the members of the Titmice family, including Blue Tits, Great tits and Long-tailed Tits.
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS - 3. FINCHES (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 30th July to 2025
All ears are now on members of the Finch family, including the Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch.
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS - 4. WOODLAND VISITORS (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 31st July to 2025
Time to listen out for feathered visitors to woodland, including the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the skulking Dunnock.
A GUIDE TO GARDEN BIRDS - 5. HOUSE GUESTS (320kbs-m4a/31mb/13mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 1st August to 2025
Time to listen out for feathered visitors nesting on or around our homes, like House Sparrows and House Martins.
DISCOVERY - TOOTH AND CLAW: HARPY EAGLES (320kbs-m4a/61mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 14th July 2025
Named after a beast from Greek mythology, the harpy eagle is widely considered to be the most powerful bird of prey due to its strong legs and huge talons. With a crown of feathers atop its head, and known for eating monkeys and sloths, this regal-looking raptor dominates the rainforest canopies across much of South and Central America.
Presenter Adam Hart looks into the folklore and cultural importance of these imposing birds, as well as finding out why these apex predators of the treetops are having to increasingly search for ground-dwelling prey such as armadillos. He also hears how harpy eagle researchers were the pioneers for biological applications of GPS in order to study and track these animals in the dense rainforest.
Contributors:
Dr. Helena Aguiar-Silva, biologist and associate research scientist at the National Institute for Amazonian Research and a member of Projeto Harpia Brasil.
Dr. Eduardo Alvarez founder of a non-profit organisation called EarthMatters.org, to concentrate on the study and conservation of harpy eagles and to preserve their rainforest habitat.
Presenter: Professor Adam Hart
Producer: Jonathan Blackwell
Image: Harpy eagle and nest with chick
Credit: João Marcos Rosa
GREAT LIVES - EMILY WILLIAMSON, CO-FOUNDER OF THE RSPB (320kbs-m4a/64mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 26th May 2025
For over a hundred years no one thought too much about the origins of the RSPB, but among its founders was a woman in Didsbury opposed to the use of feathers in fashionable hats. Emily Williamson was outraged by the widespread slaughter of egrets and the crested grebe. She had tried to join the all-male British Ornithological Union, and when that failed she established her own Society for the Protection of Birds.
Nominating Emily is Hannah Bourne-Taylor, author of Fledgling and Nature Needs You, which is about her own campaign for the introduction of swift bricks into all new buildings. Helping Hannah discover more about this little known life is author Tessa Boase, who discovered Emily's role; plus Beccy Speight the current head of the RSPB. Matthew Parris presents.
The producer in Bristol for BBC Studios Audio in Miles Warde.
DISCOVERY - WILD INSIDE: THE BEARDED VULTURE (320kbs-m4a/60mb/26mins)
BBC World Service broadcast: 8th April 2024
Ominously called the lamb vulture, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the bearded vulture. Flying the mountainous ranges across central Asia and eastern Africa, with a wingspan of almost three meters, the bearded vulture is am impressive Old World vulture. Prof Ben Garrod and Dr Jess French are looking past the beautifully coloured plumage, and delving deep inside to learn what this bird of prey really eats and what keeps its great wings aloft.
IN SEARCH OF A MEGA TICK (320kbs-m4a/65mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 15th February 2025
**** This programme was suggested by Philip Lowden as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra's All Request Weekend ****
There are ordinary bird-watchers and there are 'twitchers'.
Each autumn this strange breed descends on the Isles of Scilly in search of their quarry.
Sue Hicks joined last year's migration and discovered that twitchers have their own language and plumage, and are driven by a compulsive urge to 'tick'.
Producer: Andrew Vivian
Recorded Autumn 1984. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1985.
**** To nominate a programme from the archive that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****
A GUIDE TO COASTAL BIRDS - 5. OFFSHORE ISLANDS (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 3rd January 2025
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on Britain's off-shore islands; birds like Common Eider Duck, Puffin, Manx Shearwater and Arctic Tern.
The last of five programmes helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2010.
A GUIDE TO COASTAL BIRDS - 4. SEA CLIFFS (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 2nd January 2025
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on sea cliffs around Britain's coastline; birds like Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill.
This programme helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2010.
A GUIDE TO COASTAL BIRDS - 3. ROCKY SHORES (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 1st January 2025
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on rocky shores around Britain's coastline; birds like Rock Pipit, Turnstone, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.
This programmes helps identify more of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2010.
A GUIDE TO COASTAL BIRDS - 2. SANDY SHORES (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 31st December 2024
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast.
With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear on sandy shores around Britain's coastline; birds like Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher.
The programmes helps identify many of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries.
Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
Producer: Sarah Blunt
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2010.
A GUIDE TO COASTAL BIRDS - 1. ESTUARIES (320kbs-m4a/32mb/14mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcat: 30th December 2024
Brett Westwood is joined by keen bird watcher, Stephen Moss, on the Devonshire coast. With the help of wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they offer a practical and entertaining guide to identifying the birds which you're most likely to see and hear in Britain's estuaries; birds like Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew and Knot.
This is the first of five programmes to help identify many of the birds found around our British coastline in places like sandy beaches, rocky shores, sea cliffs, off-shore islands and estuaries. Not only is there advice on how to recognise the birds from their appearance, but also how to identify them from their calls and songs.
This series complements three previous series; A Guide to Garden Birds, A Guide Woodland Birds and A Guide to Water Birds and is aimed at both the complete novice as well as those who are eager to learn more about our coastal visitors and residents.
Producer: Sarah Blunt.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in August 2010.
GREAT LIVES - PEN HADOW NOMINATES SIR PETER SCOTT (320kbs-m4a/64mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 30th December 2024
"Make the boy interested in natural history," wrote Captain Scott from his tent in the Antarctic. He was talking about his son, three year old Peter Scott, whom he never saw again and who went on to found the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust and campaign against the hunting of whales. The son also designed the panda logo for the Wold Wide Fund for Nature and was its first chairman. David Attenborough called Scott the patron saint of conservation and he appears in this programme. Nominating him in studio is the adventurer Pen Hadow, whose father knew Scott and with whom he shared a nanny. The programme also features two of Scott's children, Dafila and Falcon, as well as some rarely heard archive.
From his early years as an arctic adventurer, Pen Hadow has developed into an ardent conservationist with the 90 North Foundation. He describes this programme as an enormous responsibility and wonders why Sir Peter Scott, the founder of Slimbridge, is not better known today.
The producer for BBC Audios Studio in Bristol is Miles Warde.
