Best Tolga Podcasts (2025)

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Paul Farley on the Shelduck 1:38

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4h ago1:38

1:38

Poet Paul Farley welcomes the return of the shelduck to our shores, back after their summer migration to the Wadden Sea. These vast mudflats off the coast of The Netherlands and Germany provide a refuge for shelducks as they go through their so-called 'catastrophic moult' where they simultaneously loose all their flight and tail feathers. Paul imag…

1
Roland Arnison on the Leach's Petrel 1:37

14d ago1:37

1:37

In 2024 and 2025 expedition leader and film-maker Roland Arnison kayaked along the west coast and isles of Scotland to find and record the sounds of seabird species. His quest took him 40 miles out into the Atlantic to St Kilda in search of the Leach's petrel, one of Britain's rarest birds that only nests on a handful of offshore rocky islands. We …

1
George McGavin on the Red-backed Shrike 1:38

22d ago1:38

1:38

Entomologist and wildlife presenter George McGavin describes his lifelong fascination with the red-backed shrike. When George bought his first bird guide at the age of 10, this small shrike caught his eye because of its habit of impaling large insects and small vertebrates on thorns. This 'butcher bird' was once a common visitor to the south of Eng…

1
Paul Farley on the Redwing 1:34

29d ago1:34

1:34

Poet Paul Farley muses on the autumnal arrival of redwings, small thrushes that migrate here from continental and northern Europe to spend the winter. Paul watches a flock of redwings feast on a rowan tree laden with berries, and listens out for their high-pitched nocturnal call as they move under the cover of darkness. Presented by Paul Farley and…

1
Hannah Stitfall on the Firecrest 1:37

1M ago1:37

1:37

As autumn ripens in Cornwall, wildlife filmmaker and TV presenter Hannah Stitfall goes out in search of the firecrest. For Hannah, the firecrest is a jewel of the forest, with its dazzling golden crest and bright white eye-stripe. The dense evergreen woodlands and mild climate in Cornwall offer the perfect shelter and feeding grounds. Most firecres…

1
Jo Wimpenny on the Moorhen 1:30

2M ago1:30

1:30

Standing on a lake edge and eager to spot some wildlife, zoologist and author Jo Wimpenny is disappointed to just find a moorhen. But then she stops herself - why does no one get excited about seeing these birds? From climbing trees to promiscuity and egg dumping, Jo finds out there is far more to moorhen life than its humble status suggests. Prese…

1
Tolga Aktas on the Jay 1:28

2M ago1:28

1:28

Conservation biologist Tolga Aktas remembers his first encounter with a jay, in a busy park in south London. Even though jays are widespread in the UK, they can be elusive, so to see such a colourful and exotic-looking bird in his humble park was a special moment. Autumn is a great time to look out for jays, when they're foraging for and burying ac…

1
Amy-Jane Beer on the Song Thrush 1:37

2M ago1:37

1:37

The song thrush's morning proclamations remind naturalist and writer Amy-Jane Beer that she's home. In this episode Amy describes how she finds the confident delivery of this species' song reassuring and grounding in troubled times. Produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in BristolBy BBC Radio 4

1
George McGavin on the Snowy Owl 1:34

3M ago1:34

1:34

Entomologist and wildlife presenter George McGavin describes a magical encounter with a snowy owl. The sighting happened while George was on a university field recording trip fifty years ago, on the island of Unst in Shetland. Snowy owls primarily live in the polar Arctic regions, and while a small number have previously bred in Shetland, they rema…

1
Hannah Stitfall on the Chiffchaff 1:35

3M ago1:35

1:35

For wildlife filmmaker and TV presenter Hannah Stitfall, the chiffchaff's song is the first sign of Spring. Each year in March and April she will spend hours following these little birds along the hedgerows trying to get some good shots, watching them feeding from flowering blackthorn, with their beaks covered in pollen. By mid-summer chiffchaffs s…

1
Paul Farley on the Reed Bunting 1:35

3M ago1:35

1:35

In poet Paul Farley's house the reed bunting is known as The Vicar. For Paul, the way it finds a high place on the tip of a reed from which to call gives off a pulpit vibe, and the contrast between the jet-black head and the brilliant white collar beneath makes it like a bird of the cloth. Whenever he sees a reed bunting in the reedbeds at the Leig…

1
Jo Wimpenny on the New Caledonian Crow 1:32

3M ago1:32

1:32

If you were walking past the Zoology building at the University of Oxford in the mid-noughties, you might have heard an unusual bird call. It’s undeniably crow-like, but not a UK native. It’s the New Caledonian crow, and zoologist and author Jo Wimpenny was studying them for her PhD. Jo describes her fondness for this bird, which is one of nature's…

