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Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles Season 1 Episode 2
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FunTranscript
00:00My name is Hamzai Yaseen. I am a wildlife cameraman and naturalist.
00:19And in this series, I'm going to show you the incredible hidden wildlife that we have here in the British Isles.
00:25These islands are full of wildlife and amazing spectacles, but some are so hidden they're not always easy to find.
00:36All you need to know is how and where to look.
00:40I'll be showing you animals so rare that we hardly ever see them.
00:44Tuna!
00:46I'll be taking you to places so remote that very few people visit.
00:52And uncovering wildlife hiding in plain sight in our towns and our cities.
00:59You legend! You legend!
01:02Whilst using the very latest technology to reveal a whole range of hard to find animals and behaviours.
01:10Look at that!
01:14What?
01:19This is phenomenal.
01:20This is a new look at Britain's hidden wildlife.
01:24Yes! Come on!
01:26Cresty and the Cairngorns.
01:27Cresty and the Cairngorns.
01:28Cresty and the Cairngorns.
01:33High summer on the Celtic Sea.
01:43The sun is beating down on a vast stretch of open ocean.
01:5040 miles off the coast of southwest Wales.
01:53And hiding somewhere under these rolling waves is a needle in the biggest, deepest haystack.
01:57The sun is beating down on a vast stretch of open ocean.
01:59High summer on the Celtic Sea.
02:00The sun is beating down on a vast stretch of open ocean.
02:0340 miles off the coast of southwest Wales.
02:07And hiding somewhere under these rolling waves is a needle in the biggest, deepest haystack.
02:22Something I bet you never would have expected to see in British waters.
02:27Now, way out at sea, we get a beautiful, majestic creature that comes due to our temperate climate.
02:34And I'm hoping today I'll get to capture it.
02:44The only way I can introduce you to this mysterious ocean dweller is to leave my world and dive into theirs.
02:55So alongside my underwater crew, it's time to enter the Big Blue.
03:04There are nothing but sunbeams in any direction.
03:11This is truly vast open water.
03:16But thankfully, the creature I've come to see can detect strangers in the water over great distances.
03:25This is a blue shark.
03:34Two metres long and the first one I have ever seen.
03:38And it's right here in the UK.
03:40Oh, great!
03:42It's come here from the Caribbean, following its food as it rides the Gulf Stream.
03:55For just a few short weeks in summer, our waters are home to a handful of these far-travelling wanderers.
04:08At first, it keeps its distance.
04:11But as it gets more used to our presence, the shark comes to investigate us, the alien visitors in its familiar world.
04:27It even shows us its battle scars.
04:37Tooth marks from a hard life on the high seas.
04:42I have an absolute heaven.
04:49Blue sharks are my new favourite animal in the sea.
04:53I love them so much.
04:55I don't want to get out.
04:58And it's a good job I didn't.
05:09Because now, I'm sharing the water with not just one, but two blue sharks.
05:21To be able to share this experience with something as beautiful and as powerful as these amazing creatures, for the very first time, is an enormous privilege.
05:35But there's a sad reality that hits me in this moment.
05:40Like many shark species, time is running out for these stunning creatures.
05:46On their global migration, as many as 10 million blue sharks are caught and killed each year.
05:55And so, it's a real reminder that we need to provide proper protection for the lucky few that make it back to British waters.
06:07Blue sharks have opened up a whole new world for me.
06:11I might change my career and become an underwater cameraman.
06:14These guys are just...
06:19Oh, they're amazing.
06:21I can tell already this is going to be a summer to remember.
06:33Welcome to my home on the west coast of Scotland.
06:37And it's another typical Scottish summer's day.
06:47I first moved here 16 years ago.
06:50And one person took me in perhaps more than any other.
06:54Come in.
06:56My wonderful neighbour.
06:57Hello.
06:58Hello.
06:59Amanda.
07:00Hello.
07:01How are you doing?
07:02I'm good.
07:03Come in, come in.
07:04How are you?
07:05I'm just making a cup of tea.
07:06Okay.
07:07Do you want one?
07:08Yeah, I'd love one.
07:09Okay.
07:10Okay.
07:11I often think of her as my Scottish mother.
07:13Someone who's helped me through some of the toughest moments of my life.
07:20Typical summer, isn't it?
07:21It is a typical summer, yeah.
07:23Here's me telling you, let's go and look for some waters together.
07:27Let's spend some time together.
07:29And this is the day that we pick.
07:31But this is the thing I love about being home.
07:35It just feels perfect.
07:37Yeah.
07:38It feels like this is where I want to be.
07:40It feels relaxing.
07:41It feels...
