Who's where for Springwatch 2009
Post categories: In depth
| 18:04 UK time, Friday, 15 May 2009
The Springwatch phenomenon returns at 8pm Monday 25 May, BBC Two for another three-week celebration of UK wildlife and wildlife people - live and interactive from across the country. Join our new presenter team of Simon King, Kate Humble, Chris Packham, Gordon Buchanan and Martin Hughes-Games as they watch our daily animal family dramas unfold, as they happen.
We're delighted that Chris Packham will be joining Simon King and Kate Humble as co-presenter of Springwatch. In addition, former Springwatch producer Martin Hughes-Games makes his debut in front of the camera. There's all you need to know about the new guys here.
Back to Norfolk - this year's base for Kate and Chris
For 2009, we are returning to last year's new home, Pensthorpe nature reserve in north Norfolk. This is where most of our mini cameras will be deployed, keeping us up to date on a whole range of animal family stories from around this incredibly rich wildlife hotspot. Read more about what we expect from Pensthorpe here.
A Welsh adventure for Simon King
Simon - the king of field craft - and his hi-tech, "mission impossible" field team have the unique wildlife of the wilder corners of mid and north Wales in their sights this year.
Gordon Buchanan's badger stake out
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, loved by our viewers for his Glasgow fox diary and his coverage of the seal breeding season on the Farne islands, goes on the trail of the elusive badger in Essex. There's what we can expect from Gordon here.
Martin Hughes-Games takes us on holiday
With the holiday season about to start, and the credit crunch making more and more people consider a holiday in the UK, producer-turned-presenter Martin Hughes-Games and the Springwatch team provide an essential guide to holiday-making with a wild twist.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~33~RS~)
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Really looking forward to springwatch, being from a travelling family I have a great interest in wildlife.Good luck to the new presenters.Whilst I shall miss Bill Oddie and his undoubted knowledge and to a certain degree I enjoyed the humour but occasionally it was very irritating!!
I too wish him a speedy recovery and hope he is soon back on the "telly"
Warda tu coccorus-take care of yourseves.
Diddecoi
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Ahh, cool.
Should be nice, hopefully I'll get some footage shown on Springwatch this year ...I try every year to get footage of mine on Springwatch and Autumnwatch.
BBC Midlands Today shown my footage of inside a Squirrel Dray.
WFA
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I love the new look website and am very much looking forward to Springwatch 2009. A big warm welcome to Chris and Martin :)
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I won't have a derogatory thing said about Bill ~ regarding his presenting skills anyway. My opinion was slightly tainted when I saw how rude he was when caught off camera on one occasion. However, we are all entitled to do that when not actually engaged in our paid occupation. If I have any other criticism it is that it is impossible to e-mail anybody from Spring Watch. I have never had any luck receiving a reply to any of my e-mails.
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\\as someone who has watched and enjoyed Spring and Autumn Watch since its inception, I am disappointed that Bill Oddie is not with us, although I fully understand why. I will watch the new series, but I will miss him greatly, I like his humour and style. Still good luck to all for the new series.
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As a Norfolk boy with a real interest in wildlife I am looking forward to watching Springwatch. While I have always enjoyed Bill's style I am sure that Chris will bring a different perspective to the programmes and may appeal more to the younger audience - especially with his presenting background. I also feel, after watching Kate's experiences in Africa, that she has become one of the premier presenters of this kind of show. May the real stars of the show (the animals, flora and fauna) keep us enthralled as usual!
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Won't be the same without Bill!
The whole family wishes him well and a speedy recovery.
Come back soon Bill, we miss you and your great sense of humour!
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Springwatch IS Bill Oddie, where is he this year?
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Really looking forward to springwatch, really sad that bill isn't on it, we will miss his funny comments, it wont be quite the same without him, we wish him a very speedy recovery, best of luck to the new members of the team.
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it would be realy great if BILL would drop in from time to time to see if the presenters are doing there job right, and if they arn't he could put them right. that way he isn't forgot about. COME ON BILL SHOW THEM HOW TO DO IT. rob nottingham
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Sorry no Bill but this is a programme about nature, not the presenters!
Great you will be in Norfolk. I am next door in Suffolk and have a good story about nature in Ipswich. You may want to get a photo before it is too late!
During the cold winter months I was standing outside Pals waiting for the bus. There were two gentlemen attaching spikes to the outdoor lights to prevent the pigeons from landing on them. I guess the main reason for this was H&S to prevent people receiving a present on their heads from the pigoens as they sat outside during the warmer weather enjoying their drinks and food. Good idea.
Well, a few months later I see the pigeons on the lights weaving twigs in between the spikes and building a nest. The birds now have a nest and I assume it contains eggs as the bird is sitting on it in the morning as I await the bus. Prevent the birds from landing on the lights?
