Countryfile presenter Hamza Yassin recently took part in an extraordinary conservation effort, contributing to the reintroduction of a rare woodlark back into the wild. The moment was featured on the BBC Two broadcast of the popular countryside programme on the evening of Sunday, 5 July.
While co-presenter Anita Rani explored the wildlife and communities along England’s eastern coastline, Hamza visited Coquet Island, a renowned bird sanctuary off the coast of Northumberland. Managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the island is home to around 40,000 seabirds each breeding season, including puffins and several tern species. Notably, Coquet Island is the UK’s only known nesting site for the elusive Roseate tern.
Hamza expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, describing it as “probably one of the best parts” of his job. His trip coincided with the winter months when the birds had migrated, allowing conservation staff to carry out essential maintenance and projects.
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Alongside site manager Stephen Westerberg, Hamza witnessed a rare moment when Stephen safely captured a woodlark using a fine-mesh mist net—a device designed to gently trap flying birds for study and conservation purposes. Woodlarks are uncommon visitors to the region, with only eight sightings recorded in Northumberland over the past three decades. Stephen highlighted that this was potentially the first woodlark ever ringed on the island.
Hamza was visibly thrilled, calling it “pretty cool” to hold the bird in his hands and sharing how special it was to photograph a woodlark up close, something he had never done before. Under Stephen’s guidance, Hamza was honored to personally release the woodlark back into its natural habitat, describing the experience as a true privilege.
The episode underscored the important work taking place on Coquet Island and celebrated a memorable moment in British bird conservation. Countryfile continues to bring viewers closer to the natural world every Sunday on BBC One and via iPlayer.