- 2 hours ago
sam and ade go birding s01e02
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00:10I can't help noticing that it's very dark.
00:13Why are we here this early?
00:14I don't normally get up, sort of around 3.30.
00:18I know, but 4.30 is really quite early.
00:20Yes, fair point, all right.
00:23You got anything to sit on?
00:25I do, yes.
00:26I'm one of those people who buys things at garages.
00:28Oh, the day's looking better already.
00:31Does it happen here?
00:32They might do, if we're lucky.
00:38Do you have any coffee?
00:39I've got some coffee.
00:41I love you.
00:43So we should see birds.
00:46I can't see any at the moment.
00:49No, no.
00:50Well, that will change.
00:53I really enjoyed our little trip to Cornwall.
00:56I think I enjoyed bits that you didn't.
00:58I had this incredible experience with a robin.
01:03Yes.
01:04I mean, I can't tell you.
01:06I've told everyone about it when it was just where your knee is now.
01:09Yes.
01:10And I sang it a song and then it cheeped back to me.
01:13I don't think I've ever had that experience with a wild bird.
01:15I tend to look past the common stuff, like the robin or the red shank, and just go, oh, yeah,
01:21I know what that is.
01:23I think I'm going to make an effort on this trip, not to chase the rare stuff and just enjoy
01:28what we've got in front of us.
01:30All right.
01:37I've brought you here because Norfolk is one of the great birding destinations.
01:43In the world?
01:44Actually, yes.
01:45Yeah.
01:45I've brought you here because we're on a wild goose chase.
01:50Oh, I like that.
01:52LAUGHTER
02:05I didn't bring my gloves.
02:06They're in my suitcase.
02:09Here we are.
02:10Now, I mean, it's just slightly absurd, sitting in armchairs in the middle of a field at God knows what
02:15hour in the morning.
02:16Yeah.
02:16And what are we expecting to see?
02:18We are here to watch one of the great migration spectacles.
02:23You've got my interest now.
02:25Pink-footed geese arrive here in massive numbers around now.
02:31Norfolk sometimes holds about 70,000 of them, which is a quarter of the world's population.
02:36What do you call them?
02:37Pink-footed?
02:38Pink-footed geese.
02:39Where are they coming from?
02:40They're coming from Iceland.
02:41Right.
02:42And Greenland, where they breed.
02:44And they're coming to Norfolk.
02:45And they're coming to Norfolk.
02:48The thing is, geese flying south has been a mark of the seasons for millennia.
02:53This is the south they come to.
02:55Right.
02:56I mean, we think it's chilly, but this is their Benidorm.
02:58Oh, this is their summer holiday.
02:59This is their summer holiday.
03:01Well, I can see them now.
03:04Is it a lake down there?
03:05It is.
03:06They roost on lakes because they feel safer.
03:07They can see predators coming.
03:09So, some unspoken command shoots through the flock.
03:14Yeah.
03:15And they all go.
03:20Here we go.
03:33Oh, look at that.
03:39Oh, my God.
03:41Oh, my God.
03:43That's huge numbers.
03:51Oh, that is amazing.
03:56That is literally thousands, isn't it?
03:58Yeah.
03:59And they're coming over the top.
04:01Coming over us.
04:03What a sight.
04:07This is, like, a World War II, um...
04:10Yes, try not to sing the Danbusters.
04:12...Operations Rune.
04:15Look at that.
04:18Ha-ha!
04:21That is gorgeous.
04:24Ha-ha-ha!
04:28I just feel, with this noise, and watching this thing, you're touching the edge of something wild that's been going
04:34on for hundreds of thousands of years.
04:43I've been watching geese in Norfolk for 20 years, but I don't think I've ever seen that many.
04:56Do you mind if we can warm up in the car? I'm freezing.
04:58It's a very, very good idea.
05:01Oh!
05:04Well, that was good.
05:05This is the problem with birding, is it?
05:07And it all takes place when it's bloody freezing.
05:10Yes.
05:14I do have some, uh, connection with this part of the world, and it always makes me think of my
05:22mortality these days, in that I've got these suits that I wear, especially when I'm rehearsing.
05:27And it used to be made by this couple in Holt.
05:30Oh, yes, very close.
05:31They had a company called Old Town, and they wanted to retire, and they couldn't find anyone to buy the
05:35business.
05:36And so she rang me up, and she said, my image closed down. If you want any extra suits, order
05:44them.
05:44And I thought about it, and I ordered three.
