A very complicated plate-spinning exercise
Autumnwatch is beginning to resemble a very complicated plate-spinning exercise. No sooner has one problem been solved than another rears its ugly head. Editorial, technical and logistical issues vie with each other, and at times it's easy to wonder whether we'll ever actually get the show on the air.
Outside the office where I'm typing this blog it's now pitch dark, and beginning to rain - a light drizzle that threatens to turn into a full-blown downpour, complete with winds gusting up to gale force eight, according to the nice man from the National Trust I just spoke to. There is a very real chance that by the time we've finished the rehearsal at around 8pm tonight, we won't all be able to get off the island and back to the mainland...
On a brighter note, Kate and Bill have had a great day exploring the island, while wildlife cameramen Mark and Pete have already started to get some fantastic material in the can. Stars of the show have been, as expected, the red squirrels, which Mark managed to film feeding on sweet chestnuts. I haven't seen the footage yet, but our editor Steve is raving about it (and believe me, editors don't always rave about the stuff they have to cut together!)
Bird-wise it's been fairly quiet today - after lunch I needed some fresh air, and wandered down to the Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve on the north of the island. Along the path, I discovered the 'hide on stilts' which gives such a great view over the whole of the lagoon - a hide I remember visiting on my first trip to the island in 1970. Then, birds like the ringed plover and even the grey heron were new for me, but almost 40 years later the view from the hide is still pretty amazing. Today I watched three little egrets hunting in formation: carefully stepping forward, necks hunched, ready to strike.
So with just four days (and about an hour!) to go before we go live, the first rehearsal is about to start. I can hear Kate and Bill speaking live, via a satellite link, to Gordon on the Farnes - which makes me realise that whatever the problems we may have with the weather here, compared to Gordon and his team we don't know we're born. If I had the choice between being on Brownsea or Brownsman (the tiny island where Gordon is right now), I know where I'd rather be. And I bet they don't have a plate of scones to keep them going...
Friday morning I'm off back to the office in Bristol to collect (and watch) our very last batch of films - in the meantime I hope you have a good weekend, and don't forget to keep sending us your pictures of autumn and wildlife videos wherever you live!
All the best - Stephen
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~)
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Comment for Bill Oddie - Since there will be filming of squirrels on Autumnwatch this year I would be interested in any feedback on the behaviour of my grey squirrels in the garden. I have two plastic squirrels and two rabbit ornaments in the garden and regularly one or more disappears from the patio and is found on one of the paths in the garden and always in an upright position again. They damage the ears of the animals in moving them but no other damage occurs. I know squirrels enjoy having fun but is this sort of regular behaviour normal as is has been going on now for about three years. Looking forward to the new series.
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Bill mentioned about wanting to spot Sika deer rutting, one of the best places I know of seeing this happen is at Greenlands over on the Purbecks. One year saw 6-8 stags strutting there stuff and a couple fighting. Here on the Purbecks their are so many it's hard to miss them.
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Deer quiz Fallow Red Sika and monkjac...or if not monkjac the last one is Roe.
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Delighted to have Autumnwatch back. Got to admit that I find Gordon's slots the time to go and put the kettle on - I lose interest in what he is saying.
Can we have another "who are the cameramen" slot as they do not get the credit that they deserve achieving the footage that most of us would not be able to see without their skill, time, patience and ability to sit silent and still in what ever weathter conditions are thrown at them.
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I have watched bill oddie for meany years and always liked him and my dad in law used to bread red deer and always liked then as we have 2 tame ones
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Seem's to me that you ask a question and dont get any answers,
Is this the type of sight that wants everything and does not give anything for it,
Why do you not help and answer the problems that your membership has,
shadowone1
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