Fingers In The Sparkle Jar by Chris Packham (Omnibus)

FINGERS IN THE SPARKLE JAR BY CHRIS PACKHAM (OMNIBUS) (320kbs-m4a/155mb/67mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 21st March 2021

Chris Packham is a naturalist, nature photographer and author, best known for his television work. But in his lyrical and painfully honest new memoir, he reveals the life-events which would eventually shape him and change him forever.

Chris brings to life his childhood in the 1970s, from his bedroom bursting with birds' eggs and jam jars, to his feral adventures. But throughout his story is the search for freedom, meaning and acceptance in a world that didn't understand him.

Chris begins his recollections as an introverted, unusual young boy, isolated by his obsessions and a loner at school.

This unconventional and uncompromising memoir moves back and forth through time, capturing a child's view of the 60s and 70s – the music, the clothes, the cars – alongside recent, more exposing recollections from adulthood.

Produced by Pippa Vaughan for Loftus Media

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

The Nature Of Spring By Jim Crumley (Omnibus)

THE NATURE OF SPRING BY JIM CRUMLEY (OMNIBUS) (320kbs-m4a/155mb/67mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 4th April 2021

Nature writer Jim Crumley paints a captivating picture of Scotland's wilderness in Spring and the joys of observing its abundant wildlife.

Omnibus of five poetic vignettes read by Simon Tait.

Producer: Bruce Young

First broadcast in five-parts on BBC Radio 4 in April 2019.

Rites Of Spring

RITES OF SPRING (320kbs-m4a/101mb/44mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 6th April 2021

Nature writer Richard Mabey presents an exploration of the natural phenomena of spring and its connections with literature and art.

Richard has kept nature diaries since he was a teenager and retraces some of his old haunts in the Chilterns where he used spend hours walking around by rivers and woods observing spring rites.

He's also joined in Norfolk by bird expert Mark Cocker and together they will be chasing the "spring tide" in Breydon Water.

One of the most respected and senior nature writers in the UK, Ronald Blythe shows Richard the delights of spring in Suffolk. Ronald has been writing about the countryside for more than sixty years and he and Richard discuss how climactic change has affected the season.

Jonathan Bate explores further with Richard the literary connections with spring.

Cornish artist, Kurt Jackson is best known for his dramatic landscapes and his ecological artistic work. He discusses with Richard how spring affects him and his work as an artist.

Producer: Sarah Taylor

First broadcast on on BBC Radio 3 in March 2008.

"Siberian" Chiffchaff, Wallasey 5th to 23rd February 2021

On Monday 5th February 2021 I noticed a small bird in my back yard. Any bird in my back yard is worth a look! As I approached my back window for a closer look, it seemed to be a brown bird, so I was expecting a House Sparrow. However, the bird was now at the back of the buddleia forest in my back yard. I like the buddleia for a couple of reasons: it's great for butterflies & it's free. I'd recently cleared out a large part of the forest (though you can't tell from the photo above taken from my bathroom window) enabling better views of anything arriving, usually Blackbirds. The bird was moving in a very un-sparrow like way, flitting about continually. I raced to get my bins & quietly stepped out of the back door into the yard. The bird was very difficult to see at the back of the buddleia along my back wall, but I did realise immediately it was a warbler & most likely a Chiffchaff. I thought I caught a brief glimpse of a greyer toned head & nape with a green panel on the wing, indicating "Siberian" Chiffchaff. Unfortunately, it flew off to the left & I was unable to see where it went around the corner of next door.

The warbler visited briefly on 6th February 2021 & then again briefly on 8th February 2021, but this time I heard it call a couple of times: a single straight note with no alteration of tone at the end. I saw it again on 18th February & 23rd February 2021. This last observation was the best & I could clearly see grey tones on the head & nape with a green panel on the wing. A whitish supercilium was only visible above the eye.

The call was the one which clinched it as a "Siberian" Chiffchaff. Undoubtedly, the rarest bird I've had in the back yard!

Sounds Natural - Brian Blessed

SOUNDS NATURAL - BRIAN BLESSED (320kbs-m4a/57mb/25mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 12th November 2019

Actor and explorer, Brian Blessed discusses his interest in wildlife and mountaineering with Derek Jones.

The Alligator, Clouded Leopard, Baboon, Ocelot and Geoffroy's Cat are among his choice of recordings from the BBC Sound Archives.

Produced in Bristol by John Burton.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1975.

Goosander, Central Park Lake 10th January 2021

Local birder Rob Bithell reported a female Goosander and a Wigeon on Central Park Lake, Wallasey, yesterday. I took a look this morning not really expecting the Goosander to still be present, but it was, and the Wigeon. Certainly, the closest to home I've seen Goosander.

Mandarin Duck, Arrow Park Lake 7th January 2021

A visit to Arrow Park proved fruitful earlier today. There were five pairs of Mandarin Ducks on the lake. Rather conveniently, a couple clambered down to the edge of the lake opposite me to feed the ducks. Their offerings of bread brought most of the varied population of ducks out into the open water. Most of the Mandarins had been partially hidden in the dense thicket at the edge of the water until this moment. Other birds seen in a wander around the park included Nuthatch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit, Bullfinch, Jay, Kestrel & Sparrowhawk.