In the fifth of our series of bird guides, Brett Westwood is joined once again by enthusiastic birdwatcher Stephen Moss, and with the help of recordings made by wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson they present this knowledgeable and entertaining guide to the songs, calls and cries of the birds you may see and hear around Britain's farmlands. Packed with useful information and handy tips, each programme focuses on a different habitat, starting with arable fields and birds such as Skylark, Grey Partridge and Lapwing; then winter pasture and birds including Fieldfare and Golden Plover; hedgerow (Yellowhammer and Turtle Dove), copse (Pheasant and Little Owl), and farmyard (Jackdaw and Swallow). Their advice on how to recognise birds visually and how to identify them by their sounds will soon enable you to sort out your House Sparrow from your Tree Sparrow, and will appeal to both budding ornithologists and experienced birdwatchers, as well as walkers and ramblers who are curious about the birds they encounter while out and about in the countryside.
When he was fourteen years old, some friends of his parents gave wildlife sound recordist, Chris Watson, 'The Observer's Book of Birds'. Flicking through the pages, Chris was captivated by the description of a bird which sang at night. The bird was a Nightingale; and since first reading about it, Chris has been fortunate enough to hear Nightingales both in Britain and Europe but always as part of a chorus of birds. Now, in this programme, he tries to get a microphone really close to a Nightingale to record its remarkable song - a rich, mellow series of notes. The location is Rutland Water. There are two areas here which are regularly frequented by Nightingales - the Lyndon Reserve on the South Shore and Hambleton Wood, which is on a peninsula extending out into the Reservoir. Having been guided by the Wardens from the Nature Reserve to the areas of scrub where Nightingales have been heard singing, Chris is able to rig up microphones near potential song posts. The result, after several sleepless nights and a battle with brambles and nettles is the most astonishing clear, beautiful recording of a Nightingale. In 'Hunt for the Nightingale's Song', the story of Chris's quest to find and record a Nightingale is inter-cut with a commentary featuring Rob Thomas (Cardiff University), and Rob Fuller (British Trust for Ornithology) about the song of the Nightingale, its composition and function. Produced by Sarah Blunt.
