Top News

A BBC nature documentary has been branded "better than anything from David Attenborough" - and it's currently free to stream on iPlayer. Presented by Irish ornithologist Seán Ronayne, the documentary film has a run time of just one hour, but it packs a huge project into its relatively short viewing time - and it's perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The documentary is Birdsong, in which Ronayne embarks on a mission to record the sound of every bird species in Ireland - almost 200 birds total. In the film, he is joined by his partner Alba as he travels to some of the most remote locations in the country to explore rural life and capture the sounds of its native fauna.

The official BBC synopsis reads: "Seán travels to some of the country's most beautiful and remote locations to capture its most elusive species and soundscapes: the busy seabird colony of Skellig Michael; a native woodland free from road noise in the Burren; the corncrake stronghold of Tory Island; a solitary nest in the Donegal uplands.

"A year in the making, Birdsong offers a fascinating portrait of Seán, whose hypersensitivity to sound has proven both a struggle and a strength.

"At once inspiring and cautionary, Seán's journey illustrates the beauty and importance of sound, and what listening can tell us about the state of our natural world."

Fans on Reddit looking for something to watch after bingeing David Attenborough's work praised the documentary, with one user asking: "What is the best BBC nature documentary that isn't one of the main David Attenborough ones?

"I feel like I have seen Planet Earth and Blue Planet a dozen times and I am looking for something a bit more niche to watch over the weekend."

One of the replies said: "Birdsong on iPlayer. It's a delightful personal journey with breathtaking final photography."

Another fan echoed: "Better than Attenborough (or almost) in my opinion."