Man is not as smart as he thinks.
Goldnestie
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I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRINGWATCH,NOT SURE ITS GOING TO BE AS GOOD WITHOUT BILL . WE WILL SEE.
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Great that Springwatch is back again, Hope Bill gets well and will return for autumnwatch.
As for those that are makinf negative comments about Chris, why don't you give him a chance, you never know you may get to even like the way that he presents,
Keep it up team
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Controversial I'm sure, but for me this was the most enjoyable Springwatch ever (and yes I have watched since day one!) We all wish Bill a speedy recovery - he's a good bloke, but I love the new style show - maybe it was time for this change?!
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hi my names Marvin Robinson from Market Drayton shropshire .I have been watching the show for 4 years now.not the same with out Bill. I have been too the same place as simon king where he was at tonight and I was woundering if simon has seen the red kites there .
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So sorry to hear about the depression experienced by Bill Oddie. I had noticed his apparent short temper on previous programs. Does the moderator know if he has had tests for Borrelia, a common disease carried by ticks? Read Robert Bansfield on Neuroborreliosis. For an outdoors person it is easy to pick up but difficult to diagnose if depression is the presenting symptom.
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So pleased to see Chris Packham presenting, I prefer his presenting to Bill's so will be watching this series - the first time in a long time.
I work in conservation and I'm all for getting people in the great outdoors to discover and enjoy the wildlife and their habitats - but please lets encourage responsible exploration - let's not damage the habitats by eroding areas or trampling plants and lets not disturb wildlife by interfering with them too much i.e. by splashing about in rock pools - stand at the side, don't flatten the animals with your feet!!
And join organisations who look after the countryside and coast - such as the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust - they need money to help look after the habitats and wildlife and repair the damage all the visitors make!
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issriourarde ond had toad spawn which hatched into tadpoles but quickly disappeared. We noticed we had several great crested newts in the pond; some of which were fawn coloured rather than black.
These newts, together with common newts, were clearing the pond of other wildlife.
We now have efts in the pond and suspect many will be eaten by the adults.
Now we have another predator in the pond; a grass snake. We have watched this sliding through the pondweed underwater and staying submerged for extended periods.
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what has happened to Bill Odey
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Big fan of Springwatch once again top program, But just got to say, sorry its not the same without Bill,the new guy is fine but for me Springwatch is Bill Oddie, so If you are reading any of these hope you get well soon and I will keep my fingers crossed you will be back for Autumnwatch. A big Chin up for Bill xxxxx
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I'm loving this series of Springwatch. However... I to know more about Chris' poodles!!! They're just gorgeous. So Chris how old are they, what are their names, are they brothers and are you going to post some photos of them on the web-site?
Keep up the good work you guys
xx
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As always springwatch is excellent again this year, and Chris Packham is a excellent replacement. Although we will miss Bill Oddie, Chris's enthusiasm and knowledge is great. Keep up the good work.
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I just love springwatch,nature is wonderful at any time of the year ,keep the good work up, thanks to everyone on the team for such a great show .Love it
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The long awaited Spring Watch is back on our screens and I watch it avidly (and record it to enjoy again later). Many congratulations to everyone concerned, whose individual skills make the programme such a success. I have to applaude the patience and dedication of the cameramen in particular, without whom there would be no show. Also people like the Badger Man ~ how amazzing to devote 50 years to his badger 'pad'. An unsung hero.
I do miss Bill, though. Everyone is doing a wonderful job trying to carry on as normal but it's like Christmas without Santa. PLEASE COME BACK IN THE AUTUMN BILL!
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I have really enjoyed all the Spring Watch shows so far and have spent hours watching the live webcams. Watching the Chaffinch Chicks has been so exciting. They should fledge soon.
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Just wondered if the birds who have 'fledged'(obtained feathers) could then 'fly' from the nest...sorry to be pedantic but the presenters keep wondering when the birds will fledge!
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deeplake i have seen thousands of tadpoles in a half mile stretch and than they seem to disappear than in about twenty places they seem to all congregate together in a black mass is this normal
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Hope this is the right place. I have a qustion about otters. Will a female otter remove her young from a flooded holt, if she had the chance and, could she bring them up without one, if it was a very wet breeding time?
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Hi all
it is good to see springwatch back.
and we love the new presenters, keep up the good work
only sorry you are not on over the weekebd.
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Hi
Heard a cuckoo several times while staying at Thetford Forest Ickburgh Norfolk during 25th-29th May.
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Really like the new presenter line up, fantastic. On a different note, what's with all the negativity re crows; corvids aren't the only ones who take eggs and young. I speak as someone who shares their living space with a a tame carrion crow. Oh and we are just a mile or two away from Pensthorpe.