07:44Space.
07:45If you know what I mean.
07:46Yeah.
07:47We've got nature all around us.
07:49But I think, for anyone in the UK, it's just a matter of getting out.
07:55Yeah.
07:56And looking.
07:57Yes.
07:58Look around you.
07:59I mean, I see it here sometimes.
08:00There was a couple walking past the house, and there were bottlenose dolphins in the bay.
08:05And I went out and said, I don't know if you noticed, but there were actually dolphins
08:08right there, and they hadn't realised.
08:10It makes me feel happy that you do that.
08:12Yeah.
08:13I don't know.
08:14I don't think I rubbed that off on you.
08:15I think you had the love of wildlife already.
08:17I think I did.
08:18I did.
08:19Definitely.
08:20But you've taught me so much.
08:22Are we going to see an otter in this?
08:26The weather condition at the moment, with the waves and everything else, it makes it
08:33harder to spot.
08:34Because the otters are still going to be out in this.
08:36Yeah.
08:37For them, it's still a matter of life and death.
08:39They still need to feed.
08:40But I don't think they care about a little bit of rain.
08:44Well, we shouldn't then.
08:46Right.
08:47Come on then.
08:48Let's make the most of it.
08:53The west coast of Scotland is a good place for spotting otters.
08:57But even Amanda rarely sees them, because they're shy, evasive animals.
09:04I'd love to show her one today, as a special treat.
09:10For people who are not used to spotting otters, there are a few hidden signs to look out for.
09:16Have a look at this.
09:17See that?
09:18What?
09:19Yeah.
09:20See how green it is?
09:21Yeah.
09:22That's due to the fertilisation of otter poo.
09:23Sprint.
09:24And I'm going to pick it up, which I know a lot of people are going to go,
09:26Oh, disgusting.
09:27But in reality, it's not.
09:28And I'll show you why.
09:29Smell that.
09:30You're not going to flick it up on my face, are you?
09:31No, you're going to be fine.
09:32It's quite fragrant actually, isn't it?
09:33Exactly.
09:34It's not stinky at all.
09:35It's not stinky.
09:36It's not stinky.
09:37Everyone would think it's stinky, but it's, to me, it's a fresh smell.
09:39It's a fresh smell of a fresh smell.
09:40It's a fresh smell of a fresh smell of a fresh smell of an otter poo.
09:43It's a fresh smell of an otter poo.
09:46And I'm going to pick it up, which I know a lot of people are going to go,
09:48Oh, disgusting.
09:49But in reality, it's not.
09:50And I'll show you why.
09:51Smell that.
09:52You're not going to flick it up on my face, are you?
09:53No, you're going to be fine.
09:54No, you're going to be fine.
09:55it's not so it's not stinky at all it's not stinky everyone would think it's stinky but it's
10:00to me it's like a hint of jasmine with fish they have such a quick turnaround of what they eat
10:05they're constantly pooing they need to mark their territory so the otter either female or male
10:13will have this territory here she'll come along sprint on this area and then move off now whoever's
10:19coming next we'll sniff it and that otter will kind of go okay she's a female she's in season
10:26okay this is this is my day maybe or i'll sniff it ah she's already got babies no point for me
10:32but it's also like a marker uh out of my territory this is my territory i would never have noticed
10:38that all we need to do now is clap eyes on an otter with the low tide imminent which is the best hunting
10:47time for otters we might just get lucky it's the perfect moment to grab my camera and hope for
10:54the best let's just tuck in here for you i'm just going to set up the camera if you look for it for
11:00me okay okay if you find it just give me a shout come on otter where are you you sometimes just get
11:11a sense that something's there they can only hold their breath for up to about a minute
11:17if you think you've seen it wait another 30 seconds give it maximum a minute if it hasn't popped up
11:23then it's not a notter yeah
11:31oh there it is there it is there it is are you serious yeah yeah yeah what uh
11:37uh you want him yeah i got him
11:43good spot hamza fantastic it just put his head up and it just did a kind of
11:49bob okay so as soon as it kind of does like a porpoise dive in and out yeah that's it letting
11:57the air out of its lungs on its way up as soon as it breaks the surface it takes a breath and then it
12:01goes back in again that means it's in proper hunting mode
12:04in places like this food is plentiful for a hungry otter using their large web paws and their
12:13long streamlined bodies otters are perfectly adapted to a life of searching the seabed for
12:19small fish and crabs there he is he's eating quite a lot you can see her heads up in the water
12:31it's munching isn't it it really is
12:42great it's cool aren't it i mean it's always like you called them up
12:46well i wanted to spend a bit of time with you i've been on the road quite a lot so
12:53that's the way to do it it was it was absolutely fabulous
13:00you know it makes me feel so happy to be able to spend the morning with you just like relaxing
13:07and chilling and just like showing you some really cool a very beautiful girl
13:12my african sun
13:27summer is a time when our home welcomes a whole host of seasonal visitors
13:33and if you know where to look you will find things that will truly surprise you
13:38i'm in dorset in search of a mysterious creature shrouded in folklore
