0:00:02 > 0:00:05For me, watching wildlife is one of life's greatest pleasures.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09And my favourite place to do it
0:00:09 > 0:00:12is right here, in my beloved West Country.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16This captivating corner of the British Isles...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18There's six right underneath us!
0:00:18 > 0:00:22..has a cast of creatures that's as awe-inspiring,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25extraordinary, and magical as any.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Oh, come on, no way!
0:00:29 > 0:00:33I'm hoping to get as close as I can to as many as I can...
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Right, I'm ready. This is great!
0:00:35 > 0:00:36This is measuring an eel!
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Oh, oh! Ants, oh!
0:00:39 > 0:00:40There's one inside!
0:00:40 > 0:00:45..with the help of a band of dedicated nature-lovers.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Some of the patterns on the feathers, they're beautiful.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Good spot! Look, look, look, wonderful!- Oh, it's so cool!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55There's one in my hair now, Poppy.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58I'll share the thrill of the chase...
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- Deer?- I heard something.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01Yeah, they're in there.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Yes.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06..the sheer joy of the encounter...
0:01:06 > 0:01:07Oh, she's so golden!
0:01:07 > 0:01:08She's fast asleep.
0:01:10 > 0:01:11That's amazing.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16..and I'll pitch in to help these local heroes
0:01:16 > 0:01:19safeguard the future of our precious animals.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22- Bye-bye.- There she goes!
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Whoa!
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I can't believe that I've been living in the West Country
0:01:28 > 0:01:31for so many years, and I've never done this before.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33This will be a year-round adventure...
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Straight ahead!
0:01:35 > 0:01:41..as we explore the natural wonders of the UK's very own Wild West.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Dartmoor.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56One of the most dramatic and challenging landscapes in Britain.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00This treeless moorland, dotted with stark granite tors,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04looks like a hostile place to call home.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09But Dartmoor's unique mix of bog, moor,
0:02:09 > 0:02:13valleys and woodland provide for an assortment of creatures,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17each playing their part in the distinctive character of this place.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21And as I live only half an hour from here,
0:02:21 > 0:02:26I know how people also feel the powerful attraction of Dartmoor.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32We tend to think of Dartmoor as one of the wildest places in Britain.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34But it isn't a true wilderness.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37And that's because people have lived here and farmed here
0:02:37 > 0:02:38for thousands of years.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42So this is a landscape not just made by weather,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45wildlife and geology, but shaped by us.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51I want to find out more about how the wildlife here
0:02:51 > 0:02:53has been shaped by the presence of people,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56as all the inhabitants of the moor confront its challenges
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and share in its beauty.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Dartmoor is bang in the middle of South Devon.
0:03:06 > 0:03:1034,000 people live inside the national park,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14mostly in villages and towns, such as Chagford and Buckfastleigh.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Small hill farms, like the one at Challacombe,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19are dotted all over the moor.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21For thousands of years,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24people have grazed their livestock and worked the soil here,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27creating a network of hundreds of small farms
0:03:27 > 0:03:30huddled into Dartmoor's valleys and hillsides.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33But very few of them can be quite as beautiful or ancient
0:03:33 > 0:03:37as this one here. It's called Challacombe Farm.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41This valley has been farmed for the past 4,000 years.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Challacombe's current tenants are Mark Owen and Naomi Oakley.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Both grew up nearby, and have Dartmoor in their blood.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57The thing I love about Dartmoor is it's just general wildness.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00You know, I've been walking on the moor since I was a kid.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02It's just a really, really lovely place.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Challacombe's really important,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09because it's got an amazing array of wildlife.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12And, actually, the livestock help with that.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17You know, the cattle produce this amazing diversity for butterflies
0:04:17 > 0:04:19and for birds.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22And it's that whole mixture of the farm working together
0:04:22 > 0:04:24with nature that I find so compelling.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Mark and Naomi are farmers after my own heart,
0:04:28 > 0:04:32working in a way that allows the farm and the wildlife to coexist
0:04:32 > 0:04:36side by side, as they have for centuries.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Today, they've invited me to see something that typifies
0:04:39 > 0:04:43Challacombe's positive role in the life of the valley,
0:04:43 > 0:04:48two thriving colonies of birds that herald the arrival of summer -
0:04:48 > 0:04:51swallows and housemartins.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- They're everywhere, aren't they? - They are.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57This is the busiest place for swallows and housemartins I've seen.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01I think we're very lucky, we've got great conditions for them.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03We've had a bit of warm sunshine early,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and enough warmth through the spring and early summer.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09- Yes.- I've just noticed that, actually,
0:05:09 > 0:05:12there are battens up on the wall, just supporting the nest.
0:05:12 > 0:05:13Did you put those there?
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Yes, basically because it gives the housemartins something to grip onto.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Because it's starting to nest off on the plaster on itself, the render.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24You know, we had problems with them being washed off in the past.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28A bit of a lip gives them something to start the building process.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30These birds are so fast,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32it's not always easy to tell, when they're on the wing,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35which is the housemartin and which is the swallow.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Are there any sure-fire clues?