1
Amy-Jane Beer on the Reed Warbler 1:36

4M ago1:36

1:36

For naturalist and writer Amy-Jane Beer, the scratchy song of a reed warbler reminds her of a superstar DJ. In a marshy corner of a lake in Yorkshire she comes across this tiny brown-beige bird – or ‘classic little brown job’. But Amy finds the reed warbler’s song anything but nondescript – from his spot in the reedbed he is holding space like a DJ…

1
Tolga Aktas on the Wood Pigeon 1:29

5M ago1:29

1:29

For conservation biologist Tolga Aktas, a walk through the city is an opportunity to observe different species of pigeon. His favourite is the wood pigeon, which is the UK’s most widespread and common pigeon. Walking through London’s parks and squares, Tolga spots the differences between wood pigeons and feral pigeons by the colours of their neck p…

1
Anita Sethi on the Lapwing 1:28

5M ago1:28

1:28

Nature author and travel writer Anita Sethi describes a vivid experience of seeing - and hearing - lapwings while walking on the West Pennine Moors. While being too fast for her to capture on camera, she recognised their distinctive call, and was stuck by their "acrobatics of sound" as they soared above her. Anita has also seen lapwings up close to…

1
Bonus: Epis. 3 - House Common Room 3:23

5y ago3:23

3:23

The Slytherin common room is the most mysterious one of all 4 houses. It can be intriguing to have a glimpse in to it, but no one ever has managed from the other houses to enter it or has he ? Hear for yourself.

1
Bonus: Epis. 2 The Hogwarts Quiz 10:03

5y ago10:03

10:03

There will be ten questions about well known facts and maybe not so known events in the world of Harry Potter. Join in and let me be your guide trough the uncertainty.

1
Bonus: Epis. 1 - The Sorting 2:58

5y ago2:58

2:58

Each witch and wizard will be sorted in a house on the first day of their arrival at Hogwarts. Did you ever wanted to know on how Professor McGonagall got chosen to Gryffindor? Stay ‘till the very end to find out.

1
Epis. 18 - The Man with Two Faces 49:43

5+ y ago49:43

49:43

Snape is definitely all behind this. He is trying to steal the stone, but no dear boy . During you whole first year, he was trying to protect you. Protect me? But why. Well... let’s find out together, shall we? Harry is about to face the real truth behind the p-p-poor st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell. Enjoy…

1
Epis. 17 - Through the Trapdoor 39:50

5+ y ago39:50

39:50

In years to come, Harry would never quite remember how he had managed to get trough his exams when he half expected Voldemort to come bursting through the door at any moment. Yet the days crept by and there could be no doubt that Fluffy was still alive and well behind the locked door.

1
Epis. 16 - The Forbidden Forest 25:32

5+ y ago25:32

25:32

How could they have been so stupid as to forget the Cloak? There was no reason on earth that Professor McGonagall would accept for their being out of bed and creeping around the school in the dead of night, let alone being up the tallest astronomy tower, which was out-of-bounds except for classes. Add Nobert and the Invisibility Cloak and they migh…

1
Satish Kumar and the Peacock 1:38

6+ y ago1:38

1:38

Satush Kumar was born in Rajasthan, India, where the Peacock, the Mayura, is a sacred bird and also associated with the monsoon. In India, it is believed that after the long, hot summer peacocks come out and display their bright and vibrant feathers in an extravagant dance to please Indra, the god of rain, before calling to let the rains begin, bri…

1
Satish Kumar on the Blackbird 1:38

6+ y ago1:38

1:38

Peace & environment activist, Satish Kumar has lived in Devon for many years. In his garden he loves hearing the sweet melodious calls from a blackbird singing on a stone wall. Producer : Andrew DawesPicture : Copyright Gregg Dalgllish / Resurgence MagazinBy BBC Radio 4

1
Gillian Clarke and the Grey Heron 1:34

6+ y ago1:34

1:34

For Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke she has had two close encounters with a grey heron, including the one in her garden reminding her of a Bishop wearing vestments. You can hear more from Gillian in the Tweet of the Week Omnibus available on BBC Sounds Producer : Andrew DawesBy BBC Radio 4

1
Gillian Clarke on the Red Kite 1:37

6+ y ago1:37

1:37

Welsh poet and playwright Gillian Clarke first saw a red kite in the Welsh mountains as a child, a bird which now has expanded east and now Gillian regularly sees them sky-dancing over Reading while she travels to London on the train. Producer : Andrew DawesBy BBC Radio 4