13:47arn is beautiful it's got a plethora of wildlife and habitats and it's this particular habitat here
13:55the lowland heath that is home to one of the most beautiful birds we get in the british isles
14:01and unfortunately one of the hardest to see
14:08the night jar
14:18during the day they are almost impossible to spot as they silently hunker down on their nest
14:25perfectly camouflaged amongst the heather gorse and bark
14:29but by night their alien-like eyes and cavernous mouth make the night jar a precise predator when hunting on the wing
14:44and for me as a cameraman there lies the challenge
14:48filming these guys hunting at night for the very first time
14:52so i say bring it on
14:56whilst night jars are doing well at arn they're still incredibly rare birds across the uk
15:03which makes revealing their behavior at night even more special
15:07as a youngster i remember flicking through birding box and seeing this
15:18alien looking creature and ever since then i've always wanted to film them
15:24night jars only begin to fly as the very last rays of sunlight cling to the heath
15:30this gives me about 40 minutes to film them before my camera can't cope with the darkness
15:43i know i'm from scotland and i'm normally used to the midges but tonight the midges
15:47are extra bad well went straight into my eye
15:51so i've actually started spreading my team around and i've got elle over here
15:57just as an extra pair of ears so that if she sees night jars or hears them more importantly
16:03she can point me in that direction
16:09come on night jars
16:14there we go
16:17oh that was the most briefest little sound
16:21a cheering
16:27night jars make their bizarre continuous call to warn their competition to stay away
16:32and to entice a potential partner to join them on the heath
16:39they're able to produce up to 40 notes per second amazingly on their inhale and exhale
16:46it's a crazy sound it is
16:52where did that come from i can hear them but i can't see them
16:58oh mate there they're just above the horizon
17:00there's one there's one there's one there's one there's one night jar come on
17:11yeah this is super hard
17:13they just disappear in plain sight
17:21there's two there's two there's two there's two there's two on the horizon
17:25love it absolutely love it what a beautiful night
17:40like puppets on a string the night jars are dancing all around me but even my super sensitive low light
17:48camera is struggling against the oncoming night
17:54i still really want to see them hunting on the wing so i'm going to come back tomorrow with a secret weapon
18:09it's the next night and i am back on the heath and this time i have brought support
18:25hey what's up hey hamza you made it mark yates is a fellow wildlife cameraman with years of experience
18:32filming night jars and tonight he's brought along a game-changing camera that will pull back the cover
18:39of darkness i've never used anything like this before it's pretty special yeah no it's an amazing
18:46bit of care it's like a real privilege to be able to see after dark without using any lights or anything
18:51and just sort of see natural behavior this is one of the most powerful thermal imaging cameras in the
18:57world and mark is one of the few people who knows how to operate it it detects heat signals and it
19:04should be able to pick up any wildlife hiding on the heath are we going to disturb the birds at all by being
19:10here not at all no they'll have no idea that we're here amazing amazing we'll be at one with nature
19:16oh is that one i don't know it's definitely not a nightjar i think that's a bat oh hang on i can hear
19:32one here we go here we go here we go here we go right in front of the tree right in front of the tree
19:39how's that that oh my gosh night jars wow
19:52we may have got a nest having the ability to peek under the blanket of night
19:58really does open up a whole new world for us
20:01there's two there's two there's two there's two of them
20:19they seem to be flying in harmony with each other rather than chasing each other off
20:24these birds have probably already paired up
20:27and are likely maintaining their bond with a courtship display
20:44this is absolutely awesome
20:49slowly slowly i am building a mental picture of what they're doing in the middle of the night
20:55when the moon is this bright night jars are most active their foraging activities can more than
21:04double on nights like this
21:11oh yes i just saw it it just caught it out of frame didn't it i've not seen that before that's for sure
21:17and i'm pretty sure this has never been filmed before either
21:28but with mark's skills we may do even better than that
21:36if that lands on there right now i'm gonna lose my mind
21:40come on oh yes come on look at that
21:49you legend
21:52now it's great to see it so close oh it's calling
21:56literally catching moths from these perch wow
22:11mark you don't understand how amazing that is
22:25it's not all creatures at aren't make themselves known with elaborate calls and intricate displays
22:45there is a hidden world that is often overlooked and incredibly complex
22:50these woods are patrolled by secret guardians hidden communities millions upon millions strong
22:59all working together to the benefit of the entire forest
