Springwatch 09: What are your best bits?
Post categories: In depth
| 14:15 UK time, Wednesday, 10 June 2009
It's reached that time in the series when thoughts turn to our favourite bits. A quick straw poll in the production tent came up with these: the stoat family moving home, Chris' poodles, the cuckoos and Simon's slo-mo goshawks.
But what about you? Which bit has been your favourite? Let me know, I'd love to hear.
(If you need a few reminders try the Video archive.)
Comments
i liked the swallows best as i have recently discovered a swallow nest and its really interesting seeing them up close and you cant see them like that at the nest i and my friend found. however my least favourite part has been chris' annoying poodles, after all this is a nature program NOT a chris packham poodle program.
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Personally, I loved seeing the Stoats. I think they are wonderful little animals - tiny in stature, but with huge energy. As for Springwatch as a whole, it has been a wonderful series again and the website is fantastic. I have thoroughly enjoued seeing the Spring Photo's from other people who so obviously care about and are fascinated by, our wonderful wildlife. Also the wildlife videos are really wonderful to watch.
Many congratulations for a fabulous series and website. Have loved every minute.
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Agreeing with the previous comment the stoats were the best part simply because even though that female stoat was so small she was doing a mighty job in providing for nine kits almost full size and was great to see.
loved springwatch so far cant wait for the last two episodes and then just the wait until autumnwatch starts.
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I totally loved the stoats moving home. Seeing that little animal running back and forth with the larder and then all her kits was excellent. Just has to be my favourite.
The polecat film was gorgeous - I really hope Kate doesn't have to eat the sofa however. :0) Simon and the fat cat continually eating the bait was rather amusing. The ridiculous blue tit nest site in the railway barrier and those little wrens all lined up on a twig being fed by their parents after fledging.
Chris throwing in his 'baby' comment to Kate. And Unsprung fav moments that I guess might not be shown again - Chris having the 2 0 score written on his shirt...great reaction Chris. That daft white poodle being lowered from the ceiling with 'poodle power' written on it. (In fact Unsprung was pretty funny and very informative throughout).
Lastly - on the video archive there was (but I can't find it now) a film of a badger eating whilst a fox creeps up on it and bites it in the rear end...that is brilliant.
Of course it's difficult to choose things because it was such a good series, I think I've enjoyed this one most out of all so far. The new team are excellent. Course my other fav moment was winning Simon's cartoon...but I guess it would be wouldn't it! *grin* Thanks for a really entertaining series.
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Quite frankly I have enjoyed every moment of this years Springwatch. It has been my favourite year by far. It has encouraged, informed and enthused me! Fantastic!!
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Wasps (yesterday)
Hooray! At last I know I'm not alone! I once had a wasps' nest in one corner of the roof and bees in the other. The wasps went bonkers for the blackcurrent cordial I put on the windowsill - and brought their friends from another nest.
Despite the fact that up to a hundred wasps at any one time were buzzing around landing and bedrooms, they never once hurt me or my pet lame pigeon - they were interested only in the fruit juice!
No need any longer for MPs to claim for wasp nest destruction - leave them alone and they won't bother you.
Best wishes
Janiebirdie
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Oh the best bit for me would have to be Springwatch Unsprung - its so funny and each night it really makes my night, it gives people like us a chance to see behind the scenes, it shows us the real side of the presenters, and gives the camera men ect. a chance in the lime light, i wish it wouldn't stop... anyway love ya all!
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its difficult to say what my best bits are because this year really good enjoying all of the series, but got to say i loved the stoats and springwatch unsprung brill wot fun love it all thanks for a good show x
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Yup - Unsprung Springwatch is the unmissable element because the new 'Home Base' trio make it essential viewing. A brilliant idea - thank you.
This Series has been the best SW as far as I'm concerned. Masses of wildlife, webcams with very informed, entertaining and (very easy on the eye ;o) Presenters - all held together by a magnificent SW Production Team.
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Isaw a stoat at studland bay and no one in my family beleived me, so if anyone has seen a stoat in the dDorset area please let me know
Cheers
:-)
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I love Springwatch, and was therefore unsure of Chris Packham - but have been almost completely won over by the fact that he keeps poodles - I have a standard poodle, and although she would like to eat most of the fledglings in our garden - she does like watching them too. A much misunderstood breed! Love all the bird stuff. Thank you
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Has anyone seen a stoat in Dorset
My favourite bit of springwatch was Watching about the Honey Buzzard and also the stoat with 9 kits was cool and funny.
My least favourite part was seening the ill sparrow but no his is better i am happy.
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All of Springwatch is absolutely fantastic- best ever telly! Especially liked the wasps and stoats. Chris Packham is wicked
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'You haven't earned it yet baby...' come on that's a classic. The moment I knew that Chris and Kate's on screen relationship would have just as much fun in it as Kate and Bill's.
Actually, make that a run-down of all of Chris's dropped in Smith titles!
ANYTHING ON UNSPRUNG - apart from the mole abuse!