05:48Yes.
05:49And I remember saying to her, I think that'll see me out.
05:52Oh, aid!
05:54You do start to think about...
05:58the end.
06:02Well, talking of which, since we last met, my mum died.
06:06Oh.
06:07A week ago.
06:10One day after what would have been her 62nd wedding anniversary.
06:16Hmm.
06:18Last week, we went down to Shaftesbury Avenue to see the West End theatres dim their front of house lights
06:25for her, which is something which would have astonished and delighted her.
06:31But it really, it really floored me.
06:39How old was she?
06:40She was 93.
06:42Hmm.
06:46The last proper conversation I had with her was when, a couple of years ago, she said, how old am
06:54I?
06:55And I said, you're 91 now.
06:57And she said, 91.
07:08It's beautifully timed, beautifully enunciated.
07:10I mean, we had a few more conversations after that, but that may be the last one I remember.
07:16Yeah.
07:18But, um...
07:18Well, that's good to have in the memory.
07:20Yeah, it's a goodie.
07:21It's a goodie.
07:23And I certainly got my love of the outdoors from her.
07:26And there's a skynark.
07:28Yeah, you can hear it.
07:29That sort of buzzing song.
07:33More of a call, really.
07:57Let's grab those chairs and see what else we can find.
08:03Well done, they were very useful.
08:08£2.50 well spent.
08:10Mm-hmm.
08:13Oh, I'm glad you came, Sam.
08:16Yeah, so am I.
08:19Let's see what else Holcomb's got to offer us birders.
08:49Holcomb's incredible.
08:50You never have to drive far between the best spots.
08:53It's got everything.
08:56What have we got here?
08:57We've got sand dunes.
08:58We've got marsh.
09:01We've got reeds.
09:02Yeah, I mean, it's a brilliant place for so many habitats close together.
09:05You have pines for perching birds.
09:08And then dunes over the other side of the trees where you get snow bunting and shore lark.
09:14And we hope Brent geese.
09:16Is this the bird we're looking for today?
09:19Yes.
09:19Are we on a mission?
09:20We are.
09:20Are we on a mission?
09:21You like a mission.
09:22We're on a wild goose chase, I told you.
09:23Brent and Pinkfeet are the true wild geese.
09:26They don't breed here.
09:27They're just winter visitors.
09:28So that's why they're interesting.
09:30Right.
09:35Let's go and find some Brent geese.
09:42I think our best bets probably go through the woods.
09:45Get out onto the beach and the marsh where they like to feed.
09:50Well, there's a birdie.
09:52What was that?
09:52A little birdie.
09:54Turn the engine off again.
10:02In the bracken there.
10:04Two birds here.
10:05That's a robin.
10:07Just here.
10:10He's probably following me around again.
10:13Hello, mate.
10:15I'm here.
10:17Have you come all the way from Cornwall?
10:24Boo, boo, boo, boo, boo.
10:31So head up towards the beach.
10:36What's that?
10:37I think it's a bird of prey of some sort, isn't it?
10:40Oh, it's a sparrowhawk.
10:42Female, I think.
10:44Look at that.
10:46Oh, that stiff-necked job.
10:48Nearly fell over.
10:50Good spot, though.
10:51Well done.
10:53So a sparrowhawk, does that eat sparrows?
10:56Yes.
10:57Does it?
10:57Yes.
10:58Another well-named bird.
11:00Well, that is very good.
11:01Yes, it does.
11:10This burnt goose.
11:12I think they're lovely.
11:14Are they something to look at?
11:15Is it a work of art?
11:17If you like your birds minimalist and charismatic, yes.
11:27That's some beach.
11:29That is some beach.
11:31Absolutely beautiful.
11:43I'd say there's no geese at all.
11:45No, I can't see any.
11:48More importantly, I can't hear any.
11:51We could try along that.
11:53Yeah.
11:53That's a good viewpoint.
11:57Naturism is only permitted within the red-shaded area.
11:59Come on, let's go home.
12:01Damn.
12:05Come on.
12:06If we found them straight away, it wouldn't be a proper wild goose chase.
12:15I wonder if you and my mum had something in common.
12:19So much of your career was defined by one job.
12:25I know.
12:26I always say that about the young ones.
12:2714 weeks.
12:2814 weeks of the young ones and two series of 40 Towers.
12:33When she was so celebrated for 40 Towers, she said the only downside was that she didn't
12:38get offered any more classical plays.
12:40Yeah.