23:04every single individual has a role to play as they raise the earth and shape the landscape
23:12to reveal these hidden architects we're going to need specialist macro camera equipment
23:20i've enlisted the help of my friend and ant expert lucy hodson to enter a world that is tiny enough
23:27to overlook but too gigantic to ignore these are wood ants and here at arn they're everywhere
23:39ants are pretty cool aren't they ants are awesome they're absolutely brilliant little things the floor
23:44almost looks like it's glittering doesn't it yeah so much activity going on
23:47i must admit i tend to film big animals i don't really focus on the small stuff but they are
23:55so important aren't they yeah and i'm a massive advocate for having a look at the small stuff
23:59because big animals are great i love them too but the drama that goes on in the invertebrate world
24:05yeah it's mind-blowing let's have a let's have a closer look here you can see the activity
24:13it's so busy so what's exactly happening at the moment then so you'll see you know if we look a
24:19little bit wider than the mound here there's various different routes going off where there's trails of
24:23ants almost like little ant motorways every mound is home to its own colony each housing up to a quarter
24:32of a million ants
24:39this part visible above the ground is just the tip of the iceberg with underground chambers protecting
24:46their queen and raising their larvae stretching out much further each year when digging out their new nests
24:54the combined colonies can excavate as many as 13 tons of soil per hectare
25:03on their own ants can shift stones and carry twigs but together they can build mines and move mountains
25:14they're always kind of maintaining and building and adding to that thatch
25:18it has two different functions in order to help the activity of the anthill be at its best it needs
25:23to be warm yeah so if they can arrange that thatch in a way so that it intercepts the sun's
25:28rays they can absorb that heat the other thing the factures are good for is basically a brolly an
25:33umbrella if you think of heavy rain they need some kind of defense to stop the tunnels being washed
25:37away if you have that interlocking thatch that's you know arranged in a very architecturally sound way
25:42yep it stops the rain washing everything away and just runs off without damaging it see mother nature's so clever
25:48as much as the ants depend on the forest the forest depends on the ants they hunt down and eat
25:55caterpillars that munch on the leaves in the canopy helping to keep the trees healthy and strong and
26:02ants are the ultimate cleanup crew one colony can collect as many as six million insects a year
26:09to bring back to the nest which recycles nutrients and puts them back into the soil
26:14but they're not just expert pest control these ants are heading to great heights for another incredible
26:24reason
26:28like farmers tending to their herds wood ants have cultivated a relationship with aphids who produce
26:35a sugary energy fuel substance called honeydew a favorite snack for the ants
26:40and in turn the aphids benefit from their own private army thousands of soldiers strong to protect
26:49them from predators
26:54because these ants aren't without defenses
26:57have you been bitten yet a couple of times but i mean i've got one on my hand just now
27:02they're struggling to get a hold of me but yeah it's not that uncomfortable i think just an opportunity
27:07to have a look up close at their anatomy you can see those stripes on the bum there yes and you
27:12can see the segments in them as well yes those jaws you know it's trying to nip my skin there but if
27:17you think about if you're a caterpillar and you're faced with those it's quite intimidating isn't it
27:20yeah i guess so they really are trying to bite aren't they yeah yeah and this is the thing just
27:26ah you ass go on buddy and they don't actually you know put any venom into you it's just a little bit
27:33of a nip so you can tolerate that it doesn't even leave a mark it's the back end you've got to watch
27:40the thing about wood ants is you know part of their their family name is formica yeah sounds
27:44quite familiar because we know formic acid if we were to poke this you'd see that it'll immediately
27:48go on the defense and start spraying that acid right in your face if you get a face full of that
27:54if you're a predator it might just put you off
27:56wood ants are notoriously aggressive and are the only group of ants in the world that can spray acid
28:05like this i mean i've got one on me now he's already going into defense mode and crawling all
28:13over me um but you can see immediately there he starts rearing up towards the danger yeah see that
28:18that little bottom's tucked underneath it yeah and if i yeah if you give my finger a smell
28:22vinegar doesn't it it smells like the chippy that's exactly what the chippy smells like doesn't it
28:29oh wow it's really quite pungent and obviously if you get thousands of them kicking off at once
28:35the smell is you know it's really quite vivid i'm getting bitten again look
28:39we've got another hitchhiker they're saying the last word here that's for sure
28:43there are a few species that can change the landscape but there is one that takes it to the extreme
