Naturefile

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Naturefile is a celebratory journey to the lesser-known realms of nature in Ireland with Anja Murray. With surprising stories uncovered each week, about everything from lichens to trees, Swallows to Sea Eagles, starfish and turtles, there are elements of science, history and folklore.

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82 episodes
Updated July 25

Episodes82

Newest first

Aug 10, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Gorse
Gorse, furze, whins, are all so common that it’s easy to overlook them, successful enough to earn them resentment. At this time of year, the deep yellow flowers of Autumn Gorse are erupting across mountains and heaths. Discover the strange history of Gorse on this week’s Nature File. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 27, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Guillemot
The Guillemot is the most common species of Auk in Ireland. It is a highly-marine species, only found on land in the breeding season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 29, 2024 · 5 min
Naturefile - Gulls
Gulls are controversial birds. Strong, clever, opportunistic and adaptable.In the wild, Gulls are caring and resilient animals. Devoted parents – both mothers and fathers share the rearing of their young, beginning with the task of incubating the eggs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 22, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Oak Trees
Oak trees are in full leaf by now, these tallest and longest living of native trees, soaking up the light of the longest long midsummer days. Recent research has revealed that Irish sessile Oaks originated in Galicia in Northern Spain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 15, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Machair
Machair systems present a complex landscape mosaic of habitats comprising both wet and dry areas. They are bordered by beaches and sometimes extensive dune habitats on the seaward side, with wetland areas backed by peatland and heathland habitats on the landward side. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 8, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Manx shearwater Birds
The Manx shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 1, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Sea Snails
Slow moving sea snails come in many shapes and sizes, though all are equipped with a head and a foot, ad most of us recognize the spiral of a whelk shell. This week, Nature File explores the whelks and other sea snails that are easy to see along the shore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 25, 2024 · 5 min
Naturefile - Elephant Hawk Moth
The adults are nocturnal, flying from dusk and coming to light, resting by day amongst its foodplants. They feed from honeysuckle (Lonicera) and other tubular flowers on the wing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 18, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - The Corncrake
The Corncrake is a shy, secretive bird, the distinctive "kerrx-kerrx" call of the male often being the only indication of their presence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 11, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Solitary Bees
95% of the worlds 20,000 species of bee are solitary rather than social bees. Ireland has over 100 bee species, of which 77 are solitary bees. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 4, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Rays
Rays are some of the most beautiful and unique sea creatures on the planet. These fascinating fish come in various shapes and sizes, and are spread across the globe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 27, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Black Poplar
The black poplar may be a native Irish tree, although rare. It has been found especially in the midlands, predominantly in hedgerows in wet farmland near deep water-filled ditches, particularly along the River Shannon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 20, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Hen Harrier
The hen harrier is a bird of prey. It breeds in Eurasia. The term "hen harrier" refers to its former habit of preying on free-ranging fowl. It migrates to more southerly areas in winter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 13, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Brimstone Butterflies
There is a view that the word 'butterfly' originates from the yellow colour of male Brimstones. The wings of the female are very pale green, almost white, males have yellow-green underwings and yellow upper wings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 6, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Wild Garlic
Allium ursinum, known as wild garlic, ramsons, cowleekes, cows's leek, cowleek, buckrams, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek, Eurasian wild garlic or bear's garlic, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 30, 2024 · 7 min
Naturefile - Blackthorn Blossom
Blackthorn trees are early starters, bursting in to effusive white blossom early in the year, before they have even grown any leaves, before any other trees have thought too much about flowering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 23, 2024 · 6 min
Naturefile - Crested Grebes
Its spring, and like most birds, Crested Grebes have mating on the mind at this time of year. For this, grebes adopt a fancy feathered crest, and then engage in elaborate courtship rituals. Listen in to Nature File for a little insight in to the mating behaviour of crested grebes in Irish waters this mating season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mar 16, 2024 · 5 min
Naturefile - Slow worms
It is not native to Ireland and is thought to have been introduced to the Burren region of Ireland in 1970 from Britain. The slow worm is coppery brown or sometimes bluish grey in colour with darker flanks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 28, 2023 · 8 min
Naturefile - Soil life
More than half of all species live in the soil, where there are microscopic fungal threads, arthropods of every shape and size and some of the strangest-looking creatures on the planet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 21, 2023 · 6 min
Naturefile - Cranes
Cranes are the tallest wild birds in Europe, and now, after 300 years of absence, cranes are breeding in wild in Ireland again! This year’s young stay near their [aren’t through the Autumn months, a sight not seen here for a very long time. Celebrate the return of the common crane to Ireland in this week’s Nature File, See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.