0:05:37 > 0:05:40The easy way to tell is the swallows have got long, thin tails
0:05:40 > 0:05:43with little feathers that come out the end as streamers.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44- The more trailing tail?- Yes.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Whereas the housemartins have got a lot more blunter tales.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52- So, stockier?- Yes, the way I can tell exactly where they're coming
0:05:52 > 0:05:55out from is, if they're coming out of the stable, they're a swallow.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58If they're coming from there, they're a housemartin.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00So, yeah, it's totally different.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03Each spring, barn swallows and housemartins travel
0:06:03 > 0:06:06nearly 10,000km from Africa
0:06:06 > 0:06:11to come back to raise their young in the same place that they were born.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15They time their arrival for the spring.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18But as everyone who lives here knows very well,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21the Dartmoor weather can catch anybody off-guard.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24This year, that's exactly what happened.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29The first arrivals from Africa were greeted by bitter winds
0:06:29 > 0:06:31and flurries of snow.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35Quite probably the first these well travelled birds have ever known.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42And then, following the snow, lashings of lovely spring rain.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49But swallows and housemartins have been nesting here
0:06:49 > 0:06:52at Challacombe Farm since the Middle Ages,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56so a little bit of English weather isn't going to stop them now.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03As soon as the weather clears, it's full steam ahead with nest building.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Both birds visit the farm's pond to collect beakfuls of mud,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15an ideal building material that they use to do some restoration on nests
0:07:15 > 0:07:17from previous years.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22The housemartins tend to pack in together under the farmhouse eaves.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26It takes around 1,000 lumps of clay to build each domed nest.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30The swallows prefer the shelter of the barns,
0:07:30 > 0:07:35where they build a cup-like nest of mud and grass on the wooden beams.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36But the housemartins and swallows
0:07:36 > 0:07:40don't have Challacombe's best locations all to themselves.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43This year, one little impostor has eyes on this prime piece
0:07:43 > 0:07:45of real estate.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47We have a very cheeky little sparrow.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50- So, he's moved into a housemartin, then?- He has!
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Is he raising a brood in there?
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Well, he's actually raising his second brood in there.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58And we're not sure if it's with the same female sparrow.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01But he was up there well before the housemartins came.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04And he was up on the gutter with a feather,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07which made him look big and made him look very impressive,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11and when the housemartins came and they were bringing little pieces
0:08:11 > 0:08:15of nest material to re-line their nest and make it nice again,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17he would wait until they'd flown off,
0:08:17 > 0:08:20and then he would pop into their nests and he would steal pieces
0:08:20 > 0:08:21and put them into his own nest.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24- That's the sort of cheek you expect from sparrows, isn't it?- It is!
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Living up to the sparrows' reputation!
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- It is, living up to it, exactly! - Minimum effort.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30- There he is!- There he is, yes.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33- He has got...- He's got something. - He's got something in his mouth.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39This beautiful building behind us is swallow central at the moment.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41I've seen dozens.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43And they're coming and going so fast,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45I guess just off-loading a big fill of insects
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- and giving them to the young and going to get more.- Yes.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50And all the time, the babies, it seems,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53no matter how much they feed them, they still want more and more.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55And then in three weeks' time, they're big enough to fledge.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Everything about swallows and martins is fast, isn't it?
0:08:58 > 0:09:02Yes. And they live fast and they have a huge requirement for energy,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05which is why it's important to have lots of, you know,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08suitable land management close, so that the birds aren't having to fly
0:09:08 > 0:09:10a long way and use a lot of energy to go and collect food,
0:09:10 > 0:09:11and then bring it back.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13In the end, it boils down to diversity,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and that's what you have with this incredibly rich and varied habitat.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18That's why we need... We need the habitat,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20but we also need the animals that graze.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Because the waste from the animals is great as a food source
0:09:24 > 0:09:27and place for insects to have their young themselves.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30They need the action of the animals' hooves as well to create little
0:09:30 > 0:09:34pools for lots of little flying insects like midges and mosquitoes.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Yes, you get those tiny footprint pools, don't you?
0:09:37 > 0:09:39Just a dimple of a footprint and a little bit of water,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41just enough to hatch a few bugs.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Yes, just enough, and that's just a snack for a martin, isn't it?
0:09:44 > 0:09:49It's heartening to see a continuity in nature that is actually man-made.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Over generations, these farm buildings
0:09:52 > 0:09:56have become a vital feature of a great annual event.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59And the thing that keeps the birds coming back, of course,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03is that it's the perfect place to rear their precious chicks.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05So, this is swallow central.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- It is.- How many nests have you got in here, do you know?
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Oh, I think we've got six that are active at the moment.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- One, two, three... - They're all occupied?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16They have been at various stages.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I can see some chicks in that one.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- Yes, yes.- Oh, yes!
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Shall we put some light on them?
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Oh, fantastic. They're so sweet!
0:10:25 > 0:10:27- Yes.- Is it three or four?
0:10:27 > 0:10:29There's one round the corner. Four.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Yes, there's just one hiding at the back there.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34The only thing we've done, just to sort of help them again,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37is to give them that start-off, and just put some nails in the beams,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40so they've got something to stick the mud to to start with.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Oh, so that helps them build nests.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Yes, because it's very slippery.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47You can see where they've found little natural shelves,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- it gives them a bit more variety. - TWEETING
0:10:50 > 0:10:52I think they're telling us that they want to feed the chicks.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Shall we take that as our cue to leave them in peace?
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- I think so.- Yes, leave them in peace, get their tea.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03It's brilliant to see these nests bursting with chicks.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Challacombe Farm is a giant bird nursery,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08home to hundreds of hungry mouths.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12The parent birds need to work throughout the day
0:11:12 > 0:11:15to feed their growing young.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19And here, finding and catching their prey is rarely a problem.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22The farm is swarming with flying insects.
0:11:24 > 0:11:25The adults hunt tirelessly,
0:11:25 > 0:11:29skimming the wild flower meadows in search of treats,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33and taking midges and even the odd sip of water from the pond.