28:58i'm here in my home country of scotland to show you an animal that has been missing for 400 years
29:05everyone's heard of it but not many people have seen it
29:08the creature itself is often hidden from view because it's shy nocturnal and is only found in a
29:17handful of places across the uk but where they are found it's impossible to miss the signs of their
29:23handiwork it's the beaver
29:32beavers are really cool i just want to show you this have a look at this tree
29:39you can actually see the individual marks of each tooth the little mini chisels four chisels at the
29:46front of their mouth you can see the gap where the two teeth kind of cut with the other bottom two
29:51teeth like this just phenomenal absolutely phenomenal everyone kind of asks how do beavers actually
29:59gnaw down a tree because it's dangerous they don't want to be biting right to the last minute and this
30:03thing falls on them all of this this is going to fall soon and what they do is they gnaw away and as
30:11they know they sit and listen then they know some more and sit and listen and what they're listening
30:17for is little cracks in the trunk and as they hear more cracks then they leave and what they wait for is
30:24for mother nature to have a windy day and for the wind to do the rest of the job the next day this will be
30:30on the floor then they can start working on the tops of the trees getting the leaves and the juicy
30:35bits out and taking it back up to the dam the beavers unique tree felling ability has the power to
30:43completely transform the landscape to the benefit of nature they use small streams like canals to drag
30:52their logs back to the dam it doesn't stop the flow entirely but it has held back enough water to
31:05increase this one small pond by at least one million extra liters more water in the ponds means more space
31:16for wildlife and by felling trees the beavers open up the canopy and allow sunlight to hit the water
31:24the surface bringing with it warmth and life beavers help countless other species just by being beavers
31:41because they're so secretive actually filming the animals themselves will be exceptionally tricky
32:00but in a woodland as chewed up as this one i reckon i'm going to be in luck
32:11this is liquid sunshine i have no choice but to sit tight and wait out the rain with my high-tech
32:20waterproofing system
32:31but thankfully it isn't long before the rain stops and the conditions are perfect
32:36the one thing that's playing to my benefit is the wind has died down and it's made the pond so calm
32:47so any movement i'll be able to spot the beavers
32:59i've got a beaver i've got a beaver oh my god
33:06beaver that's amazing first beaver the first beaver
33:17i can track the beavers using their bubbles under the water
33:21i can track the water
33:35the water
33:37the water
33:51These animals have slotted back into the landscape so seamlessly.
33:57To the untrained eye, you could easily miss them.
34:09That was so good.
34:14I can't begin to tell you how special it is to share such intimate views of wild beavers.
34:21And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I spot a mother and her kit.
34:34And you can see the size difference now between the mum and the baby.
34:39Just look how cute they are.
34:44Come on.
34:45Beavers live in small family groups and form close bonds with one another.
34:53And if the amount of felled trees in this valley is anything to go by, this family must be a big one.
35:01Living as a large family group pays off for beavers.
35:14Even the kits get involved gathering materials to maintain their structures.
35:20He's going to break the branch.
35:22Go on.
35:24Go on, young man.
35:25Go on.
35:26You can do it.
35:26It's got it.
35:36Wow.
35:38You are beautiful.
35:39That's an animal that has been missing from our landscape for 400 years.
35:58And I'm getting the opportunity to film it now.
36:00You can't see it, but I've got goosebumps all over me.
36:07This is phenomenal.
36:09It's no secret that some of our wildlife is under real stress.
36:23And the animal I want to reveal next is one of the rarest species in the British Isles.
36:31In fact, over the past century, we have lost 90% of them, and they are now found in only a handful of places like this historic building.
36:45Once a stable on a country estate, it's now a collection of flats inhabited by people and over 1,000 greater horseshoe bats, maybe more than 10% of the UK's entire population.
37:05Tonight is going to be an epic night.
37:11Now, that little hatch there, it's pretty small.
37:14It just looks like an attic hatch.
37:16That's where greater horseshoe bats are going to come out of.
37:19I am over the moon, to be perfectly honest.
37:23I'm not sure what's going to happen.
37:25But I've got a high-tech trick up my sleeve.
37:29These special infrared lights will reveal their world without them even knowing.
37:34We can't see these lights, but my specialist camera can, which allows me to film these bats without disturbing them.
37:43And to say that I'm excited is an understatement.
37:48With help from my crewmate Johnny, we're working to get things up and running before nightfall.
37:54And it's not just lights that Johnny is helping me with.
37:58Last night, alongside a licensed expert, when the adults had left the building to hunt, Johnny had another job.
38:08Up in the attic.
38:10The cramped, dark, sweaty attic.