12:40I think it's one of the great tragedies of doing comedy.
12:44Well, it must have...
12:45Is that it kind of kiboshes your possibilities.
12:49Yeah.
12:57Oh, look at that.
13:00Oh, wow.
13:03Ha-ha.
13:04This is Gun Hill.
13:06Needs to be an anti-aircraft gun emplacement here.
13:09It's a beautiful spot, isn't it?
13:11Yeah.
13:12This is what we call salt marsh.
13:15And Brent Geese thrive on the space between the land and the sea, so they're going to
13:20be around here.
13:23Yeah, we're sharing the airwaves with RAF Lake and Heath.
13:29It's not like being disturbed by spitfires, is it?
13:32It's a big, ugly...
13:34Flying triangles.
13:35Yeah.
13:41Oh, Jesus Christ.
13:49I don't really know my RAF planes these days, do you?
13:53No.
13:54I knew them all when I was a kid.
13:56We used to live on an RAF base in Bahrain.
13:59Oh, that would do it, yeah.
14:01Yeah, my dad used to teach forces to kids.
14:05I was sent to a boarding school and the general expectation was that you would follow the line
14:12and join up.
14:14Yeah.
14:15And I was suspended in my final year.
14:19What was that for?
14:21Throwing up in the prefect's waste paper basket.
14:25One of my best on the list of crimes was attempted asphyxiation of a chemistry master.
14:32It was just part of a catalogue.
14:35I think it was the final straw.
14:36And I was suspended.
14:39And the only reason I was brought back was because it was halfway through the term and
14:46we were doing Hamlet and I was Hamlet.
14:51Red kite, quite close.
14:53Yeah.
14:55That's sexy.
14:57There you are, sexy bird.
15:01Look at the way it steers with its tail.
15:05That is, I mean, that is, ooh.
15:11You had a very different dad to mine.
15:14I suppose I did.
15:16Did your dad expect you to become an actor?
15:18I'm the fourth generation.
15:20Wow.
15:21So in the end it just became hard to avoid, really.
15:25Oh.
15:26Well, what was that?
15:28On the salt marsh, just...
15:30On the brownie bit?
15:31Yes.
15:32You can see a little black and white flock.
15:36Is that our...
15:37Is that them?
15:37That's them!
15:39Just here.
15:39Oh, yeah, yeah, I see them.
15:41Brent geese.
15:43Brent geese in flight.
15:45There you are.
15:46I promised you wild geese.
15:50Isn't that amazing?
15:52Ha-ha-ha!
15:55That's nice.
16:00The Latin name of the Brent goose is Branta bernicla.
16:05And Branta is an Old Norse word meaning burnt.
16:09It's a burnt goose.
16:11It's a burnt goose.
16:13They're about five different shades of grey.
16:16I love them.
16:16Yeah.
16:17Really classy.
16:19Let's put the scope up.
16:20I'm going to get closer.
16:22Come on, have a look.
16:23I have to say they're better close up than they are from a distance.
16:28Oh, they're so stylish.
16:34Pump.
16:38Oh, that's made my day.
16:39I'm happy now.
16:44OK, let's go.
16:45There's a lot more to see on the coast here.
16:48You wait.
16:50I love this place.
16:52Oh, I love my new trousers.
16:56So that was Holcomb.
16:57Now we're off to see where we're staying.
16:59I hope you like it.
17:03It's a famous bird-watching village called Clye.
17:07It's spelled clay, but birders call it Clye.
17:09It's just down the coast.
17:12It's going to be a great base for tomorrow's birding adventure.
17:33Oh, it's lovely.
17:35It's a little cottage.
17:39You see the moon?
17:41Yeah.
17:42See the windmill?
17:44Very nice.
17:45Shall we open a bottle of something?
17:47God, yes.
17:54Tuesday, 4th November, North Norfolk.
18:00Pink-footed goose.
18:02Pink-footed goose we saw bloody loads.
18:07It smells fantastic.
18:09Well, it's only onions and garlic so far.
18:11I learnt to cook at school because the food was so shit.
18:14There was a single ring, baby belling, in the boot room at school,
18:19and I used to cook spaghetti bolognese on it.
18:21You must have been quite popular for that.
18:23Was it just for yourself?
18:25I don't think I shared it.
18:27You learnt it all yourself?
18:33Um, brent goose.
18:35Brent goose.
18:37I think it might have been my favourite bird of the day.
18:41OK, that's nice.
