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A Summer of Swallows Episodes

  1.

    Welcome to Planet Puffin

    Emily Knight & Becky Ripley follow the fortunes of a Scottish puffin colony.

  2. Ep9: Planet Puffin - Nuffin' Like a Puffin

    Writer Michael Morpurgo explains how the puffin became the last word in children's books

  3. Ep8: Planet Puffin - The Plastic Problem

    Becky and Emily explore the issue of plastic as they trawl beaches awash with waste

  4. Ep7: Planet Puffin - Looking Beyond Cuteness

    Award-winning author Adam Nicolson looks at the internal life of a bird bound in cuteness

  5. Ep6: Planet Puffin - Netting Puffins

    Becky and Emily string up a giant net to catch puffins in the name of science

  6. Ep5: Planet Puffin - Rough Seas and a Wreck

    Stormy weather scuppers Emily and Becky's return and news arrives of a wreck in Alaska

  7. Ep4: Planet Puffin - The Seabirds' Sound Bath

    Becky and Emily invite you to sink into the sound of the puffins' realm

  8. Ep3: Summer of Swallows - Nesting

    Swallows are building their nests and we are peering in.

  9. Ep3: Planet Puffin - Grovelling for Pufflings

    Becky and Emily risk puffin attacks as they grovel underground for chicks

  10. Ep2: Summer of Swallows - Arrival

    From the tip of Cornwall to the coasts of Scotland, the swallows are arriving home

  11. Ep2: Planet Puffin - The Puffins’ Return

    After a cold winter at sea, the puffins return to the Isle of May.

  12. Ep12: Planet Puffin - The Puffin Rescuers

    In the final episode, Becky and Emily rescue pufflings in trouble on their way to the sea

  13. Ep11: Planet Puffin - Leaving the Nest

    The last pufflings are checked over before they leave their burrows and head out to sea

  14. Ep10: Planet Puffin - Puffin Decoys

    How do you draw puffins to an island they abandoned long ago? One way is to do it loudly

  15. Ep1: Summer of Swallows - Migration

    The swallows are on their way, an epic 8,000 mile flight from South Africa. They're off!

  16. Ep1: Planet Puffin - Island Life

    Emily Knight & Becky Ripley drop anchor in Scotland’s puffin paradise.

  17. Ep0: Summer of Swallows

    Introducing A Summer of Swallows! A new podcast from Today and Radio 4

  18. Ep 6: Summer of Swallows - Leaving

    Listeners say a bittersweet goodbye to swallows as they leave our shore.

  19. Ep 5: Summer of Swallows - Fledging

    Fledglings are learning to fly and avoid predators, like the sparrowhawk.

  20. Ep 4: Summer of Swallows - Feeding

    The chicks have arrived and they need feeding. What's for dinner?