38:14Layered with years of poo from a very special ancient bat roost.
38:18Sorry, mate.
38:28Having Johnny's remote-controlled infrared camera in the roost gives us an early warning system to see when the bats start to wake up.
38:38That's cool, isn't it?
38:39That's amazing.
38:40That is such a...
38:41Well done, mate.
38:42That's a lot of bats.
38:43There's loads of them at the back there as well.
38:44Mate, it's just such a cluster.
38:45These are 1,000 bats.
38:46And they're pups.
38:47And I think they said normally about half of the mothers are giving birth, so it could be 500 pups in there as well.
38:51Wow.
38:521,500 bats.
38:53Now we're talking.
38:54This is a maternity roost.
38:55Almost exclusively females, who will leave their pups behind to hunt moths and other insects.
38:59That is well worth you going up there and sorting it out.
39:01That's a lot of bats.
39:02That's a lot of bats.
39:03There's loads of them at the back there as well.
39:04Mate, it's just such a cluster.
39:05These are 1,000 bats and their pups.
39:06And I think they said normally about half of the mothers are giving birth, so it could be 500 pups in there as well.
39:07Wow.
39:081,500 bats.
39:09Now we're talking.
39:10This is a maternity roost.
39:13Almost exclusively females, who will leave their pups behind to hunt moths and other insects.
39:20That is well worth you going up there and sorting that camera out.
39:23It was stressful.
39:24I bet.
39:25It was very stressful, but look at that.
39:26That is definitely worth it.
39:28Whoa.
39:29I bet it stinks up there.
39:31It does.
39:32It does.
39:33I'm glad he's doing this and not me.
39:35The activity in the roost is rising, so it's time for us to get into position.
39:40This is exactly what we need.
39:42We need to be able to see into the monitor here.
39:45That gives me the first early warning sign that they're about to leave.
39:49Oh, that is cool.
39:54It's any minute now.
39:55Any minute.
39:56There we go.
39:57There we go.
39:58There we go.
39:59There we go.
40:00There we go.
40:01There we go.
40:02There's two.
40:03There's two.
40:04There's two.
40:05Greater horseshoe bats are one of the biggest species we get in the UK, and they can have
40:20a wingspan of up to 40 centimeters.
40:24Oh, my.
40:25Wow.
40:26Wow.
40:27Wow.
40:28Look at them.
40:31And they're shooting back in again.
40:33So it's still not dark enough for them.
40:37They're coming out, and they're actually figuring out and communicating with each other.
40:44And then eventually going back up and telling the rest of them.
40:50And I'm sure if I can hear what bats are saying, he's talking to them.
40:55Where were you feeding?
40:56What were you doing?
40:57Did you find enough food and water?
41:00Greater horseshoe bats get their name thanks to their big, horseshoe-shaped noses, which
41:05act a bit like a satellite dish.
41:08This allows the bats to narrow their echolocation calls into such a narrow beam, it makes it very
41:14difficult for their prey to detect them coming.
41:20Oh, this is great.
41:21They're swarming.
41:22This is wonderful.
41:24I've never ever seen bats like this.
41:29Oh, and they're going through the archway.
41:35Ah, I thought they were going to come out and come towards me.
41:40In reality, they're going straight out that way.
41:44Right, I'm going to reposition and get a little bit closer.
41:52Ha!
41:53So much better.
41:59Look at them.
42:00Oh.
42:01Oh.
42:02Wow.
42:03They're all kicking off now.
42:16Great horseshoe bats have been recorded living up to 30 years, so it's wonderful to think
42:31that some of the females here could have been using this roost as long as I have been alive.
42:37They come out in batches of about 15 to 20.
42:49They all fly around the entrance, and then once they've got their orientation...
42:53They all fly around the entrance.
42:54They all fly around the entrance.
42:55They all fly around the entrance.
42:56These bats are able to pass wisdom and experience down through generations, and the flight path
43:14they use could be as ancient as the historic building itself.
43:18All the female bats have gone out of the roost to go and find food for their pups.
43:27The humans have gone to bed, and I think it's my turn to hit the hay.
43:32Because today was phenomenal, and I'll be dreaming about it for many, many years.
43:49Do you know what I love?
43:50I love when a community comes together and stands up for nature.
43:55And I wish every single street in the British Isles could do this.
44:00For my next challenge, I've come to this seemingly ordinary street in Leeds,
44:05where the local residents have created a hidden sanctuary for one of our most beloved summer visitors.
44:12The Swift.
44:13For me, as a wildlife cameraman, it's hard to think of anything more difficult to film than the fastest recorded bird in level flight.
