Paul Farley on the Reed Bunting

In poet Paul Farley's house the reed bunting is known as The Vicar. For Paul, the way it finds a high place on the tip of a reed from which to call gives off a pulpit vibe, and the contrast between the jet-black head and the brilliant white collar beneath makes it like a bird of the cloth. Whenever he sees a reed bunting in the reedbeds at the Leighton Moss nature reserve in Lancashire, a poem always writes itself.

Presented by Paul Farley and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio Production in Bristol

Featuring a recording from Xeno-Canto by Simon Elliott: Common Reed Bunting - XC787452.