1
Geoff Samples Dupont's Lark 1:35

6+ y ago1:35

1:35

For wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample the strange sound of Dupont's lark is something of an enigma, as despite recording half a dozen birds he has never actually seen one. Producer : Andrew DawesBy BBC Radio 4

1
Geoff Sample's Orphean Warbler 1:36

6+ y ago1:36

1:36

For wildlife sound recordist Geoff Sample hearing the jazz like notes of the Orphean warbler on the island of Lesvos reminds me of the legend of how the bird got its name. All this week Geoff will be selecting his bird species from the Tweet of the Day archive which can be heard again on the Tweet of the Week Omnibus. Producer : Andrew Dawes…

1
Dominic Couzens on the Goldfinch 1:34

6+ y ago1:34

1:34

For natural history writer, speaker and tour leader Dominic Couzens the impeccably turned out goldfinch is the avian glitterati, bird royalty, star quality on the feeders. Yet it was an encounter with 400 goldfinch feeding on thistle seed heads which captivated Dominic. Producer Andrew DawesBy BBC Radio 4

1
Dominic Couzens on the Moorhen 1:31

6+ y ago1:31

1:31

Taking a break from his worldwide travels, natural history writer, speaker and tour leader Dominic Couzens recounts why the moorhen is a comical bird which can hold a few surprises that's no laughing matter. Producer Andrew DawesBy BBC Radio 4

1
Trudie Goodwin on the Hoopoe 1:38

6+ y ago1:38

1:38

For many, actress Trudie Goodwin is best known for her television roles as Sergeant June Ackland in The Bill and latterly in Emmerdale. But during all that time Trudie has possessed a lifelong love of bird watching. At the age of ten she was given the Collins Book of British Birds, which on a well thumbed page contained occasional accidental migran…

1
Trudie Goodwin on the Carib Grackle 1:36

7y ago1:36

1:36

Trudie Goodwin is probably best known for her television roles as Sergeant June Ackland in The Bill and latterly in Emmerdale. But during all that time Trudie has possessed a lifelong interest in birds and bird watching. It was while on holiday in the Caribbean that Trudie first heard the call of the male carib grackle, a tropical blackbird. And sh…

1
Kirsty Oswald's Robin 1:34

7y ago1:34

1:34

For actress Kirsty Oswald, an appreciation of nature has always been a family affair. In this episode of Tweet, she explains how it was her Uncle who sparked her fascination with the natural world, and what the significance of the robin's place in Irish folklore means to her. Producer Elliott PrinceBy BBC Radio 4

1
Kirsty Oswald's Bird Watching Feat 1:42

7y ago1:42

1:42

Actress Kirsty Oswald has embarked on an ambitious bird-watching feat; over the course of a year, she plans to spot 100 different species of bird in the British Isles. In this episode of Tweet of the Day, she explains how a serendipitous walk led to her undertaking such a task, and how enthusiasm, enjoyment and a love of walking can be more fortuit…

1
Rachel Unthank's Magpie 1:39

7y ago1:39

1:39

For Rachel Unthank a lifetime interest in the magpie provides inspiration for this Tweet of the Day. Along with her sister Becky, Rachel is part of the family affair The Unthanks from the North East of England. As one of the leading exponents of traditional music The Unthanks are equally at home playing to Tyneside folk club one night, 2000 Londone…

1
Becky Unthank's Wren 1:38

7y ago1:38

1:38

For Becky Unthank her interest in birds goes beyond just watching them while out in the countryside, as she has recently named her son wren to reflect her love of the natural world. The Unthanks is a family affair from the North East of England and one of the leading exponents of traditional music.. Categorizing their music is difficult, but The Un…

1
Monty Don Swallows Return 1:35

7y ago1:35

1:35

For writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don, swallows are as central to his garden as any plant. Their return to the garden in April brings a soaring familiarity of song, which when they depart in September leaves the skies above silent and empty, and for Monty a feeling of loss and longing for their return after the long winter months. Produce…

1
Monty Don's Fieldfare Season 1:36

7y ago1:36

1:36

For writer, gardener and TV presenter Monty Don, the changing seasons herald different sounds and atmospheres in the garden. In autumn as the leaves begin to fall, the arrival of flocks of fieldfares from the north of Europe are as much a part of the garden in winter as are summer migrants during the long days of June. A mixture of truculence and s…

1
Brian Briggs and the Chaffinch Song 1:36

7y ago1:36

1:36

Former Stornoway band member Brian Briggs with a story of how the chaffinch song was the first he recognised. Brian, now a reserve manager at the Wetlands and Wildlife Trust's Llanelli Wetland Centre, remembers how his first job as an ecologist at Oxford's Wytham Woods ignited his journey into learning the language of birds throughout the seasons. …