0:11:35 > 0:11:40Each chick is fed a ball of around 10-100 insects,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42sometimes over 30 times an hour,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45so the work never stops.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55The life of the barn swallow and housemartin
0:11:55 > 0:11:57seems totally intertwined with ours.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59But all this raises a big question.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03What happened before there were barns and houses?
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Where did they build their nests then?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08An answer can be found on the Devon coast,
0:12:08 > 0:12:12a mere 40km from Challacombe, as the swallow flies.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14At this beach near Brixham,
0:12:14 > 0:12:19licensed bird-ringer Mark Lawrence is out doing what he loves best.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's a passion, you know?
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Some people call it an obsession.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26And I suppose there isn't much difference there.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32Today, Mark's checking on a solitary nest with a splendid sea view.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39There's a pair here. And it's here every year, without fail.
0:12:40 > 0:12:45This pair of swallows has chosen to nest high up in an isolated cave.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48This is how all swallows would once have nested
0:12:48 > 0:12:51before they moved in with our human ancestors.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Today, though, cave-nesting swallows are an incredibly rare find.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59This is an ideal nesting site, you know?
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It's dry, it's obviously from the weather.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05And easy access, which is perfect for nesting swallows.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09Their waterfront residence clearly suits these swallows.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And for Mark, it adds variety to the task of fitting leg rings
0:13:14 > 0:13:19to the young chicks. All in a day's work for a licensed bird-ringer.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26I think it was six eggs.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29So there could well be six chicks.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36Here's a baby swallow.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41The pins are coming through, which will grow into feathers.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46The ringing gives us...
0:13:46 > 0:13:51..information on how far they've gone, and even how long they live.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I mean, these swallows, like all European swallows,
0:13:55 > 0:13:58winter in South Africa.
0:13:58 > 0:14:03They cross the Sahara Desert, which is an incredible feat,
0:14:03 > 0:14:04twice a year.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Let's get these back in the nest.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11British bird enthusiasts
0:14:11 > 0:14:15first put leg rings on birds over 100 years ago.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17It's a simple system that's continued
0:14:17 > 0:14:21to produce vital information about the life of our birds ever since.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25This work enables me to get close to the birds,
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and I'm adding valuable data to conservation,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32and understanding what is happening with our breeding birds.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36In 1912, a swallow ringed in England the previous year
0:14:36 > 0:14:39was spotted in South Africa -
0:14:39 > 0:14:41a breakthrough that finally solved the mystery
0:14:41 > 0:14:44of where swallows go in winter.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49Before then, there was a popular myth that swallows and housemartins
0:14:49 > 0:14:52hibernated in burrows around muddy ponds.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56And back at Challacombe's pond, I think I can see why.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59From the moment they arrive in spring,
0:14:59 > 0:15:02the pond is a hub of activity for the birds.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06As they collect the mud for their nests,
0:15:06 > 0:15:08small holes are formed in the bank.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11And at times, it can indeed look as though the birds
0:15:11 > 0:15:13are emerging from the bog.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17What keeps these birds coming back in such numbers
0:15:17 > 0:15:21is largely down to the way that Mark and Naomi manage their farm,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25encouraging an abundance of bugs for the birds to eat.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29They clearly get a lot of pleasure from these annual visitors.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33So, I'm hoping to show them the aerobatic talents of the birds
0:15:33 > 0:15:36they love in a way that they've never seen before.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Wildlife cameraman Simon Lewis has spent a day training his lens
0:15:41 > 0:15:46on these high-speed hunters to create a slow motion film show
0:15:46 > 0:15:47for Mark and Naomi.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50OK, what have you got for us, Si?
0:15:50 > 0:15:55Well, this is a prime example of some of the skimming...
0:15:55 > 0:15:58- You have a look. - ..that we've had going on.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00If you just look in the corner of the frame,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02this is where it's going to come out from.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05They're so tiny and so fast.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09We just about managed to get this guy coming through.
0:16:09 > 0:16:11- Oh, that's impressive.- Fantastic!
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Yes, so this was filmed at about 1,500 frames per second.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Which is approximately 60 times faster
0:16:19 > 0:16:24than your conventional 25 frames per second camera.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28- So, we are seeing it at 1/60th of full speed now?- Yes.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31What do you think of that, Naomi?
0:16:31 > 0:16:33I think it's beautiful. I love how the light catches the wing,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and how the feathers flex as the wings beat.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37It's so beautiful.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41It's very graceful, and you can see the reflection in the water, too.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46This clip here is a demonstration, I think, quite nicely,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48of how they can adapt their body shapes
0:16:48 > 0:16:50for different types of flights.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52- So, you'll see it tucks the wing in there.- Oh, yes!
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- It's almost like a small little bullet, or a teardrop.- Yes.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59You don't expect that kind of hunching right in, streamlined.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- That's great.- It's almost like a high-speed dive, isn't it?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05To pick up speed, you tuck everything in and go for it.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09So, this is one of them coming in.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- That's fantastic. - And aborting at the last moment.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14I don't know why they changed their mind.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18But you see quite a nice example of them putting on the brakes.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Wow.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21- That's amazing!- That's amazing!
0:17:21 > 0:17:26And he just throws his wings forward and does an about-face.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28A little air braking with his tail.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31- It's that amount of control they've got, isn't it?- That's amazing.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35- It's that mastery.- I think it's absolutely enchanting, actually.
0:17:35 > 0:17:36I'm really blown away by...