18:42That's a good choice.
18:43Swifts have gone home.
18:44I've got one woodpecker.
18:45Skylark.
18:46Good numbers.
18:47Well birded.
18:49Well done, you.
18:51Can you open a window?
18:53I'm still wearing my fleece, but I'm a bit hot.
18:56Red kite.
18:58Here you are.
19:00Oh, look at that.
19:02That's beautiful.
19:04It's really good.
19:07I found this in the bookshelf.
19:09Diana Riggs' No Turn Unstoned.
19:12It's a collection of bad theatrical reviews.
19:15Both my parents are in it.
19:17Let me find the one about my mum.
19:19She did a play when I was about ten called Anatole,
19:23where all six parts are usually played by the same actress.
19:27Vocally, Prunella Scales distinguishes nicely between the six roles,
19:30but she cannot change her face,
19:31which is that of a worried hamster.
19:34Oh.
19:36That's very unkind.
19:43I find the older I get, the more I struggle.
19:46You're staying up past half past nine.
19:51Got a tawny.
19:52Yeah.
19:54An owl?
19:55Yeah, a tawny owl.
19:56Do you want to finish our list with an owl before we go to bed?
20:00We have to go out again.
20:03We're going out there.
20:04It's where hobbies can go wrong.
20:06Just take your wine with you, if you know.
20:08Hmm.
20:09Is that a good idea?
20:10Good idea.
20:13Whoa, whoa, dear.
20:16You all right?
20:16Yeah, I just can't see.
20:17You look rather spooky.
20:19I've got a torch here.
20:20Hang on.
20:22Look at that moon.
20:24Moon.
20:27Oh, hang on.
20:28I've got something.
20:30It's the male.
20:32That's the female now.
20:35So they're talking.
20:37You all right?
20:38Yeah, I'm looking for heat.
20:42Looking for heat?
20:44What do you mean?
20:46Well, I've got these heat-sensitive bins.
20:51There's something in there.
20:52Like infrared sort of thing?
20:53Yeah.
20:54What do I look like in them?
20:55Can you see me?
20:57Oh, yes.
20:58Whoa, hey, you look like a ghost.
20:59Yeah?
21:00Yeah.
21:01Yeah, you're really hot.
21:03Let's have a look.
21:04Go on, have a look at me.
21:07Oh, I've got him.
21:08Oh, yeah.
21:10God, you look vicious.
21:13Oh, that's even worse.
21:15That's like Tommy Cooper's laugh.
21:17I went to the doctor and he said,
21:19he said, I've got three minutes to live.
21:21I said, can you do anything for me?
21:24And he said, a boiled egg.
21:28We're perfectly all right to go past a sign saying private, aren't we?
21:32I mean, what could possibly go wrong about walking past it?
21:34Yes.
21:35He's got his determined stride on.
21:38He just goes a bit mad.
21:40For birds, he's mad for them.
21:42It is a kind of madness.
21:45Do you think, you know, we haven't heard it for five minutes.
21:48Do you think we got up in the dark
21:54and I've nearly finished my wine?
21:56Oh, I see your point.
21:58I might just go on a little way.
22:00Yes.
22:00I might...
22:01Not.
22:02...go the other way.
22:04Righto.
22:05Will you get back all right?
22:06Yeah, I expect so.
22:07If I'm not back in three days, send help.
22:09Right, OK.
22:21Oh, Jesus.
22:26There's a pheasant.
22:29Several pheasants.
22:31Oh, my God, they're everywhere.
22:37Doesn't look spooky at all.
22:41I've seen this film.
22:42It doesn't end well.
22:45Right.
22:45In a Dutch carriage.
22:51I think there might be some people coming out.
22:55That man's got a shotgun.
22:57No, he has.
23:00He has.
23:01He's got a shotgun.
23:02Stay back.
23:07I think there might be some other people coming out.
23:11That man's got a shotgun.
23:13No, he has.
23:16He has.
23:17He's got a shotgun.
23:19Hello.
23:20Stay back.
23:22Stay back.
23:25Hello.
23:29Sam West, how do you do?
23:31Well, how do you do?
23:33So is this your house?
23:34This is my house.
23:36And are we staying in your cottage?
23:37Yes.
23:38Yes.
23:38Down the lane.
23:39Yes.
23:40What were you doing?
23:43Well...
23:43We saw a torch.
23:44Yes, I'm so sorry.
23:45I shouldn't have disturbed you.
23:47We were looking for owls and I thought it might help in finding them.