44:27And they're only here for a fleeting hundred days each summer.
44:31And to make matters worse, we've lost two-thirds of them in less than 30 years.
44:42By modernizing our buildings and sealing up gaps in our roofs,
44:46we have removed historic nesting sites for entire Swift colonies up and down the country.
44:52Twelve years ago, there were only a couple of pairs left on this street.
45:01But thanks to one man's astounding dedication, that number has gone against the national decline
45:07and increased dramatically to over 40 breeding pairs.
45:12It was about 2012 when it was suggested to me that Swift would take to nest boxes.
45:17So we put some boxes up, more in hope than anything else.
45:21We played calls from the boxes.
45:23And luckily, the second year, there were three pairs moved in.
45:27And we built up from there.
45:32The more we put up, the more Swifts moved in, so it seemed a shame to stop.
45:37About eight years ago, we knew that we had some birds nesting in the eaves of our house.
45:42We weren't entirely sure what species until we got a knock on the door one day
45:47and it was Martin saying, you know, you've got Swifts.
45:51So, next thing you know, he's up a ladder putting nesting boxes in.
45:55Then they were having chicks, so it just kind of evolved from there, really.
45:59I can't wait to meet this group here.
46:03More importantly, I can't wait to meet their Swifts.
46:07Wow!
46:09You can put cameras in boxes for them to look at their own Swifts,
46:12and people then take ownership of their Swifts.
46:14So, you know, my Swifts haven't come back yet, or my Swifts have come back.
46:17This modern technology gives us a secret glimpse into the private lives of Swifts.
46:25We've got a box next to Erin's window.
46:29They nest in it, and we have a camera on our phones,
46:33and you can look to see if the Swifts are doing well or not.
46:38And sometimes we can see them flying into their box, can't we, Erin?
46:41Yeah, and feeding.
46:43And feeding, yeah.
46:44Watch the parents bring food to the little babies.
46:50Swifts pair for life, and love to nest in large colonies surrounded by their neighbours.
46:56So, really, they're not that different from us.
47:02But all I've got to do now is figure out how to film a small bird
47:07that flies at almost 70 miles per hour.
47:18That's what people call the sound of summer.
47:20And it just goes...
47:24They're just shooting through the streets.
47:29It's become a talking point.
47:31You know, people are outside observing.
47:33I see little kids with their little binoculars.
47:35I like the way that their wings...
47:38They're, like, they're pointy, so they go faster.
47:43Yeah, that's it.
47:45Nice!
47:47The community just gets bigger and bigger,
47:49and obviously, as a consequence, so does the colony.
47:57Swifts are so suited for a life in the air
48:00that they only need to land when it's time to breed.
48:04And they can even sleep whilst flying.
48:07When a chick fledges, it might not touch solid ground again for up to four years.
48:13It's just wonderful to hear that sound.
48:16They spend so long flying on their annual migration from the UK to Africa that the average swift will cover 126,000 miles over the course of its life.
48:32That's five times around the planet.
48:34And when these birds come back here, they will nest in exactly the same box as last year.
48:41Maybe the only solid ground they will ever touch.
48:45All the kids have been given permission to stay up late and watch the swift screaming.
48:50It's just wonderful.
48:54And the swifts are still going.
49:03You're getting taller and taller. There we go, there we go, there we go, there we go.
49:07These birds are so quick, I can't take an eye off them for even a second.
49:13Here he comes.
49:15Coming round the corner.
49:16Made a handbrake turn.
49:19He's going to dip closer towards us.
49:21Banks left, then Banks right again.
49:23They're like Formula One cars, aren't they?
49:26That was so cool.
49:30You enjoyed your time in Leeds?
49:32Yeah, man. It's great.
49:34To see this many swifts, I don't think I've ever seen this many, let alone in Yorkshire.
49:39It's fantastic.
49:41Would you rename it that, do you think?
49:43You know what, it'd be great. I think we need to get a petition signed, don't we?
49:46To update the street now and that would be pretty sweet.
49:48Swift Park Avenue.
49:49I like it.
49:53You know, this is the thing I love about communities like here in Yorkshire.
49:59It took one man, Martin, to raise the awareness of swifts and it's brought the whole community together.
50:06They're all enjoying being outdoors and to think that all of these guys here are united by swifts is wonderful.
50:15But the question I always have to ask is, did swifts reunite this community?
50:20Or did the community reunite the swifts colony?
50:27To end my summer of hidden wildlife, I want to head back out on the water to find something that could be absolutely anywhere.
50:46I've just come back to Pembrokeshire because I heard there is some incredible behaviour happening way out at sea.