0:17:36 > 0:17:40You see them so fast, and moving so quickly through the landscape,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43but actually, to see them like that,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45it just brings an extra dimension to them.
0:17:45 > 0:17:50Especially seeing that one, flying through the tiny slit in the window.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53I'd always wondered if they turned on their sides, or what they did.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54But to actually see that,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56they just tuck their wings in and shoot through.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58- Such confidence. - Yes, it's just beautiful.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00It's a fantastic thing to see.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05Swallows and martins are one of the great sights of a British summer.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07And their dependence on our farms,
0:18:07 > 0:18:12barns and homes as a place to lodge while they raise their young
0:18:12 > 0:18:17rewards us with the simple summery joy of just having them around.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34A few months later, cameraman Simon is on another seasonal mission
0:18:34 > 0:18:36for his amazing slow motion camera.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40He's sought out these sheltered ponds
0:18:40 > 0:18:42on the southern edge of the moor...
0:18:44 > 0:18:46..where he hopes to catch an intriguing event
0:18:46 > 0:18:49in the life of some of his favourite insects.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Dragonflies.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57But Simon's not counting his chickens quite yet.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Anything that's small and that flies really fast
0:19:00 > 0:19:02is always going to be a challenge.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06The pools here are home to 21 species of dragonfly,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10so this place is a honeypot for anyone with a passion
0:19:10 > 0:19:13for these vibrantly coloured insects.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17And when dragonfly devotee Dave Smallshire
0:19:17 > 0:19:21heard what Si was up to, he was more than happy to come and help.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26I started bird-watching when I was a teenager.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29I very soon realised that there were other things with wings
0:19:29 > 0:19:31that drew my attention.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34So, butterflies, and then dragonflies.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37And that sparked an interest that's lasted,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40well, getting on for 50 years now.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Dave has led dragonfly-watching trips all over the world.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48But as a Devon local, he's often to be found in summer right here.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater as nymphs
0:19:53 > 0:19:57before emerging in summer for their final flourish.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59A month or so of life on the wing,
0:19:59 > 0:20:02and their chance to reproduce before they die.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09It's September, and perhaps one of the last warm spells of the season.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13And one of the last chances to film dragonflies this year.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Dave's a handy photographer.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21I've taken to trying to video dragonflies.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25I think the art of getting dragonflies in flight
0:20:25 > 0:20:28is one I'm never going to master.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30They're far, far too quick.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34The key to success today will be teamwork, as well as technology.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38With Simon's camera skills, and Dave's in-depth knowledge,
0:20:38 > 0:20:42they're hoping to capture some slow-mo footage that can reveal
0:20:42 > 0:20:44the intricacies of these intimate moments
0:20:44 > 0:20:48of the dragonfly's last hurrah.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52I think one of the main bits of behaviour that I would really
0:20:52 > 0:20:55love to capture today would be the dragonflies mating.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57As a bonus, if we can get egg laying,
0:20:57 > 0:20:59then that's just going to be mega, and it will really make the day.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02As the day starts to warm up,
0:21:02 > 0:21:07Dave senses that dragonfly passions are on the rise.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Look, we've got some activity in the corner here.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13There's a couple of males sparring here, a bit of a dogfight.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Oh, yeah. A bit of a scrap.- Yes.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19When that sun comes out, all of a sudden...
0:21:19 > 0:21:21It doesn't take them long to get going again.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25It just shows you what a nice, sunny day can do for insects
0:21:25 > 0:21:28at this time of year.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33We're getting our last glimpses of these jewels of the air.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35- Jewels of the air, I like that. - Yes, they're lovely, aren't they?
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Picked out in the sunlight in slow-motion,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43we can see these curious, stick-bodied insects
0:21:43 > 0:21:45are, in fact, supreme flyers.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Each of their four wings moves independently,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51enabling them to hover, reverse,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53or even go sideways.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I can see how they've earned the name, "the darter".
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Yes, it does what it says on the tin.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06And, of course, we have skimmers that skim and flow over the water.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09We have chasers that chase, they do a lot of chasing.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14We have the big hawkers that hawk around for long periods.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17- They've definitely earned those names.- They have indeed, yes.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Among the various dragonflies revelling in the sun,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Dave's on the lookout for one in particular.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Here we go, going across the pond over the other side now.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31So, this is a female southern hawker.
0:22:31 > 0:22:37She's looking to lay into some moss or rotting vegetation
0:22:37 > 0:22:39around the water line.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Hawkers are the largest and fastest flying British dragonfly.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48And, even for Dave, this sighting is a rare treat.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50It's a real privilege to be so close
0:22:50 > 0:22:55to one of our most brightly-coloured dragonflies.
0:22:55 > 0:23:00This lovely lime green and chocolate brown dragonfly.
0:23:00 > 0:23:05And she has a very curved, sickle-like egg depositor.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07She's injecting that into
0:23:07 > 0:23:11the moss, or possibly some other organic debris there.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15And laying really quite a lot of eggs, I think.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18She's been there for several minutes now.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21She obviously likes that spot.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28For Si and Dave, there's just one thing left to see,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and hopefully film, that could top that.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34There we go, look. There's a pair in tandem.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Mating in dragonflies is a unique affair.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44Each male patrols a patch of water and tries to attract a female.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48If successful, the male grasps her head
0:23:48 > 0:23:52with special rear-end appendages called claspers.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57In some species, mating can last just a few seconds.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59In others, it goes on for six hours.
0:24:01 > 0:24:03This is a pair of common darters.