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Has anyone photographed wildlife from an open canoe or kayak or do you have any hints & tips on photographing wildlife from an open canoe or kayak?
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I heard a cuckoo on the River Chelmer in Essex between Little Baddow & Ulting.
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I'm glad we in Ostend (Belgium) can receive BBC television, especially when springwatch (or indeed autumnwatch) is on. However, we were wondering where Bill Oddie has gone to?
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Bill I have followed your TV stuff over the years, ie your birding black book, I hope you get well soon. regards roger wood.
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get well soon bill? why not try and do "the funkie gibbon"might not work but should give a laugh?
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Just have to say (at least in part because my Mum agreed and said I really should post this) that we (as a family) are enjoying springwatch so much more this year.
Last year we pretty much stopped watching because of Bill, which was wierd because we've always liked watching him in the past. Don't know what changed for us, and we still wish Bill well, but we're loving the new line up for Springwatch. This is loads better!
Thank you so much for the changes this year. We're impressed! :)
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HI Guys,
I was writing to let you know that last year I started an after school nature club for the children at Whitminster Primary, Glos.
We have a fantastic pond full of life newts, frogs, caddis fly larvae and dragonfly nymphs to name just afew.
I wanted to do exactly what Chris keeps saying which is to get the children interested at a young age and hopefully develope their interest in nature to make them appreciate just what is going on around them.
Their enthusiasm is amazing and the things they enjoy the most are always the hands on things like pond dipping.
Last year on a wet session I took in snails and slugs, woodlice and millipedes from my compost bin and the children had the slugs and snails slithering up their arms. They really loved it. I finished off the session with a snail race.
Last week we did a canal walk to see the Damselflies. Some of them thought they were absolutely beautiful. During the walk also we listened to birdsong and picked up pine cones.
Yesterday they all got to hold some of the froglets we have reared from some spawn we took from the pond.Some of them are amazed at how they transform from a black spot in jelly to water breathing to air breathing. It is an astonishing section of nature.Last week we released over 30 froglets.
Life has got far too sanitary and all people worry about is germs.
I show them it is okay to pick up and touch things as long as they are gentle and put it back where they found it.
What I hope I am trying to encourage is a love and respect for the natural world around them because in a few years it will be in their hands.
Just thought I would let Chris know that he is not alone in his effort to convert children into lovers of nature.
Great show guys. Really glad Simon is in magnificant Wales at last.
Keep up the good work.
Tanya.
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Im loving this years springwatch as i have for years...i would like to say that this night has opened my eyes to how fab chris packham is....i say this as a girl that had pics of him on my wall back in the 80s.....what a handsome devil............keep up the good work guys....
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Hi Guys,
I was on holiday in Devon last December when having just got out of the shower and still drying myself I happened to look out of the bedroom window and was an Otter catching a big Salmon.The Otter took it to the far bank and eat it so fast I could not believe it!!
I was told by a local not to tell anyone in the village about seeing the Otter because someone from the village would kill it!!!! And they say Humans are the most intelligent species!!! My photo's are on Flickr under jimits2 Great show Guy's keep up the good work.
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at 15.52 11 june youngboltonlass every one involved with the spring watch show as made it a wonderful programme to watch lots of good times and some sad times when something as gone wrong with the animals chris has been a great addition to the show hope he stays for a very long time also all the other members of the team its been a pleasure to watch looking forward to the autumn show been great to see simon in wales its a beautiful country in fact i was there last tuesday in llanduddno keep up the good work enjoy any time off with your families and friends bye
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The best ever series of Springwatch. Well done to all and congrats to Chris. I hope he is going to be back in the future. Now it has the "perfect" team all working together so very well.
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Hi
I was relating this story to some friends the other day and they said I should tell you about it.
A few years ago we had a pair of blackbirds nest just outside our kitchen window - Blossom and George they had three chicks Snap, Crackle and Pop but when the time came for them to fledge they refused to leave despite the continual attempts of Mum and Dad to entice them out with worms this went on for over a week. they were so big they barely fitted into the nest. Blossom and George in desperation started to dismantle the front of the nest. That didn't work, despite being in danger of falling out the front they kept climbing oever each other to get to the back. Eventually mum and dad dismantled the entire nest leaving the three youngsters sitting on the branch of the bush that the nest had been on! I can onlt think that they must have really liked the music I was playing to them.
In reply to some of the comments I've read regarding Chris taking over fom Bill Oddie I enjoyed Bill presenting the show but I have equally enjoyed the "quirkyness" of Chris. We especially enjoy the "unsprung" bits!
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Hurry up and come back Bill Oddie
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