Countryfile presenter Hamza Yassin called his latest wildlife experience "the best part of my job" after releasing a rare woodlark back into the wild on Coquet Island, Northumberland. The historic moment marked the first time a woodlark has been ringed in Northumberland in 30 years.
Hamza's Historic Release
On the July 5 episode of BBC One's Countryfile, which aired on BBC Two, host Anita Rani visited England's east coast to explore wildlife and communities adapting to life by the sea. Meanwhile, Hamza traveled to Coquet Island, a dedicated RSPB sanctuary off the Northumberland coast that hosts 40,000 seabirds during breeding season, including puffins, terns, and the UK's only breeding colony of the rare Roseate tern.
During winter, when most birds had migrated, Hamza joined site manager Stephen Westerberg to maintain the site. Using a mist net to safely trap birds, Stephen caught a woodlark—a species that lives in the UK year-round but migrates from northern regions in winter. "There's only eight Northumberland records in the last 30 years," Stephen said. "This is potentially the first woodlark ringed in Northumberland."
'The Best Part of My Job'
Hamza called the encounter "pretty cool" and said, "Just landing on the island in itself is a privilege. To end it with a woodlark…" He added, "I've seen them in the wild, but I've not really captured them on camera. So, to have one in my hand and for all of us to be geeking out about this, it's pretty exciting."
Hamza was given the "honour" of releasing the bird under Stephen's supervision. He freed it and declared, "How cool is that?" letting out a slight laugh. The woodlark may have traveled from as far as Scandinavia, Hamza noted.
Countryfile's Ongoing Impact
Countryfile typically airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Sundays. The episode highlighted the importance of bird sanctuaries like Coquet Island, which the RSPB manages to protect rare species. Hamza's release underscored the thrill of wildlife conservation work.