1
Brian Briggs on the Manx Shearwater 1:37

7y ago1:37

1:37

Brian Briggs, former singer, lyricist, and guitarist with the band Stornoway, has had a lifelong passion for the natural world and birding, even completed a PhD on ducks. Stornoway, who's third album Bronxie (the colloquial name for the arctic skua) finally disbanded in 2017, allowing Brian to convert his hobby and long standing love affair with bi…

1
Carry Akroyd and the Snipe 1:32

7y ago1:32

1:32

Although Carry Akroyd, who is is President of the John Clare Society, grew up in the countryside, as a child she was never shown or taught anything of the natural world around her. It was not until adulthood that a revelatory moment occurred. Walking one day in Wicken Fen, that she heard an unfamiliar noise above her, which she discovered was the d…

1
Carry Akroyd Black and White Birds 1:36

7y ago1:36

1:36

Calling herself a bird noticer rather than a bird watcher, for painter and print maker Carry Akroyd birds are part of the landscape she connects to for her work. Carry illustrated the Tweet of the Day British Birds book in 2013, where she began noticing birds of a single bold colour; black, white, or even black and white. Producer Andrew Dawes…

1
Grey Partridge in No-Man's Land 1:38

7y ago1:38

1:38

Throughout the First World War, birds were protected across the Western Front and elsewhere, which resulted in some remarkable stories of soldiers ceasing fire in order to protect birds from being killed. Writer Derek Niemann who worked for the RSPB for 25 years, has latterly turned his time to writing, including the book Birds in a Cage, an affect…

1
Derek Niemann Sparrows of the Western Front 1:36

7y ago1:36

1:36

Derek Niemann recalls that within the horrors of the First World War the ubiquitous house sparrows living in the shattered buildings along the Western Front were one of the great survivors during the onslaught. Despite the devastation they thrived within the ruins of bombed out buildings and for the soldiers these 'wee spuggies' brought a little bi…

1
James Henry on the Little Owl 1:33

7y ago1:33

1:33

Author of the prequel detective Jack Frost thrillers James Henry picks the diminutive, non native little owl beloved by Florence Nightingale for his Tweet of the Day. The diminutive little owl takes it genus name, Athene from Athena, the Olympian goddess for war and wisdom, and protector of Athens. It is from this ancient connection that Western cu…

1
James Henry: Yellowhammer and Beethoven 3:04

7y ago3:04

3:04

Detective Jack Frost prequel author James Henry picks the yellowhammer, whose song is believed to have influenced one of the world’s greatest composers Ludwig Van Beethoven.. Although many think the yellowhammer is a symbol of English farmland, it is in reality very much a European bird, famous for it's song. The natural world provided Ludwig Van B…

1
Tom Bailey Tweet Displacement 1:33

7y ago1:33

1:33

Theatre maker artist Tom Bailey, the parallels between human migration and bird migration are different, yet strangely possess many cross-overs. Tom has chosen five episodes from the Tweet of the Day archive which you can hear all this week. In addition you can hear more from Tom and his artistic work Zugunruhe, an ornithology term for 'migratory r…

1
Tom Bailey Migratory Tweet 1:35

7y ago1:35

1:35

Being a human, being a bird, is fun, stupid, impossible, tragic, sweaty, lonely, wild, restless and death to your vocal cords. So says theatre maker Tom Bailey who has spent much of 2018 following in the migratory restlessness of the marsh warbler in his Tweet of the Day. Tom has chosen his five episodes from the Tweet of the Day archive which you …

1
Kitty Macfarlane the Eel and the Heron 1:35

7y ago1:35

1:35

For singer and songwriter Kitty Macfarlane the natural world and the landscape around her provides the inspiration for her work, especially when she takes a sound recorder out with her to record bird songs. Or takes part in an eel project, with an ever present grey heron never far away. Kitty continues her selections from the Tweet of the Day back …

1
Kitty MacFarlane's starlings in Somerset 1:40

7y ago1:40

1:40

Singer songwriter Kitty MacFarlane has a strong connection to a Sense of Place in her work, especially the Somerset Levels and the birds which flock there providing inspiration. A previous semi-finalist in the BBC Young Folk awards, Kitty begins her first week selecting from the Tweet of the Day back catalogue. You can hear all five episodes chosen…

1
Mark Whitley's Dales Tweet 1:37

7y ago1:37

1:37

For editor of The Countryman magazine, Mark Whitley, autumn may be around the corner, but he's transported back to spring. The sight of male lapwings performing their tumbling display flight, and hearing their distinctive 'peewit' call is a sure sign that spring is on its way to the Yorkshire Dales. Mark begins his second week curating the back cat…