Polly Atkin on the Short-Eared Owl
Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about birds inspired by their calls, songs and behaviour.
The poet and non-fiction writer Polly Atkin observes the wintering of short-eared owls in Cumbria. They are the UK's most nomadic owl, with residents joined by migrants from Scandinavia, Iceland and Russia, seeking a gentler version of the season. Fellow owl-lovers have told Polly of the moment they arrive exhausted at the coast, and she has watched a pair nest in a building site near the sea, concerned how they would survive.
Polly Atkin is the author of The Company of Owls (Elliott & Thompson).
Presented by Polly Atkin and produced by Sophie Anton for 麻豆社 Audio Production in Bristol.
This programme features recordings from Xeno-Canto by Lars Edenius (XC731000 and XC731272 - Short-eared owl)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcast
- Sun 28 Dec 2025 08:58麻豆社 Radio 4
Podcast: Planet Puffin
Exploring all things puffin - the silly and the serious, the scientific and the cultural.
Try this new podcast
Five stories of birds and birdsong are told by the people inspired by them.
Podcast
-
![]()
Tweet of the Day
Discover birds through their songs and calls. 265 programmes of 90 seconds, over a year