0:24:03 > 0:24:08They often stay locked together and fly in tandem while the female lays.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13The male co-pilot manoeuvres her into position
0:24:13 > 0:24:16as she delicately drops her eggs beneath the water's surface
0:24:16 > 0:24:18with a dip of her tail.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Joined like this, it's impossible for another male to muscle in.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27And for the female southern hawker laying her eggs alone,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29the male often hovers nearby,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32guarding her from any unwanted attention.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35It's really quite beautiful to watch, isn't it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:36It's great. It's really balletic.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40With all this lovely late summer sun,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43the dragonflies have been extremely obliging.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46And Si has high hopes that he's captured some clips
0:24:46 > 0:24:51of their mating frenzy that might even impress an old hand like Dave.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56So, this clip here, this is from quite early on
0:24:56 > 0:24:58when we were getting into the swing of things.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00Wow, they're in tandem there. Brilliant.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04You can see, I think, the tip of the female there just dipping in.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08The pale of eggs, a little egg mass.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11So, are the eggs contained within a fluid, or anything like that,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13or are they just clumped together?
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Yes, they're just a little bit sticky, I think.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18They come out a few at a time.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21That was quite nice, kind of from behind in there.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Oh, yes.- They're kind of going off that way.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Oh, that's fantastic to see them in slow motion, egg laying like that.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32It's something I've never seen before.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36- Right.- And it's a particular pleasure to be able to see it filmed
0:25:36 > 0:25:38at one of my favourite sites.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42These intimate shots provide a chance to truly appreciate
0:25:42 > 0:25:46the underlying grace of a life lived at high speed,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49and to marvel at the sheer mastery
0:25:49 > 0:25:52of the dragonfly's four-winged flight.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00I'm taking a diversion on my Dartmoor safari to duck into town.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03As we've seen with the local swallows,
0:26:03 > 0:26:07some animals find ways to take advantage of human habitation.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12On the south-west fringes of the moor is Buckfastleigh.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16And a building here is home to one of the most important bat colonies
0:26:16 > 0:26:18in the country.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23The precise location of the roost is under wraps,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26but I've heard that just off the high street there is a great spot
0:26:26 > 0:26:30to watch them as they head out on their nightly forays.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41Doubly exciting for me, I'm getting a special reception.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Not just from the usual Dartmoor drizzle,
0:26:44 > 0:26:48but from Buckfastleigh's Mayor, Pam Barrett.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50She's an avid bat enthusiasts.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55I'm hoping she can put me on the best spot to view the nightly show.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58So, we're right in the middle of the town.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02There's a busy road there, the river running by, houses all around.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04A car park just here.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06We're on the green here, and this is where the action is?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Yes, this is where it all takes place at night.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12So, just after sunset, the bats come out of their roost.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15A good third of the colony will move through this park later on.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Me and my husband come out and count them maybe 20 or 30 times
0:27:18 > 0:27:20- during the summer.- Really?- Yes.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22What might I expect to see?
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Right, we'll definitely see greater horseshoe bats,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26lots of greater horseshoe bats.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Amongst those, we should get some lesser horseshoe bats.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31There's also pipistrelles and Nathusius' pipistrelle,
0:27:31 > 0:27:32and some fantastic Daubenton's bats,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34which will all be here in this park shortly.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38And, of course, the greater and lesser horseshoe are both species
0:27:38 > 0:27:41that are in decline, and this is a really important haven for them.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44This is a massive spot for the greater horseshoes especially.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48This is the biggest maternity roost in Europe by some considerable way.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51Really? I'd love you to show me the best possible place to be
0:27:51 > 0:27:53- to see the action. - Well, let's do that.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56The secret roost is monitored by a webcam.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00At nightfall, the adults will start to leave their young behind,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and head for their feeding grounds in search of insect prey.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Where do you want to be? - I think just here, by the gate.
0:28:07 > 0:28:08- Right here?- Right here.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10OK.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13So, the bats will come out of the trees over there on the far right.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17A huge number of them will cross just ahead of us on the path here,
0:28:17 > 0:28:20and then either move towards the path and straight towards us,
0:28:20 > 0:28:22or through the green here and cross in front of us.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25And they all cross here, drop down into the river,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27and go under the road.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29You've got it completely sussed!
0:28:29 > 0:28:32I can't wait. I'm going to have to wait a little bit, anyway.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37There's a lovely old Devon name for bats - flittermouse -
0:28:37 > 0:28:40and my heart is certainly fluttering in anticipation of seeing them.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42As we lose the light even further,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45we're going to switch to night-vision mode on this camera,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47and that should mean you can still see the bats,
0:28:47 > 0:28:49and you can still see me.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56I've just seen a bat...
0:28:57 > 0:29:00..flying in front of the streetlight there.
0:29:00 > 0:29:01I've seen three or four now.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Time to take up my position at the gate.
0:29:05 > 0:29:06Oh, did you see that?
0:29:06 > 0:29:08Right in front of my face.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10That was a big one. Here's another one.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Here they are. It's all happening. They're coming down the path here.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19OK.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23They seem completely unbothered by the busy road, or spectators.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Some of them are coming within a couple of feet.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Whoa! They're so fast.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Soon, the bats are streaming past,
0:29:34 > 0:29:39using their echo location to weave around any obstacles, including me.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45To see these elusive flying mammals right in the middle of town
0:29:45 > 0:29:46feels bizarre.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50But unless you're on the lookout, they're almost invisible.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56People walking down the street, hunched under their umbrellas,
0:29:56 > 0:29:57maybe on the way to the pub.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02Traffic whizzing past, this way and that.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04There's another one. And there's another one.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07And in the middle of all this, these amazing bats.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09What an extraordinary evening.
