Springwatch - Season 17 / Year 2021

Season 17 / Year 2021
As the UK gradually emerges, blinking into the light, from a year like no other, Springwatch is here to remind us all how important nature has been in our recovery. Never before have we appreciated the natural world more, or have we taken such an interest in the environment around us.
This year BBC Springwatch is looking forward, working to keep the UK connected to our native wildlife with three weeks of live programmes.
With an over-arching theme - A Vision For The Future - Springwatch will present a vision of hope, inspiration, beauty and co-existence, brought to the audience from every nation in the British Isles. Nature has been there for us, now we need to be there for it.
The stories of this spring will be revealed by presenters Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan, as they explore a landscape with co-existence at its heart in Norfolk. Iolo Williams enjoys the solitude of The Highlands of Scotland and Gillian Burke immerses herself in the tranquillity of the glorious Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. There will also be nature notes from a raft of wildlife presenters based across the UK.

Episodes

Episode 1
Episode one comes live from brand new locations across the UK. Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan are at Wild Ken Hill in Norfolk, as cameras capture the daily dramas of birds such as avocets and barn owls, lapwings and yellow hammers. Iolo Williams sees eye to eye with some red deer at Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland. And Gillian Burke dips into the vast waters of Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland to see why it's a great place for the bird nicknamed the sea swallow.

Episode 2
Gillian follows the fortunes of a harbour seal who's in hospital in Northern Ireland.
Iolo's on the look out for golden eagles in the Glen, and Michaela and Chris assess the effects of this year's late spring on our wildlife. Plus we drop into an oak tree to see why so many thousands choose to live there, and reveal the secret history of a London wood.

Episode 3
Chris and Michaela bring the latest dramas from the live nest cameras in Norfolk.
Iolo heads to Loch Fleet on Scotland's east coast hoping to catch ospreys and otters out fishing. Gillian checks out the batty nightlife at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Castle Espie, and Megan McCubbin joins conservationists shaping the UK of tomorrow.

Episode 4
Iolo's on a mission to see one of the most photogenic birds in the UK - the black-throated diver.
Live updates from Chris and Michaela in Norfolk - is there any sign of the elusive and rare turtle dove? Gillian enters the twilight zone to check out a British shark that can glow in the dark. And find out why water voles are choosing city life over country living.

Episode 5
Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan report live from Norfolk, Gillian Burke looks at some clever cuttlefish, and Iolo Williams heads up into the Scottish Highlands to spot some avian show-offs.

Episode 6
Gillian looks at spring from a swift's point of view, insect fan Penny introduces us to the tiny residents of a London park, and Iolo checks out some strange species at Alladale Wilderness Reserve.

Episode 7
Featuring an island paradise for puffins in Scotland and golden hares in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Chris checks in on the live nests and Michaela reports on the plight of the Norfolk plovers

Episode 8
Do great skuas deserve their reputation as pirates of the skies? Meanwhile, Megan McCubbin goes to the Welsh border to investigate why restoring peatland bog is so important for wildlife.

Episode 9
Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan bring live updates from Norfolk, Gillian Burke investigates some clever cuttlefish and Iolo Williams tracks down mountain hares in the Scottish Highlands.

Episode 10
Chris and Michaela hope to see the rare turtle dove in Norfolk, Gillian gets close to young Manx shearwaters in Northern Ireland and Iolo ducks into the river at Alladale to look for lampreys.

Episode 11
Michaela and Chris investigate how British hedgehogs are coping this spring, and Megan McCubbin joins them live in Norfolk to discuss efforts to save the corncrake.

Episode 12
Chris and Michaela round up this year's Springwatch nest cameras in Norfolk. Iolo heads to the Moray Firth to check on dolphins, and Gillian's encounters basking sharks in Northern Ireland.
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