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Scotland to shine in Springwatch
Scotland's stunning wildlife will be celebrated throughout Springwatch this year.
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The programme that's made the birds and the bees more popular than other reality TV offerings is back, bigger than ever, from the end of May live on 91Èȱ¬ TWO.
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Simon King, who spent a week last year on the Isle of Mull, will devote three weeks to the Shetlands, braving the elements as he enjoys its spectacular and charismatic animals.
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As spring climaxes in Britain at the end of May, Simon will compare his experience at the most northerly tip of the UK to that of his co-presenters Kate Humble and Bill Oddie down on an organic farm in Devon.
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The Shetlands have a unique and abundant mix of Scottish and Arctic wildlife. At 365 miles north of Edinburgh, their spring tends to arrive three weeks later than in the milder south.
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Simon will be based at the RSPB reserve on Fetlar for one week. Come rain or shine, he'll be out demonstrating field craft as he looks for the elusive otter and follows their family dramas.
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He'll also share the Shetland stories and legends surrounding the animals throughout the broadcast.
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The Springwatch team never know exactly which family stories they'll be able to follow until nearer the time - although otters, red-throated divers, red-necked phalaropes, the Shetland bumblebee, common seals, curlews, oyster catchers, puffins, fulmars, guillemots and petrels are likely to feature.
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The already famous ospreys at Loch Garten will also star in the show, as well as other animals and nature lovers from across Scotland.
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Scotland will also have its very own Springwatch family fun day at Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton, near Glasgow on Sunday 4 June.
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Set in 10 miles of beautiful parkland, there'll be plenty of fun for all the family.
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There will be opportunities to volunteer within the country park on the day, an auditorium full of wildlife presentations, talks and films, a tent full of fun opportunities for children and a mini farmers' market.
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Local voluntary groups will be on hand to offer advice and ways to change local spaces into great places for nature.
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91Èȱ¬ Scotland will be providing entertainment throughout the day and there will be a special performance from the 91Èȱ¬ Scottish Symphony Orchestra Quintet.
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Get involved now!
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People can get involved now by looking out for the six signs of spring - hawthorn blossom, swifts arriving, seven-spot ladybird, frogspawn, peacock butterfly and the red-tailed bumblebee - and feed into the Springwatch survey by logging on at bbc.co.uk/springwatch, texting or filling out postcards available at libraries or 91Èȱ¬ local radio stations.
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Over the last month, many interesting reports have come in, including frogspawn spotted on a fence post and a car windscreen.
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Now is the ideal time to keep your eyes on the skies as the winter sun-seekers are on their way back.
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The first swifts should be seen any minute. Best to look for their dark outlines and scythe-shaped wings. Swifts don't perch or rest at all, other than on the nest.
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This year there has been three times more traffic online at bbc.co.uk/springwatch and survey observations are now being made at around one every two minutes as spring finally bursts into life.
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Last year, more than four million people tuned in, 158,000 people took part in the Springwatch survey and 2,500,000 hours were pledged to make space for nature.
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