0:30:14 > 0:30:19The bats of Buckfastleigh include 10 of our 17 British species.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21And they have a busy night ahead.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25Some individuals will eat 2,000 or 3,000 insects
0:30:25 > 0:30:27before they return to the roost.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Old houses and barns,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34even in built-up areas, can become vital roosts.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36In the 1960s and '70s,
0:30:36 > 0:30:40the renovation and demolition of such sites became a huge problem
0:30:40 > 0:30:42for the bats.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Now the roosts, including the greater horseshoes,
0:30:46 > 0:30:48are protected by law.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52But before you can protect a roost, you have to find it.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56A few miles from Buckfastleigh,
0:30:56 > 0:31:00a group of Devon's bat lovers is trying to solve a mystery.
0:31:00 > 0:31:03They know that this spot is being used as a feeding ground
0:31:03 > 0:31:07by significant numbers of greater horseshoes.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10But they're not quite sure where they're roosting.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Bats breed in female-only maternity roosts.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17And if there is one nearby undiscovered,
0:31:17 > 0:31:19then protecting it is a huge priority.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23Almost the only way to find it is to be led there
0:31:23 > 0:31:25by a nursing female bat.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28And for that, you'll have to catch one.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33These bats are just so good at evading capture.
0:31:33 > 0:31:38Fiona Mathews is a researcher with a special licence to catch bats.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40She's hoping a female greater horseshoe
0:31:40 > 0:31:43will fly into these delicate mist nets.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Then a team can attach a tiny radio tag
0:31:46 > 0:31:49and try to track her all the way back to the roost.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52At this time of year...
0:31:52 > 0:31:55..most of the baby bats have finished feeding.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58But the mothers are still together in the maternity colony,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01and the babies have just started to fly.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03And once we get later into the year,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05the colonies will start to disperse.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08What we'd like to do is tag them and track them back to the roost
0:32:08 > 0:32:10before the colony starts to break up.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Greater horseshoe bats are named after the strange horseshoe-shaped
0:32:15 > 0:32:17flaps of skin on their faces
0:32:17 > 0:32:20that help focus their echo-location calls.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24In spring, when the bats leave their hibernation roost,
0:32:24 > 0:32:28the females establish a kind of bat mother and baby unit.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30This is the maternity roost,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33where they give birth and raise their young.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37There are less than 10,000 greater horseshoe bats in the UK,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40restricted to the south-west of England and Wales,
0:32:40 > 0:32:45so protecting every maternity roost is crucial to the bats' future.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49The team have just a few weeks to find this mystery roost
0:32:49 > 0:32:51before the mothers and babies disperse.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Tonight, they have a vital clue to help their hunt,
0:32:56 > 0:33:00thanks to the detective work of bat enthusiast Ed Parr Ferris.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04After spotting bats visiting his orchard,
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Ed volunteered to help test some bat detectors for Fiona's group.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13I thought, OK, I'll just stick it out in my orchard,
0:33:13 > 0:33:17because it's a place to stick them out, and just see if they work,
0:33:17 > 0:33:18how easy they are to use.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21And put it out, left it for a week,
0:33:21 > 0:33:24and suddenly we had 800 greater horseshoe passes in a week,
0:33:24 > 0:33:26which was unbelievable,
0:33:26 > 0:33:29bearing in mind you normally get about ten passes in a week,
0:33:29 > 0:33:31and that would be a good hit.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37This is a known path on the regular feeding round of the local bats.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41So, as night falls, the team keep a close eye on the nets.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46OK, so, no bats, but...
0:33:48 > 0:33:51..we do have two things they really like to eat.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53So, that's a dorbeetle...
0:33:53 > 0:33:55D-O-R.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00..and, look at that! That's a beautiful moth.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05Not only are they beautiful in their own right but, of course,
0:34:05 > 0:34:07they're just fantastic bat food.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11With this much insect life around,
0:34:11 > 0:34:15it's easy to see why this is a popular place for feeding bats.
0:34:17 > 0:34:23Right, so this is... a male long-eared bat.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25So, these are moth feeders.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27This is why they have these huge ears.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Because what they're trying to do is creep up on
0:34:30 > 0:34:32the sorts of moths that have ears.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37So, a lot of moths are called hearing moths.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40So, what the moths do is they hear the bats coming,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43because they're hearing their echo location cry.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45And they just drop in the sky.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48It's an evolutionary kind of counter-mechanism to that.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51These ones, first of all, don't shout very loud.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53They actually make a snorting noise.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56And secondly, they have these big eyes and big ears.
0:34:56 > 0:35:00That means they can just be really quiet and actually creep up
0:35:00 > 0:35:01on the moths.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04There we go.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06It's great to see any bat,
0:35:06 > 0:35:11but this is not the species that Fiona needs to find tonight.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12But her luck is in.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15What we've found is a greater horseshoe.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17And it's a female, and she's been lactating recently.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19So it's just what we want.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21GENTLE CHIRPING
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Yes, that's the noise a greater horseshoe makes.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28So, they've got a really unique kind of call compared with our
0:35:28 > 0:35:29other British bats.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32It's brilliant for us as biologists because it means
0:35:32 > 0:35:35we can also identify them really easily.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38If you hear that characteristic call, you know you've got horseshoes.
0:35:40 > 0:35:41With the horseshoe mum in hand,
0:35:41 > 0:35:46phase two of the plan is to fit her with a tiny radio tracking device.