50:58There's a real sense of anticipation amongst the crew. This expedition is going to be a hard one to pull off.
51:07You alright? Yeah man.
51:08Ready? Yeah baby.
51:10British waters are globally important for a whole range of marine wildlife.
51:14And we've heard rumours of a large pod of common dolphins patrolling the vast Celtic Sea.
51:21Lloyd, permission to come aboard?
51:23I'm on board.
51:25Marine wildlife is notoriously difficult to find.
51:29These dolphins are always on the move.
51:32Got it. Mine.
51:34There's no chance they'll come investigating us.
51:36We've got to search miles and miles of open ocean for them.
51:42And I can't wait.
51:45Good luck everyone.
51:47Good morning to you sir on this private sunny day.
51:51Just departed Billford Marina.
51:53Three hours later and we're out on the high seas.
52:08With nothing to be seen in any direction.
52:11Apart from the rocking boat, the real challenge for us are the strong local currents that determine the distribution of life.
52:28Just below the surface, tiny plants and creatures called plankton are thriving in the warm waters pushed up from the Gulf Stream.
52:38Where there is plankton, there is small fish to eat it.
52:47And from there, it's just a straight run up the food chain.
53:02The currents that bring warmth and energy to the water
53:05also push this food in all directions.
53:10It could be anywhere.
53:12But luckily, we're not alone in our search.
53:19Gannets are also looking for the same fish as our dolphins.
53:24When it comes to spotting food, these birds are the ultimate guides.
53:29Eventually, we spot what we're searching for.
53:30We're using a three pronged attack for this.
53:43I'm filming from the side of the boat.
53:46Al, can you point in that direction for me?
53:50Underwater camera woman Katie is going beneath the surface.
53:54And Johnny is in the air with his drone.
54:00And he's the first to catch a glimpse of what we're here for.
54:03In the miles and miles of empty ocean, we have found our dolphins.
54:12So I could see them in the distance there.
54:17Jumping and moving around.
54:20There's a whole load of them coming straight towards us.
54:36Whoa! Look at them!
54:45Dolphins!
54:46Under me!
54:54Look at this!
54:57And now they've come close enough for Katie
55:00to get an unparalleled experience with these incredible marine mammals.
55:09Dolphins are curious, intelligent animals.
55:13But they're also easily bored.
55:17As quickly as it began, the dolphins disappear,
55:22on the hunt for their next meal.
55:30We are so lucky to have a great variety of dolphins and porpoises here in the UK.
55:36And it's a real testament to how special our local seas are.
55:40Some adult dolphins need to eat as much as 33,000 calories a day.
55:49That's 25 kilograms of fish.
55:52And that can only happen because our waters are so rich.
55:56With increased protection around the British coastline, I hope we can share the waves with these wonderful, intelligent and joyous animals for many years to come.
56:13Next time, autumn, where I spend the night alone in a London cemetery to try and meet the locals.
56:35Right there.
56:36Do with them.
56:38Don't dare move my camera.
56:41I'll reveal the hidden lives on the back of a leaf in extreme close-up.
56:46This is so cool, Katie.
56:49Oh, hey!
56:50Now who are you, young man?
56:52And there's an extraordinary first for me.
56:55The return...
56:56Just up ahead, that's up.
56:57...of a legend.
56:58Yes!
56:59Ha-ha!
57:00Here we go.
57:03Whoa!
57:04That is amazing!
57:11The Open University has produced a booklet and postcards exploring hidden nature across our wild isles.
57:17To order your free copy, call 0300 303 2062, scan the QR code on the screen or visit bbc.co.uk forward slash Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles and follow the links to The Open University.
57:33To discover more about how to help the hidden nature near you, just search Hamza on the BBC website.
57:38To discover more about how to help the hidden nature near you.
57:39To discover more about how to help the hidden nature near you, just search Hamza on the BBC website.
58:08Access Hamza on the BBC website.
58:09To discover more about how to help the hidden nature near you are, just search Hamza on the BBC website.
58:10To find, some new features that exist in your famous journey to the police website.
58:12The start of the James' postcards is to explore the elements of the Agenia, in the BBC website.
58:13Well, here the new voicemail is to explore the details of the real business.
58:15See how to help the hidden nature near you?
58:16Here's the main thread of the RAM.
58:17The MSW though, is there a link on the DMV, the DSW?
58:18The DASWです, is there a link on the DMV?
58:19The USW?
58:20The USW?
58:21The USW?
58:22The USW?
58:23The USW?
58:24The USW?
58:25The USW?
58:26The USW?
58:27The USW?
58:28The USW?
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