23:50But I think they're either asleep or...
23:53What about a hoot?
23:55Yes.
23:55Can you do that?
23:56No, go on.
23:57Can you?
23:57I used to be able to do it.
23:59Give it a go.
24:00You know, I'm not very good now.
24:02But you used to be able to do it, you know, with your hands.
24:06I can't.
24:07I have to practice.
24:08It'll be very good.
24:10Anyway.
24:11Woo-hoo!
24:13No, they will.
24:14They will.
24:18Woo-hoo!
24:22You do sleep the bedroom window open, don't you?
24:25Of course.
24:25Yes.
24:25Because you'll probably hear them in the, from the, from the cottage.
24:30Oh, wonderful.
24:31How long have you lived here?
24:32I've lived here all my life.
24:34Really?
24:34I've hardly gone beyond the bottom of the drive.
24:37Would you like to come in for a drink?
24:39Why not?
24:40Yes.
24:40Come, do, do.
24:41Thank you very much.
24:43Are you on your own?
24:44I seem to be.
24:46Yeah.
24:46Oh, look at this.
24:48Gosh, this is beautiful.
24:54What a beautiful phrase.
24:55Isn't that gorgeous?
25:13Just popping out before breakfast.
25:16I caught a barn owl from the bathroom window, which was over there.
25:20So I think I'm going to go and try and find out.
25:27There's a dunnock calling.
25:29I'd like to see a dunnock.
25:31As my mother is named after one.
25:37There it is.
25:38Over there.
25:38That single note called tzit, or tziti, is the dunnock.
25:44Prunella modularis, which means small brown singer.
26:00Does he eat shrambled eggs?
26:02Because that's what he's going to have.
26:04Yes, it is.
26:07Hello.
26:11Always a good day when you see a barn owl.
26:16Fly is just high enough to be able to look down into the reeds.
26:21They have incredibly dense feathers, so they're totally silent in flight.
26:28And you don't know they're chasing you until it's too late.
26:37Oh, what did I just hear?
26:44I heard a yellow bar.
26:45It's rare.
26:46It's the one we didn't see in Cornwall.
26:48It's got an unmistakable call.
26:49It goes,
26:50Chewy, Chewy.
26:52I heard it from across here.
26:54So I'm going to try and find it.
27:00What is that?
27:14There it is.
27:18Oh, you bugger.
27:19It looks like one.
27:22Yes.
27:28We should report that as well.
27:31Oh, here he comes.
27:38And what sort of time do you call this?
27:40I've got an excuse, though.
27:42What is it?
27:44I found a yellow brow.
27:45The one we didn't see last time?
27:47Yes.
27:48Hmm.
27:50Are you going to post it on your little website?
27:53Well, nobody else has reported it, which is good.
27:58The following sightings of yours have been submitted for approval by our team.
28:03Anyway, how are you?
28:04Did you sleep well?
28:04I sort of...
28:05Well, I worried.
28:06I fretted.
28:08I walked on and I found this extraordinary gabled, fronted house looming out of the night.
28:17And then the door opened and silhouetted against it was a man with a dog and a shotgun.
28:25Hmm.
28:26He came out and it wasn't a shotgun.
28:29It was a large walking stick.
28:31Right.
28:31Was he threatening you?
28:32He seemed completely unfazed by the fact that I was on his lawn looking for owls.
28:37Yeah.
28:37It couldn't have been sweeter.
28:38Hmm.
28:39Did you find an owl?
28:41I didn't see any tawnies, but I heard several.
28:43I think there was one on my window sill all night.
28:45Really?
28:46It's a very nice egg.
28:48So where are we going today?
28:50If Clyde Reserve was an instrument, it would be a Stradivarius.
28:54Hmm.
28:55So we're going to spend most of the day in the reserve.
29:00Lots of birds?
29:02Lots of birds.
29:02Lots of water birds.
29:03Hmm.
29:05Who knows what might fly in?
29:07Hmm.
29:17So, yeah, we're heading on to the A149, which I've taken to calling the Birding Silk Road.
29:23Why is it the Silk Road?
29:25Well, because it just connects so many brilliant sights from Snettisham on the Wash, round to,
29:32well, Cromer, really.
29:33But the jewel in the crown of the Silk Road is, is Clyde.
29:40Have we got a mission today?
29:42Um, well, look around one of the most beautiful and famous nature reserves in the world.
29:50Not really.
29:51We'll see what turns up.