Stoat family - amazing footage
Nightjars
Goshawks and Merlins hunting
all the little warblers which I have never really looked at before, but I have discovered are so beautiful.
Kate and Chris enthusing about the wasp nest
Anything with Chris in it!!!!
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definately LITTLE CHRIS THE CRAYFISH!!!
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I like the section about the honey buzzard, its great to see the work done by raptor centers and rescue centers
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The stoat family is definitely the best - what a wonderful view of stoat family life. Could watch that clip time and again.
As regards the heron. I'm surprised that no-one thought that a heron would raid the chicks. We used to have a lot of ducks and one mother duck in particular would take her chicks through the fields to forage. A heron got to know that she did this and everyday the mother duck would come home minus 1 of her chicks. The heron had had it! This happened year after year so we have always known that herons ate more than just fish!!
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I have enjoyed all of Springwatch this year, as we have in the past.
It is The best television, inspiring people to make there own garden an oasis for wildlife.
Bill Oddie was great , but Chris Packham has great knowledge and has done well. Kate Humble and of course the legendary Simon King make this programme a 'must see'
The photography is excellent ,too. The polecat ,the shots of the fledglings , the number and variety of animals is astounding.
So well done the Springwatch team it was a superb series, looking forward to Autumnwatch!.
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I have enjoyed every minute of springwatch i have been totally transfixed speding hours watching the live webcams, as well as watching the live shows. My fave moments i have to agree with everyone with the stoat family moving home. That was an amazing bit of footage. Thanks everyone for getting me back into nature takes me back to my bird watching days as a child.
Brilliant series
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Firstly, i hate the fact that springwatch is on for three weeks, can the bbc not add an extra one on next year...lets face it, its the only decent thing on tv to watch at the minute and there'll be a void when its gone for another year.
Anyway, my favourite bits of the show has to start with the stoats, just gorgeous scenes! Loved the drama the kestrels were causing and wondering what would happen but my most fave is seeing the peregrine falcons fledge from the cathedral and also knowing that we really don't have to go that far to see wildlife...we just need to look!
Great sreies yet again x x x
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so many best bits but i just love the stoat family . i can see it being played as much as christian the harrods lion just magic , then tonight the manx shearwaters ,we lived in epping forest and one foggy night our teenage son was driving home and saw a dark object in the lane . he picked it up as it was a wet bedragled bird . by it,s feet we realised it was a water bird of some sort .spent ages looking in our bird book . we thought it was a manx shearwater , so put him in the bath of water and thawed out some sprats from the freezer after a while he took some . the next morning i phoned the local rspb office . a rather snooty man said oh i very much doubt it will be a manx shearwater , but bring it to the reservour office . this we did ,and as soon as he saw it he said my god it is one .as the bird by then was quite perky and not injured ,he said come with me to top of the resevour and we can see if flies ok we waited for some wind and threw him high . it was great to see him fly so well . as simon said they dont really walk but shuffle along . we at first thought he was injured we feel so very lucky to have been able to save him and see him so close .the next day the rspb man phoned to say they were getting calls from people saying we have seen a manx shearwater .such a beautiful bird ,how great for simon to have been so close to so many and now i realise just how lucky we were on that cold foggy night in november . i cant believe tomorrow will be the last spring watch where have 3 weeks gone this year i think has been the best yet. welcome to chris you really have made it even better than ever. well done all the team so many of you to get such wonderful footage
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All of it - never thought I'd type these words, but I prefer Spring/Autumnwatch with Chris at the helm.
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The programme is beginning to veer more to the sentimental/silly content even though tooth and claw sequences are being included. For instance encouraging viewers to put out tasty cooked food for the wildlife is ignoring the fact that rats find it attractive too as well as cuddly looking mammals. Rats are a real health hazard and should be acknowledged on the programme.
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I have to disagree with the comment above - I think this year, with Chris, the programme has been more up-front about the 'real' nature, and how a lot of the time it is not all cute and fluffy. This is what people need to understand, so well done Springwatch!
Also, loving Simon's hat this year... And his liberal use of the word 'cracking' every few minutes! ;)
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It has been excellent thankyou! However, accepting the need for so many cameras and story watchers, it seems to me a very extravagant production in some ways. All those people we saw and all that stuff! It's good that your carbon output has been cut by 30% anyway, but maybe next time you could simplify even more? Do you need all those "things" in the 'studio' or whatever you call it! Simon's production team was pretty efficient! Despite the negative remarks here, all in all it has been by far the best! Those camera people are absolutely brilliant - so talented and dedicated.
Thanks!
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I saw that fantastic article on the Nightjar - are there any in North Yorkshire? We do have Red Kites and Buzzrads locally, but this bird is fascinating. Best spot of the year - a large flock of Waxwings in Acomb, York stripping a berry tree.
