The Dawn Chorus with Will Young

More from Get Birding

1. 

   S4 · E12 · 24 Jun 2026 · 32 min

   Learning to Fly with Dr Mya-Rose Craig

   In this episode, we're following a new generation — from fledgling birds leaving the nest for the first time to young people discovering the natural world for themselves. Host Sean Bean is joined by conservationist and author Dr Mya-Rose Craig, who explores the rapid rise of birding among Gen Z, how spending time with nature can support mental wellbeing, and why making the outdoors accessible to everyone is more important than ever. Jenny Shelton from the Wildlife Trusts reveals the remarkable journeys young birds take as they prepare for their first flight, from branching owls to…

2. 

   S4 · E11 · 10 Jun 2026 · 30 min

   Singing with Nightingales

   In this special episode, our resident birder, composer and nature beatboxer Jason Singh heads into the Sussex woods after dark for Singing with Nightingales — a unique experience that draws guests and musicians back year after year to witness one of nature’s most enchanting performances. For a brief period between mid-April and the end of May, around five thousand pairs of nightingales migrate from Sub-Saharan Africa to southern England, where males fill the night air with their remarkable courtship songs. Alongside folk singer, nature activist and founder of Singing with Nightingales, Sam…

3. 

   S4 · E10 · 27 May 2026 · 26 min

   Birding for Mental Health

   In this episode, we’re exploring the connection between birds, nature and mental wellbeing — and why spending time outdoors can help us feel calmer and more connected. Host Sean Bean is joined by singer and actor Will Young, who reflects on rediscovering nature, gardening and the comfort birds have brought him through difficult times. Nature beatboxer and composer Jason Singh shares how birdsong creates a living symphony, while Kings College Professor Andrea Mechelli explains the science behind nature’s positive impact on stress, mood and loneliness. Plus, Dr Mya-Rose Craig answers your…

4. 

   S4 · E8 · 29 Apr 2026 · 36 min

   Rights of Passage with Samuel West

   In this episode, we’re following the vast, invisible highways that birds carve across our skies each spring, and the extraordinary journeys that bring them back to us. We’ll learn how birds navigate thousands of miles using scent, memory and instinct—and what these epic journeys reveal about survival in a rapidly changing world. Along the way, Sean is joined by actor and RSPB ambassador Samuel West, broadcaster Johnny Vaughan on the thrill of a fleeting kingfisher sighting, and Chris Hewson from the British Trust for Ornithology tracking cuckoos across continents. Plus, Dr Mya-Rose Craig…

5. 

   S4 · E7 · 15 Apr 2026 · 31 min

   Birds in Danger with David Gray

   In this episode we’re turning our ears—and our attention—to birds in danger, and the thinning of our skies. From the unmistakable, haunting call of the curlew to the growing gaps where birdsong used to be, we explore the story behind one of the UK’s most threatened species, and why World Curlew Day matters now more than ever. Along the way, we’ll be exploring how art, music and storytelling can help us reconnect with the natural world—and maybe even change the way we care for it. Sean will be joined by artist and big time birder, Jim Moir, ornithologist Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Singer David Gray,…

6. 

   S4 · E6 · 1 Apr 2026 · 29 min

   Early Birders with Johnny Vaughan

   Sean Bean’s love of birding began when he was a lad growing up on an estate in Sheffield. Long before he was an actor, he was a boy fascinated by books on dinosaurs and Sunday nights watching The World About Us with his Dad. From discussing the magic of the iconic film Kes to debunking myths about helping fledglings, this episode explores how a childhood connection to nature stays with you for a lifetime. Sean is joined by a flock of guests who discovered their passion at a young age: TV and Radio Presenter, Johnny Vaughn, Wildlife Biologist and Broadcaster, Dan O’Neill, Ornithologist and…

7. 

   S4 · E19 · 30 Sep 2026 · 29 min

   Birding at RSPB Arne with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage

   In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage at RSPB Arne, where they explore the reserve and discover how Dartford Warblers have bounced back, from just two pairs at Arne in 1965 to 97 pairs last year. Simon talks about how birds have found their way into his poetry, his love of their names, and one very questionable identification during a 24-hour bird race. We’ll also get ready for October Big Day with Stephen Menzie from Merlin, as birders around the world head out on 10th October to record the birds they see. We’ll hear how hundreds of thousands of people…

8. 

   S4 · E18 · 16 Sep 2026 · 31 min

   Generational Birding with Dr Mya-Rose Craig

   In this episode, we’re exploring generational birding and how a love of nature is passed down through families. Sean Bean is joined by lifelong birders Dr. Mya-Rose Craig and her dad Chris at RSPB Arne, who share memories of birding together, from Mya-Rose’s first twitch at just nine days old to an overnight trip to Orkney to see a rare Sandhill Crane. We’ll also meet 16-year-old conservationist Joe Scorey and his dad Paul in Bushy Park, where they reveal how birdwatching has brought them closer in a digital age when father-son relationships can be difficult, giving them a way to talk,…

9. 

   S4 · E17 · 2 Sep 2026 · 29 min

   Birds of Prey with Dan O'Neill

   In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by wildlife biologist and broadcaster Dan O’Neill at RSPB Ham Wall, where they explore the wildlife of this wetland habitat, from ospreys and cormorants to marsh harriers, kingfishers and dragonflies. They also reflect on their shared childhood passion for birds of prey and how spending time in nature can put life into perspective. We’ll also meet Donna Davis and Rufus, the Harris Hawk who has worked at Wimbledon, Westminster Abbey and Lord’s Cricket Ground, to discover how falconry is used to deter gulls and pigeons in urban environments. Plus, Dr…

10. 

    S4 · E16 · 19 Aug 2026 · 26 min

    The birds that stay with us feat. Kirsty Gallacher and Amy Tan

    In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by broadcaster and lifelong birder Kirsty Gallacher to explore the seminal moments that have shaped her love and appreciation for birds, from peregrines and racing pigeons to a powerful encounter with an owl during a time of grief. We’ll also hear from bestselling author Amy Tan about The Backyard Bird Chronicles and the year she spent observing, drawing and keeping a journal of the birds in her garden transformed the way she understood survival, habitat and our relationship with the natural world. Plus, wildlife writer and communicator Lucy McRobert…

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