29:52Hmm.
29:54That's a new attitude.
29:55Yes!
29:55I'm working on it.
29:57LAUGHTER
30:04You know all that, um, noise, the aeroplanes?
30:07Yeah.
30:07I saw on the local news last night, it was all a NATO exercise.
30:11Was it?
30:12Another helicopter up there.
30:14Bloody hell!
30:16Oh, look, there's a huge flock of something over there.
30:19That is...
30:19Is that starling?
30:20No, they're geese.
30:21What are they, do you think?
30:22I imagine they're, um, pink foots.
30:26They are.
30:26Well done, they're pinks.
30:27There you go.
30:29This is very comfy.
30:30I like it.
30:31You like the bit where you get to sit down?
30:32Yeah, well, it's, you know, there seems to be plenty of bay out.
30:35You, um...
30:35This is our patch, and we'll just see what comes.
30:37You've sort of changed your attitude since Cornwall.
30:40You were always on your phone looking for...
30:42Oh, there's been a thingy-thingy in here, we've got to go there, you know.
30:45Yes.
30:46Running about, you know.
30:48Have you calmed down?
30:49I might have calmed down a bit, yeah.
30:51Is it my steady influence?
30:52Or my laziness?
30:54Yes, I think...
30:54I think you have had a good influence on me.
30:57I...
30:57I sometimes think that my search for a rarity stops me looking at the common stuff.
31:02And I think perhaps I...
31:05I looked at you enjoying a robin and a red shank,
31:07and thought I could do a bit more of that.
31:09Yeah.
31:20So we're going into a number of hides now.
31:22The clue is in the name.
31:24The birds won't be able to see us.
31:41Come to you, is that loud and high?
31:43I'm sure.
31:43Yes.
31:49Oh, it's lovely and stewed.
31:53It's got that dark grey colour.
31:55Yeah.
31:56That only comes out of a thermos.
31:59Oh, yeah.
32:02You see, there's three mostly white-bodied, but with black, just on this bank of the first island.
32:09Yep.
32:10What are they?
32:11They're shell duck.
32:13Right.
32:13So just to the right of the shell duck, you can see some white-bellied waders with dark legs.
32:19There's a lapwing, also known as Pewit.
32:24Oh, lapwing's going up.
32:28Incredibly acrobatic.
32:29They change directions so fast.
32:31No, they're coming in formation.
32:35Lapbirds standing on one leg.
32:37Yeah, they do that.
32:38Do they?
32:39Yeah, just to save one leg.
32:43Most waders can stop blood going into their feet as well if it's really cold.
32:48I mean, not completely.
32:49There's any stalks that...
32:50Stalk margarine.
32:52Stand on one leg.
32:54Once ended a competition, stalk margarine, and, you know, it was back in the 60s and 70s.
33:00And you had to say, I like stalk margarine because...
33:02Yeah.
33:03And Rick's dad went, I like stalk margarine because I've only got one leg.
33:11It didn't win.
33:13It didn't win.
33:19A white bird swimming to the side is an avocet by itself in the middle of the channel, swimming right.
33:29Just going behind the reeds now.
33:33It's a filter feeder so it's running water through its bill.
33:37Taking it up and lifting its head and running the water through its bill.
33:42Black head, white...
33:43Black and white head, yeah.
33:45Well, that's lovely.
33:47The black streak, I like that.
33:49Yeah.
33:50Mostly getting a shot of its arse.
33:54The bill curving upwards is unique.
33:57Oh, it's gorgeous, the other set.
34:02You're a regular here.
34:04Once a year, I might go down with me.
34:07Normally with my youngest son.
34:08Yeah.
34:10What about yourself?
34:12I'm the new recruit.
34:15Did you grow up knowing all the birds?
34:18No.
34:18Because I didn't.
34:19There seemed to be a missing part of my education.
34:22No, I inherited them of me grandad and then me dad.
34:25It's a lovely spot, this, isn't it?
34:27Yeah.
34:29What's your favourite bird?
34:31I'd say that avocet's one of the...
34:33Would you?
34:34Yeah, I'm the greatest.
34:36I mean, that's why the RS may be pretty used.
34:38I think there's quite a lot of beauty in common birds.
34:41I think a robin is rather beautiful.
34:43You know.
34:45No, I'd rather see a common bird up close than a rare one 500 yards.
34:49Yeah.
34:50That's well said.
34:52Yeah, very good point.
34:55Oh, it is beautiful, that little avocet.
