Polly Atkin on the Short-Eared Owl

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 BBC Audio Production in Bristol. This programme features recordings from Xeno-Canto by Lars Edenius (XC731000 and XC731272 - Short-eared owl)

You can listen to Polly Atkin on the Short-Eared Owl online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Polly Atkin on the Short-Eared Owl is an episode from Tweet of the Day by BBC.

This episode is 1:37 long.

This episode was published on Dec 28, 2025.

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