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Ellie is in the Wiltshire section of the Cotswold Water Park, a vast area of lakes originally created by gravels pits that have gradually formed and filled with rain water over the past 50 years.  But while the park is often associated with its holiday homes and water sports, its 1000 hectares of open water also play host to huge numbers of wintering birds as they travel to the UK mild climate from colder climbs. On a chilly winter’s day, Ellie joins the Cotswold Water Park’s biodiversity officer, Kim Milsom to spot some of this year’s travellers gracing the water.

The Irish Hare is a unique sub-species of mountain hare found only in Ireland. Matt is discovering more about the habits of these shy creatures with Dr Neil Reid – an expert based at Queen’s University Belfast. At Portmore Lough they set up camera traps to monitor the behaviour of the hares in the wild, part of Neil’s wider study into Irish Hare numbers and factors affecting populations throughout Northern Ireland. On the way home, Matt goes to Belfast International Airport - a surprising stronghold for hares.

At Cotswold Water Park, Ellie Harrison meets Estates Manager, Ben Welbourne, who talks her through the various ways the Cotswold Water Park Trust manages its land to encourage wildlife and increase biodiversity. At this time of year, cutting down pesky areas of fast-growing willow is a daily battle for the hard-working volunteers; something Ellie realises is no mean feat when she gives them a hand.

Julia has been given exclusive access to Blakeney Point, a National Trust reserve that is fast becoming one of the best places in Britain to see grey seals.  Around 40% of the world’s population of these seals breed in the UK and it seems that Blakeney is one of their favourite places. Ten years ago just 50 seal pups were born on this exposed peninsula of saltmarsh, shingle and golden sand. This season, warden Edward Stubbings and his team are expecting ten times that number! Julia learns about Edward’s brand new photo ID project and why it’s important for the public to give the seals a wide berth. Most importantly she helps him with his twice-weekly count of all the cute new pups.

Ellie meets Jack Perks, an underwater fish photographer who first appeared on Countryfile in July when he joined presenter Joe Crowley to search out trout and grayling in the chalk streams of Derbyshire. But despite being known as a ‘fish twitcher’, Jack is visiting Wiltshire to try and capture the underwater antics of the Cotswold Water Park’s divers and dabblers on film. Armed with a host or weird and wonderful gadgets to help him in his quest, Jack sets out to place hidden cameras in strategic locations, whilst a bewildered Ellie looks on. Later in the day, Ellie re-unites with Jack to see if he’s caught any winning shots of the Water Park’s wintering birdlife.

Richard Taylor-Jones has filmed wildlife all over the world and in the process has developed a host of skills for capturing intimate shots of animal behaviour. This week, Countryfile has challenged Richard to film three animals iconic of winter in the Scottish Highlands. Richard not only succeeds but manages to capture his ‘big three’ in a single day. And the animals in question? The adorable red squirrel, majestic red deer stag and the small but spectacular crested tit.

The Wirral Peninsula is bounded by the Rivers Dee and Mersey and sits in the shadow of its vibrant neighbour, Liverpool. The peninsula is at the mercy of the tides which have helped to change the shape of the land. Parkgate, for example, is a seaside town which was once a thriving resort on the River Dee.  It has all of the usual holiday destination requirements like a chip shop and ice cream. These days though there’s one vital ingredient missing – the sea! Matt finds out where it’s gone by boarding a boat to not only investigate how the coast has influenced the area but also become a great place for spotting wintering seabirds.

Ellie visits a local wildlife rescue centre to meet the animals struggling to contend with winter’s cold grip. In the bird of prey ward Ellie encounters a tawny owl recuperating from bad concussion, whilst in the main hospital, owner Serena Stevens introduces her to the centre’s most plentiful patients at this time of the year; hedgehogs.

This week on Countryfile, Adam Henson visits the rugged moorlands of Exmoor for a spectacular annual round up of the wild ponies.  The Exmoor is a breed which is close to Adam’s heart as he was given some by his dad when he was a boy.  People have come from as far away as France to help gather the herd so the foals can be weaned from their mothers. But before Adam travels to the moors, he assesses the early progress of his autumn oilseed rape crop.

Hot from winning the Samuel Johnson Prize and 2014 Costa Book Award, Suffolk based author Helen Macdonald meets Ellie Harrison to discuss the inspiration behind her book ‘H is for Hawk’ and her childhood fascination with birds of prey. In Thetford Forest, Helen and Ellie talk about the goshawk’s ferocious nature whilst trying their luck at spotting one of these fascinating birds in the wild. Later on at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, Helen flies her first goshawk since the death of her own bird, Mabel, and Ellie sees tries her hand at flying a Harris hawk.