A Year in the Wild

An in-depth look at the wildlife and natural elements that are abundant during the springtime in Scotland. A female mountain hare tests the virility of male contenders by letting them chase her over the mountains. Spring is also the season when emperor moths emerge from their silk cocoons. The males immediately start trying to find a mate, picking up the females' scent. Back in Shetland, spring plankton blooms have drawn in humpback whales, overlooked by millions ofseabirds, including 25,000 puffins.

Summer has finally arrived in Scotland, bringing long days and an abundance of food. On the west coast, two white-tailed eaglets are learning to fly, and the larger female is beginning to master it. On a beach in the Shetland Islands, the seas are full of plentiful feeding opportunities for young otters learning to go it alone.

It's autumn in Scotland and the clock is ticking. As daylight diminishes and the weather cools, food resources dwindle. Animals must either migrate now or prepare to face the winter head on. Autumn sees the first sprinkling of snow on Scotland's highest peaks. Inland moorlands turn from pink to brown as heather flowers fade.

This winter is breaking all the rules. It's late January and in the western Highlands of Scotland, it's unusually warm, almost summer-like, even at night. The warmth has brought red deer out of hiding. With no snow or bitter winds to contend with, they're heading back to the hilltops, where there's plenty of heather to eat.