34:56Look at it there.
34:57Coming back.
34:58It's kind of performing for us.
35:01Oh, it is gorgeous.
35:02Yeah.
35:06I love how quickly Adrian falls in love with a particular species.
35:10Today it's the avocet.
35:11And he's right there.
35:12Very charismatic.
35:13Oh, it's gorgeous.
35:14That's lovely.
35:17Shall we have a bite to eat?
35:19Okay.
35:20Is it lunchtime?
35:21I think it's lunchtime when we say it's lunchtime.
35:23I mean, birders traditionally have lunch very quickly.
35:26Doesn't matter, though.
35:27You go that way.
35:36But I dillied and dallied.
35:39Lost me way and don't know where to roam.
35:43Brent geese.
35:44What?
35:46Brent geese.
35:47Yes, well spotted.
35:49Little white mark around the neck.
35:51Yeah.
35:53Look at that.
35:53We spent all yesterday looking for them.
35:56There's hundreds of them.
35:58Must be a hundred there.
36:03That's pretty spectacular.
36:06Oh, wow.
36:18I thought I'd test your birding fidelity.
36:22Oh, God.
36:23You haven't got me foie gras.
36:24It's duck pate.
36:27Go on, then.
36:36We're being very well protected today by the RAF, aren't we?
36:39I feel really safe.
36:40Yeah.
36:41I don't think the Russians are going to get hold of me today.
36:44This is where Hitler was going to come on the beach, isn't it?
36:49It's a gun emplacement further down the beach, I think.
36:53That stopped him.
36:54Yeah.
36:55They've done what?
36:56He thought twice about invading Clyde.
36:59Yeah.
37:00There were things coming, but it was all their binoculars.
37:03They've alerted the authorities.
37:08As you can tell, I've played a lot of Germans.
37:12It's a Nazi.
37:13Get me Edmondson.
37:13I must have Edmondson.
37:15I played an officer from the First Order in Star Wars, in a Star Wars film.
37:23Of course you did.
37:24But I...
37:27It was...
37:29The weight was a problem then.
37:30Right.
37:31And I went in for this fitting, because they make you these suits.
37:35And those suits are based on the sort of Hugo Boss suits.
37:39Nazi second-wether warden.
37:40Really tight, kind of job-pre-type trousers.
37:43Marvellous.
37:44And they cut this kind of costume for me.
37:47There was just so...
37:48I could not move.
37:50And I think that's why the Nazis were so cross.
37:53It's because all their uniforms were just far too tight.
37:57And it made them really vicious.
37:59And only when they got out of their uniform at night did they become human again.
38:03Oh!
38:04Oh, thank God for that.
38:06In between takes, I sometimes had to take my trousers down.
38:10Because it was just so...
38:12If they'd been wearing, you know, Fred Perry polo shirts...
38:16We're going straight to hell for this one.
38:18They wouldn't have been at all cross.
38:23Oh, is it a seal?
38:24No.
38:25What is the seal?
38:26No, it is.
38:26It is just in front of...
38:28Oh, yeah, look, a little seal.
38:29Hello.
38:30Quite a long seal, in fact.
38:32We like you.
38:33Hello, matey.
38:34Seal of approval.
38:35Yeah.
38:45God, this gravel is so nice on your back.
38:49I might get a gravel bed.
38:50Have you...
38:51It's lovely.
38:52It gets right in that...
38:53Oh, that's good.
38:54...right places.
38:54There's plenty of it.
38:56Oh.
38:57This time next year, we could be millionaires.
39:02Come on, Rodney, you plonker.
39:08Where are we going now?
39:09We're going to Clyde East Bank,
39:11which is a very famous birding destination.
39:16Oh, yeah.
39:21Good place to get some last action at dusk.
39:25Although, hang on.
39:29Oh, bloody hell.
39:32There's a yellow-browed warbler
39:34that's just been reported there.
39:38I'm not going.
39:39I'm not...
39:39I'm not going.
39:40I can't see it.
39:41I'm going to...
39:42It's not there.
39:43It's showing well.
39:44Does it?
39:44Yeah.
39:46Come on.
39:47Yeah, but this is important.
39:48This is important.
39:49We're going to see what's here.
39:50We're not going to switch.
39:51Why aren't we going to see it?
39:53Um, because we're here.
39:57Yeah.
39:58And we should be where we are
39:59and look at what we've got.
40:01Yeah.
40:07And there's more widgeon out there
40:08than you can shake a stick at.