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Watervoles only just beat Puffins into second place for cuteness in our household so the little one doing a backwood roll down the bank is our favourite Springwatch moment. (It is also such a surprise to see my dear wife sitting still for five minutes. She has been absolutely glued this year and even when her (townie) sister rings up in the middle of it, she waits for the end of the programme before she rings her back. She is also enjoying the backstage shenanigins in unsprung too.
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Best bits for me:
1. The Smiths' songtitles every single day.
2. Red Kites feeding en masse.
3. Mrs Stoat and her family moving burrow.
4. Itchy and scratchy - I want to be in their gang!
5. Loads of fit blokes. *ahem*
6. The view from the cliff, sun setting past the lighthouse, in the background whilst Simon was broadcasting from Anglesey.
7. The fun and knowledge you all had and gave to us.
It was the best one yet and I am increasingly jealous of wildlife TV people. Again it is over like a flash.
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I've enjoyed the whole series, and like the broad approach which embraces both experienced and novice wildlife watchers. I'm particularly impressed by Chris Packham's expertise (and wit) though a bit bemused by his T shirts. I'm hoping that tonight we shall be updated on the fate of the remaining lapwing chicks. Perhaps I missed the episode which included this. Lapwings - my favourite birds - disappeared (some being chopped up by machinery) from our local farmland about 25 years ago with no sign yet of recovery.
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Simon's skylark. Defiantly singing in flight with a merlin in pursuit. I've been really ill lately and this tiny clip made me cry. I had no idea this happens. Made me want to be a fighter too. Thanks Simon and all the team. This year's Spring Watch has really informed and lifted me. Its changed the way I see the world. And I wish there were DVD box sets of this series to but and look back on. You guys are that good. I'm from Canada, but falling in love with England's wildlife! Bill is one in a million and I miss him. Its a different style of show now with a larger team and the diversity that brings is really positive. Can't wait for Autumn Watch.
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Thank you Springwatch for a brilliant series, but more importantly for campaigning for two of the most loathed and misunderstood species we have in the British Isles - Seagulls and Wasps!! Great stuff. Keep up the good work.
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My fave moments of this years Springwatch? Hmmmm.
Martin Hughes-Games slipping off his waders with that cheeky comment after a very wet dirty weekend in a raging stream! What a seriously lovely man and a great addition to the frontline team. I am really looking forward to his Springwatch special.
Favourite 'wildlife' moment has to be Gordon Buchanan filming Peregrine chicks make their first flight at Chichester Cathedral, oh how I envy him that experience. (We've had one of their older siblings using a church in Cambridge recently, though I didn't manage to see it.) The Buckinghamshire Polecats were fab too.
It's been a great series. Thanks for such entertaining and informative programmes. Hope you'll ALL be back again in the Autumn.
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my family's favourite parts:
NANNY: The Swallows, and the goldfinch messy nest, because it is clever how it survived, and the robins, where the breast.
GRANDAD: The robin chicks, and the reed warblers are beautiful.
MINE: Miine has to be the little ringed plovers, and the robins, and also the blackbird chicks. But the tradgedy of the Lapwings, was very sad. :(.
Mum: The enemy's in the rock pools
Brother: He enjoyed the swallow family, robin family, and the blackbird family.
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Just seen Chris Packham on Look North and just wanted to say I have noticed Chris that you have been referring to songs by The Smiths on the show, The Smiths are my favourite band so was impressed. The show has been great. Love Carol Collis from Driffield East Yorkshire xxx
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I was half listening on Monday when one of the prsenters said that one could revive a dying bumble bee by feeding it honey on a toothpick. Shortly afterwards my daughter spotted just such a small bumblebee in the toilet.
I forgot about it but two hours later spottted it myself, now almost comatose. I administered honey via toothpick, more out of curiosity than in expectatioon, only to find myself being buzzed about the head not 5 minutes later. I let it out the door but now wonder if this was only to certain death in the wee hours and wonder if I should not have kept in a jar until daylight?
It worked spectacularly so do try it next time you come across a bee that has become trapped inside and is worn out.
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My favourite bit was the all of chris's garden guides
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I have watched Springwatch religiously as always and found the whole series fascinating, I loved the red kites, but particularly liked the honey buzzard. I do have to say though I did enjoy Chris and his poodles! Can't wait for the next series!
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Springwatch was great this year. Can anyone tell me what the large flock of birds was in the introduction? I thought they were either starlings or knot. Anyone know?
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This was my first full length experience of Springwatch so I'm a bit of a novice given some of the comments placed by other more learned participants. Did I enjoy it, indeed I did. Did I enjoy the pulsating moments of fear (particulary for those young chicks attacked by the male) honestly, no. I know I must accept nature for what it is, but it's still unpleasant to see. Anyway, what I really wanted to say was my enjoyment of the programme was made all the more pleasurable by the new boy(s). Chris was funny. Martin was just sexy! I thought I'd post a note to let him know. He can whistle his dawn chorus outside my window any day of the week :) Seems others' have the same view (from reading some of the posts)so I'll say no more on the subject matter save I like camping and have never been to the Isle of Man:)
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