Winterwatch 2025 is all rigged up and ready for action in Dorset with more of RSPB Arne’s stunning wildlife to spot as presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams wrap up warm for four consecutive nights of live nature spotting on BBC2. This time long lens cameras are poised to capture white-tailed sea eagles, the team catches up with the reserve’s resident deer and foxes and a series of special pre-recorded films focus on the surprising antics of creatures like bitterns, moths, otters and ducks.
So here's all you need to know about Winterwatch 2025 on BBC2...
Winterwatch 2025 release date
Winterwatch 2025 is a four-part live series will begin live on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 8pm on BBC2 and will air at the same time on Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January.
The episodes will also become available on BBC iPlayer after they have aired.
Winterwatch 2025 presenters and interviews
The three presenters of Winterwatch 2025 are long-time favourites Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams, who are also regular Springwatch hosts.
"I’m looking forward to having a proper look around RSPB Arne, because last Winterwatch I was roving and spent quite a bit of time on nearby Brownsea Island," says Iolo, 62. "Arne is a great location for winter wildlife because there are so many different habitats in a relatively small area.
"There’s wonderful woodland, which should be fantastic now that the leaves have gone, making it much easier to see some of the birds. There are also some thick hedgerows, which are a great place to spot firecrests – quite a scarce bird in the UK – in the winter. Then, you’ve got lagoons full of waders and wildfowl."
‘I’d also love to get some really nice views of the local white-tailed eagles. We saw them on Springwatch last year, but it was a fairly distant view. So it would be lovely to watch them hunting out over the shallow bay.’
Michael Strachan adds: "It’ll be great to return to Arne, although it’s difficult to know exactly what we’ll see and, obviously, the weather is a big factor. It’s a tough time for wildlife – creatures are either desperately trying to find enough food to survive or have completely slowed down to conserve as much energy as possible.
"I always enjoy our macro studio, where we can indulge in the detail and behaviour of the fascinating wee beasties that many people don’t even notice. I also love the pre-recorded films with nature lovers and experts and, this series, we celebrate ducks, as well as moths, bitterns and otters.
"The beauty about Winterwatch is that it brings the natural world into living rooms at a time when most people are cosying up indoors. Hopefully it inspires people to layer up and get out into nature."
Chris Packham reveals: "You may think that everything hibernates, but winter is very much alive. We reach the peak of our numbers of visiting birds, including wildfowl, like swans, geese and ducks, and wading birds. Poole Harbour is a perfect place for those, so we’re really excited about that! My favourite animal to see at this time of year are foxes. During winter, they’re very vocal as it’s their mating season. The other sound to listen out for is the hoot of the tawny owl, because during winter they begin courting. With foxes and tawny owls you can even hear them in cities all over the UK, so they’re really accessible.
"This series, we also hope to have an even higher-grade infrared camera. We celebrate 20 years of Springwatch later this year and we never imagined we’d have a camera that could function in total darkness. Technology has moved on an enormous amount."
Where is Winterwatch 2025 filmed?
Like the last series, Winterwatch 2025 will be broadcast live from RSPB Arne in Dorset, which is packed with a variety of habitats from heathland to wetlands and woodland.
What wildlife should we expect in Winterwatch 2025?
Long lens cameras are already in position to catch footage of the local white-tailed eagles as they hunt in the skies over Arne.
The programme will also catch up with the resident foxes and explore their winter behaviours, as well as follow all the comings and goings at the bird feeders. High-grade infrared cameras will also capture the mysterious nocturnal movements of RSPB Arne’s deer.
Meanwhile, the macro studio is back in action to observe Arne’s insects and moths, and there are also tips on how to get involved with the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch taking place between Friday 24 and Sunday 26 January.
What else do we know?
Winterwatch 2025 will also feature pre-filmed seasonal stories shared by nature lovers and wildlife experts across the country. The list of pre-filmed stories include Buff-tailed bumblebees, Winter invaders, Otter man, Bittern hunt and Marvellous Moths.
Is there a trailer?
Winterwatch 2025 is a live series so sadly no trailer is available.
