Autumnwatch - Season 5

First aired: 10/7/2011 8 episodes

Following UK wildlife in the autumn

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Episodes

1. Episode 1

Aired: 10/7/2011

Autumnwatch returns for an eight week celebration of UK wildlife. New presenter Michaela Strachan joins Chris Packham and Martin Hughes-Games, broadcasting live from the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. They'll be sharing their adventures from the previous few days. This week, their journey takes them to the spectacular Wye Valley, on the trail of wild boar, swarming bats, and autumn's wild harvest. Meanwhile, guest presenter and naturalist Roy Dennis is following the perilous migration of the Springwatch osprey chicks as they leave our shores and head for Africa.

2. Episode 2

Aired: 10/14/2011

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan visit Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary to witness one of autumn's biggest events, migration. They'll be tracking our winter visitors like redwings and fieldfares as they arrive, and there's also an update on the Springwatch ospreys as they head south for the winter. Martin Hughes-Games reveals unique insights into the lives of badgers with the help of special cameras installed deep within a sett. And in Scotland, wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton James is following the epic journey of the salmon, from the sea to their spawning grounds.

3. Episode 3

Aired: 10/21/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast from the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, with all the latest autumn wildlife action. Chris and Martin report back on their visit to north Devon, exploring the moors, rockpooling on the spectacular coastline, and helping bring in the wild Exmoor ponies. There's an update on the migrating osprey chicks, and wildlife filmmaker Johnny Kingdom is on the trail of one of autumn's spectacles, the red deer rut.

4. Episode 4

Aired: 10/28/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast from the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, with all the latest autumn wildlife action. The team report back on the glorious autumn colours and wildlife of the ancient woodlands, and the drama of the fallow deer rut, seen during their trip to the Cotswolds. Plus an exclusive look at wildlife gardening at the famous Highgrove Estate, and guest presenter Leah Gooding investigates the plight of one of our most mysterious and iconic fish, the eel.

5. Episode 5

Aired: 11/4/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast live from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge reserve. Martin is tracking Bewick's swans as they arrive from Siberia to overwinter at the reserve. Chris and Michaela report back on their visit to the Scottish island of Islay, where they have been meeting the resident otters and eagles, and experiencing the spectacle of thousands of migratory barnacle geese. Meanwhile, guest presenter and wildlife cameraman Richard Taylor-Jones is on the trail of one of Britain's least known seal populations in the south east, which live in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

6. Episode 6

Aired: 11/11/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast live from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge reserve. The team explore the UK's spectacular coastline and marine life. They report on the dramatic rescue of fledging gannets, get to grips with our common lobster, and experience the autumn spectacle of thousands of waders gathering in our estuaries. There's an update on the migrating Bewicks's swans arriving at Slimbridge, and guest presenter and naturalist Iolo Williams takes to the high seas, searching for a giant of the deep, the fin whale.

7. Episode 7

Aired: 11/18/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast live from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge reserve. The team head to Sheffield to explore the wild side of the city, where they search for urban deer and take part in a lunch break bird safari. There's a report on the Bewick swans as they arrive to spend the winter at Slimbridge, and guest presenter and naturalist Roy Dennis is on the trail of the Springwatch ospreys as he follows their perilous migration all the way to Africa.

8. Episode 8

Aired: 11/25/2011

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Martin Hughes-Games broadcast live from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge reserve for the final programme of the series. As autumn draws to a close, Chris and Martin track down nature's ultimate winter survivors in the moorland and mountains of the Scottish Highlands. Guest presenter Liz Bonnin is also in Scotland, exploring the wildlife of the Caledonian forest, and reporting on what can be done to protect it in the future. Meanwhile, Michaela has the latest from Slimbridge, as the numbers of overwintering wildfowl build to a spectacle of 35,000 birds.