Season 9

2021 · 8 episodes

Episodes

1Episode 1Winterwatch is back for two weeks! The days are short and the nights are long, but there is magic to be found in winter. The team invite you to wrap up warm and join them for an exploration of wonderful wildlife, seasonal beauty and natural wonder. Chris Packham is in the New Forest watching winter transform his home. Iolo Williams is at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, hoping to see some amazing murmurations. Gillian Burke is at RPSB Old Moor in South Yorkshire, seeing how a joined-up wildlife project has revitalised the area. Michaela Strachan is back at Tentsmuir in Fife, finding out what happened to our seal pups from Autumnwatch. And young naturalist Indy Green takes us deep into Sherwood Forest on the hunt for one of our most elusive birds of prey - the goshawk.
2Episode 2In this episode, Winterwatch concentrates on the superpowers that some of our wildlife has developed in order to survive this harshest of seasons. Chris Packham will be in the New Forest to catch up on the action from the live cameras there and on the River Ness in Scotland. Iolo Williams is looking at a feral flock of barnacle geese that have descended on RSPB Ynis Hir. Gillian Burke is at RPSB Old Moor in South Yorkshire, where grazing Konik ponies help manage the landscape. Michaela Strachan is looking at the short-eared owls who spend the season on the Isle of May. We also delve below the surface of Loch Carron to see the amazing brittlestars who thrive there in winter, and through the use of new camera technology, we explore the science behind how owls hunt at night.
3Episode 3This episode concentrates on the sense of winter – the touch, smell, sounds and sights that make up the most magical of seasons. Chris Packham is in the New Forest, examining the species of bee you might find in your hotel at the moment, as well as taking a look at different shapes of nest. Meanwhile, Iolo Williams inspects some tree creepers, and Gillian Burke ventures into Sheffield to see some of the wildlife that populates the city - dippers, salmon and mandarins are all on her to-see list. Michaela Strachan looks at some of the strategies animals employ when they hibernate, while wildlife cameraman Richard Taylor Jones tells us the story of the Oare Marshes on the River Swale, which have been transformed from a gunpowder-making site to a wildlife haven. Also, fish enthusiast Jack Perks gets into some extraordinary camouflage to witness a bait ball in Rutland Water.
4Episode 4This episode concentrates on the hidden treasures of winter. Chris Packham comes live from the New Forest, catching up on the drama showing up on the live cameras at his badger sett and the spawning salmon in the River Ness. He also takes a look at the reasons why waders bob. Iolo Williams has eyes on the very rare white-fronted geese that migrate to Wales every year, while Gillian Burke is pond dipping at RSPB Old Moor in South Yorkshire – as well as looking at the area's dragonfly species. Michaela Strachan is on the tracks of the winter residents of Tentsmuir, hoping to see evidence of some of our favourite mammals. Meanwhile, on the Orkney Islands, a regular beachcomber is hoping the winter tides will turn up some natural treasures, and we’re on the hunt for the elusive woodcock in Northern Ireland.
5Episode 5In this episode, Winterwatch looks at the extraordinary lengths animals go to in order to survive this harshest of seasons. Chris Packham is live in the New Forest, looking for Dartford warblers as well as updating us on what’s happened on the live cameras over the weekend. Iolo Williams is looking at the water shrews and discovering their amazing ability to survive the winter. Meanwhile, Gillian Burke is at a sewage works close to RSPB Old Moor, meeting the wildlife that call it home, and Michaela Strachan is looking for whooper swans at Tentsmuir in Fife. Tonight sees the start of Megan McCubbin's four-part look at species that aren't as loved as they should be. Megan is hoping to challenge the reputations of these animals and make us appreciate them – starting with rats. We’re also on the Somerset levels as Birdgirl Mya Rose Craig goes in search of the very rare Penduline tit – and she’s hoping to show Iolo where to find them.
6Episode 6Chris Packham is live in the New Forest, looking at what’s been happening in the badger sett and at the latest action from the River Ness. Iolo Williams is looking at otters at CAT in Wales and seeing the ways they're encouraging more otters to the site by building them holts. Gillian Burke is at RSPB Old Moor, where they’ve been having some success with managing the eel population. Gillian explores the life-cycle of this fascinating creature. Michaela Strachan is in Tentsmuir in Fife to look at wildcats in Scotland. Megan McCubbin has the second of a four part look at species that aren't as loved as they should be. Megan is swimming with jellyfish in a bid to understand why they are misunderstood. Meanwhile, actor and keen birder Sam West teams up with sound recordist Gary Moore at RSPB Minsmere to better understand the sounds of our winter birds.
7Episode 7In this episode, Winterwatch takes a look at wellbeing – both for humans and for animals – and how, in these difficult times, nature can have the answers. Chris Packham is live in the New Forest with all the news from our live cameras. Iolo Williams is at the Centre for Alternative technology in Wales. Gillian Burke is at RSPB Old Moor in South Yorkshire, looking at how nature can be a benefit to our mental health. Michaela Strachan ventures further afield in Scotland, hoping to catch sight of the Dunsapie otter in Edinburgh. In her third film about unloved animals, Megan McCubbin discovers the deep intelligence of pigeons and why we should admire them. Plus a look at wild-swimming with a woman who has found it of enormous benefit to her mental health, and who also takes amazing photographs of the wildlife she sees on her swims.
8Episode 8The final Winterwatch of this series looks at the season as a whole and what it means to us all to celebrate that winter magic. Chris Packham will be live in the New Forest, giving us a final look at the animals we’ve been witnessing for the last couple of weeks. Iolo Williams is looking at oyster catchers and peregrines, Gillian Burke is hoping to see the owls at RSPB Old Moor, and Michaela Strachan is looking at Scotland’s most iconic bird – the golden eagle. In Megan McCubbin’s final film about animals that are often unloved, she promotes slugs, arguing they are not just garden destroyers, but vital to the ecosystem as a whole. We’re also on the hunt for another of our iconic birds of prey as Iolo discovers the amazing success story of red kites in Wales.