0:35:47 > 0:35:52Here she is. And what I'm going to do is measure her forearm
0:35:52 > 0:35:56and weigh her because we have to make sure that she is heavy enough
0:35:56 > 0:35:58to be able to take the weight of the tag comfortably.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02So, that's the...
0:36:02 > 0:36:06A harmless dab of glue will keep the tab on the bat for just long enough.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10So, ideally we want it to stay on until the battery life
0:36:10 > 0:36:13is almost but not completely gone.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Because that way we can actually retrieve the radio tag.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19OK.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23Basically, what the tag is going to let us do is actually find
0:36:23 > 0:36:27where the maternity colony is of these really rare bats.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30Because around here, we don't know of any.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34So, to find another one is actually really significant.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38You know, we're talking handfuls of colonies known in the country.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42So, what we need to do is let this lady go.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44And ideally as quickly as possible,
0:36:44 > 0:36:47because she's keen to get on with feeding.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50GENTLE CHIRPING
0:36:52 > 0:36:54And she's gone.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00The whole operation now rests on the team's ability
0:37:00 > 0:37:02to keep tracking the tagged bat.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08We seem to have a very strong signal.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10What time is it? 5 to 12.
0:37:10 > 0:37:13OK, we're all wide awake and really pumped up
0:37:13 > 0:37:15because we've just caught these bats.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Now we'll go treasure hunting to find out where the roost is.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21You know, there is something slightly addictive about that.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26And it's that feeling that, because not much is known about them,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28we can really make a difference.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Keeping up with a flying bat in the dark on foot
0:37:34 > 0:37:36is a near impossible task.
0:37:39 > 0:37:40And for tonight, she's gone.
0:37:42 > 0:37:46But the radio tag sends out a signal 24 hours a day,
0:37:46 > 0:37:49so the team will get more chances to track her down.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57A few weeks later, Ed the orchard owner has an update.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01So, after that night of radio tracking when we first got started,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04we didn't find the bat for quite a while.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07We were out hunting in our local area,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10each day going out to see if we could find it
0:38:10 > 0:38:11in local farms or buildings.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13We didn't have any luck.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16So, after a few days, we decided to check local roosts.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20We found it at this lovely roost here, which is 12km away,
0:38:20 > 0:38:22as the bat flies.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26We think the reason they might have to travel that far is, of course,
0:38:26 > 0:38:28there are far fewer of those really ideal habitats
0:38:28 > 0:38:30left in our landscapes.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33So, when they know of a really good site
0:38:33 > 0:38:36that's got those lovely big dorbeetles and nice hawk moths
0:38:36 > 0:38:39that they can feed on, it's worth them travelling that far.
0:38:39 > 0:38:42But I think they'd probably rather go shorter distances,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45but they're being forced to travel further and further
0:38:45 > 0:38:48to find these little pockets of really good feeding habitat.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Once again, these bats have kept one step ahead.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55It's a big surprise to the team to discover just how far they are
0:38:55 > 0:38:57travelling to find food.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03If, indeed, that's what's happening.
0:39:03 > 0:39:04Ed's not quite so sure.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08The wonderful thing about nature
0:39:08 > 0:39:12is that we could have tracked the only bat that goes from here...
0:39:12 > 0:39:13Sorry...
0:39:13 > 0:39:16..from here to my orchard.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17But, equally,
0:39:17 > 0:39:22it could be that all of these are moving over, or just a few of them.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25It might be that there is another roost over there.
0:39:26 > 0:39:27We really don't know.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31It's only by trying to piece together the science and the data,
0:39:31 > 0:39:33and what we can find out,
0:39:33 > 0:39:35we can start to build a picture of what they're doing.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38But that's the level that we really don't know.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44This is the best time to hear the horseshoe bat's intriguing chatter.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48The sound of a world about which we still have so much more to learn.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52CHIRPING AND WARBLING
0:39:56 > 0:40:03That... That warbling is really characteristic of a horseshoe bat.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10They chatter like this all the time in the roost.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15It especially gets really loud just before they leave the roost.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Oh, there goes one right over.
0:40:21 > 0:40:24It is so exciting to think that these guys are flying out,
0:40:24 > 0:40:28and normally you would never see them,
0:40:28 > 0:40:29they're really fast.
0:40:29 > 0:40:34It's nice to see an animal that you can't normally interact with.
0:40:34 > 0:40:35And there it is.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38They're big, and they're flapping about, and they're saying hello
0:40:38 > 0:40:40to each other, you can listen to them.
0:40:40 > 0:40:41That's amazing.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43Wildlife right here, in your face.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46I can testify that there's something magical
0:40:46 > 0:40:49in being around these secretive creatures.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52And thanks to Ed and Fiona and their team,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55there's hope that Devon's greater horseshoe bats
0:40:55 > 0:40:59will continue intriguing us, and sometimes baffling us,
0:40:59 > 0:41:00for years to come.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06Dartmoor's windswept moor and secluded woodlands
0:41:06 > 0:41:10are the domain of another aerial night-time hunter.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12The owl.
0:41:14 > 0:41:18All five UK species of owl can be found here.
0:41:19 > 0:41:20The barn owl.
0:41:22 > 0:41:23The little owl.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25The short-eared owl.
0:41:25 > 0:41:26The long-eared.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30And the largest, and perhaps most commonly seen of all,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32the tawny.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34But like all Dartmoor's wildlife,
0:41:34 > 0:41:36they share their habitat with humans.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39And that presents many hazards.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43Road accidents, flying into fences or pylons all take their toll.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47And for species like tawny owls and barn owls,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49this can be a real cause for concern.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53The Barn Owl Trust, on the edge of the moor,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56takes in injured owls with the aim of rehabilitating
0:41:56 > 0:41:59and returning them to the wild as soon as possible.