40:10You know me.
40:11I love a widgeon.
40:15I do like it
40:16when the sun comes through like that.
40:19I mean, it's a perfect English scene, isn't it?
40:22You go to church poking up over...
40:25And a marsh harrier.
40:26Look.
40:26Look, there's a marsh harrier in the sunset.
40:28Oh!
40:29Look at that.
40:30Look at that.
40:31That is amazing.
40:36Oh, you just need an orchestra now.
40:38Yeah.
40:39Where's the old guy when you need it?
40:45He's coming back.
40:46He's coming back into the sun.
40:47Oh, look at that.
40:48Oh!
40:52Here he goes.
40:53Oh, yay!
40:55Look at that.
40:56What a sight.
41:04That stirs the soul, doesn't it?
41:07Oh, this is better than looking for a yellow bear.
41:26Oh, this is better than looking for a yellow bear.
41:27And Starling's moving to roost.
41:30It's not a bad world, is it, sometimes?
41:32Sometimes.
41:39While it's light, there's something I want to show you,
41:42but we'll have to crack on.
41:45Right. Let's go. Right.
41:49So this is a little monument to something that's
41:54quite special to birdies.
41:59The parish church of St Margaret of Antioch.
42:03Antioch?
42:03I know, it sounds like something out of Monty Python.
42:05Yeah.
42:06So I rather wanted to show it to you.
42:12It's such a grand church.
42:17So in January 2008,
42:19in the driveway of one of the houses that we just drove past in Ply,
42:22a really rare American bird turned up called a white-crowned sparrow.
42:27Mm-hmm.
42:28And it was fed by the people who lived there.
42:30And so it stayed.
42:32I kind of like it here.
42:33Yeah, why not?
42:34I get free food.
42:35Yeah.
42:36And I was one of a large crowd of people who came to Ply to see it.
42:40And the people who lived there passed a bucket around.
42:42And after seven weeks and about 5,000 people visiting,
42:46they'd raised, I think, over 6,000 pounds.
42:50And they gave it the airfare back home?
42:52And they sent it home.
42:53No, no, did they?
42:54No, they didn't.
42:54Oh, that would have been brilliant.
42:58Yeah.
42:58But they did give it to St Margaret's at Cly
43:01for the restoration of the Great West Window.
43:04Right.
43:04And to commemorate this act of generosity by the Twitchers.
43:10There's the sparrow.
43:11I see.
43:13Yeah.
43:17I think it's life size, actually.
43:20Oh, isn't that lovely?
43:25It's been a good little trip, hasn't it?
43:28Mm.
43:28Excellent.
43:29I've learned quite a lot of birds.
43:33Well, it's the first time I've been out since my mum died.
43:36Oh.
43:36It was a week ago.
43:39And, um...
43:40I'm glad you did it.
43:41I'm so am I.
43:42Do you feel good for doing it?
43:42Yeah, no, I would never have cancelled,
43:44but I wouldn't have expected it to be so freeing.
43:48And, um...
43:49And she very much believed that the show must go on.
43:56I can hear Pinkfeet outside.
43:57Shall we see if we can see some geese?
44:04Oh, wow!
44:05Look at that!
44:15Isn't that amazing?
44:17Like a sign.
44:25Perfect formation.
44:32That was very special.
44:35A brilliant end to the day.
44:36That is a good end, isn't it?
44:37Yeah.
44:38It's a very good end.
44:39It's a very good trip.
44:41Excellent.
44:41Right.
44:42Pub.
44:43Pub?
44:43Yeah.
44:49Welcome to the Somerset Levels.
44:51I think this is the soggiest landscape I've ever driven through.
44:55We're trying to look for a bittern.
44:56It's a sort of heron.
44:58Ooh!
45:00Perfectly sane.
45:01Nothing to see here.
45:02Don't forget about us, common birds!
45:05Come on, Mr. Robin.
45:06There you go.
45:07There's one more spectacle we can try and find.
45:11Oh, bloody hell!
45:15If you're interested in learning more about the birds featured and nature reserves near you, go to rspb.org.uk
45:22forward slash c5 for more information.
45:26What if you miss?
45:40I'm thinking of it going on.
45:40Just as soon as possible.
45:40Oh, God.
45:40We'll be listening.
45:40Fuck it!
45:41Oh, God!
45:41Oh, God!
45:42Oh, God.
45:43Oh, God!
45:47I love you!
45:58Transcription by CastingWords
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