Countryfile

Compilation: Winter Wildlife (28x1)

: 03, 2016

Ellie Harrison is at the Cotswold Water Park looking back at some of Countryfile's encounters with winter wildlife, and spotting some wildlife of her own. At the Wiltshire end of the water park, Ellie helps with the winter maintenance and finds a wide selection of birds that have come here from colder climes, likes Russia, the Baltic and the Arctic. She then meets up with self-confessed 'fish twitcher' Jack Perks to try a rather unusual experiment. Using special cameras and some plastic ducks, Jack is hoping to capture the underwater habits of the birds at the park. But will he succeed? Ellie then heads to the Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre to find out about the animals that they care for during the winter months, including an injured owl and a host of hedgehogs. Meanwhile, Matt Baker's in Northern Ireland to find out about the fluctuating fortunes of the Irish hare - including one place where the population really seems to be taking off. Julia Bradbury is counting seals in Norfolk, and Richard Taylor-Jones uses his expertise as a wildlife cameraman to capture three winter favourites on film. Adam Henson finds out more about one of his firm favourites when he helps to bring Exmoor ponies down off the moors. Ellie also gets a chance to relive one of her most memorable moments, when she meets the author of a very personal book about birds of prey.