0:42:01 > 0:42:04Owls are the ultimate stealth predator.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Their large eyes detect movement, even in darkness.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11Acute hearing can sense the smallest rustle.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14And soft feathers silence their wings
0:42:14 > 0:42:18as they prepare those deadly talons to dispatch their prey.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24But any damage to these finely tuned senses, or perfectly adapted limbs,
0:42:24 > 0:42:27can be a setback that threatens their survival.
0:42:27 > 0:42:32Today, Dave Ramsden and Lexi New have just picked up a tawny owl
0:42:32 > 0:42:34that became trapped in a chimney.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37The feathers are a bit messed up.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39OK, how long had it been in the chimney?
0:42:39 > 0:42:42- Three days.- Blimey.
0:42:42 > 0:42:44Its tail feather's possibly broken.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46Left foot has got a bit of an abrasion.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48It's probably been scrabbling around in the chimney.
0:42:48 > 0:42:50Make a little flap.
0:42:53 > 0:42:54OK, are we done?
0:42:54 > 0:42:57- Yes, that's all done. Just the weight now.- OK.
0:43:02 > 0:43:03Pop you in there for a moment.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07365g.
0:43:07 > 0:43:09365. Thank you.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11So it's a little bit underweight.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14The tawny's injuries don't seem too severe.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18The real concern is that it's gone for three days with nothing to eat or drink.
0:43:18 > 0:43:21The sensible thing to do is to release it with a full stomach.
0:43:21 > 0:43:25When birds are starving, what actually kills them is dehydration.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27So, this is a life-saver.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30So, we'll go for 5mls of...
0:43:30 > 0:43:32..of water.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35Can you see the bits of soot there?
0:43:35 > 0:43:36- Yes.- You can see that black inside.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39I don't think it's going to hurt him.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43He's swallowing now, look.
0:43:43 > 0:43:44Perfect. OK, shall I take it?
0:43:44 > 0:43:46Yes.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49- OK, I've got it.- OK.
0:43:49 > 0:43:51A drink has bought the owl a bit of time.
0:43:52 > 0:43:54The hope now is that after some rest
0:43:54 > 0:43:57it can complete its recovery and eat.
0:43:58 > 0:44:01I think what we need to do is monitor it during the day.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03- Yes.- Hopefully it'll eat something.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06At 365g, it's just really borderline.
0:44:06 > 0:44:07I'll make a decision at about 5pm.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10- Yes, OK. Brilliant.- Right.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13- OK then. - We'll leave it in peace and quiet.
0:44:13 > 0:44:18If this owl loses much more weight, it won't be strong enough to fly.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22Birds of prey operate on tiny margins.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24Flying uses so much energy,
0:44:24 > 0:44:28they need to top up regularly with vital calories.
0:44:28 > 0:44:32Five hours later, Dave's checking on the patient.
0:44:33 > 0:44:37Well, it hasn't eaten voluntarily, which we're not surprised about.
0:44:37 > 0:44:41Tawny owls, when they come in, very often don't eat quickly.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43But it really needs to be out in the wild, feeding.
0:44:45 > 0:44:49A rapid return to the wild is by far the tawny's best hope.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53But that can only happen if it's strong enough to fly.
0:44:53 > 0:44:58Any chance of a quick release rests on a simple flight test.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01This is not normal.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10- Oh, that's brilliant.- Brilliant!
0:45:10 > 0:45:14Despite initial fears, it passes with flying colours.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17That's exactly what we want to see.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21It's alert. Both wings working the same, coordinated.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23It's going, "Freedom!
0:45:23 > 0:45:25"Get me out!"
0:45:28 > 0:45:31We've just got to catch it again now.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34We'll see... We'll see if it goes.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Good catch!
0:45:38 > 0:45:40- Go, go!- Off we go then.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Every flight saps vital energy.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51So Dave wants to make sure the owl takes on some fuel
0:45:51 > 0:45:52before it's released.
0:45:52 > 0:45:55There we go. Perfect.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00Now time is critical.
0:46:02 > 0:46:07As soon as day turns to dusk, Lexi heads to the release site,
0:46:07 > 0:46:08for the best part of her job.
0:46:10 > 0:46:11OK, so this is perfect.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13We've got a dry evening.
0:46:13 > 0:46:16By some woodlands. A nice, high vantage point.
0:46:16 > 0:46:20Perfect habitat. We know that that bird's going to go out there,
0:46:20 > 0:46:22he's going to hunt, he's going to survive,
0:46:22 > 0:46:24and that's a really good result for us.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39Perfect. Straight flight, knew where it was going, straight off.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42You know, it's so heartbreaking to see them when they come in.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44We've had all sorts of casualties.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46Broken wings, broken legs...
0:46:46 > 0:46:50When we do get a successful release, it's just fantastic,
0:46:50 > 0:46:52a real rush.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10After meeting some of Dartmoor's great aerial adventurers,
0:47:10 > 0:47:12I want to get back down to Earth
0:47:12 > 0:47:15with one of its best-loved creatures of all.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18The iconic Dartmoor pony.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24Ponies have lived on Dartmoor for millennia.
0:47:24 > 0:47:29Fossilised hoof prints found here date back 3,500 years.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32This is an animal that lives out on the moor in all weathers,
0:47:32 > 0:47:33all year round,
0:47:33 > 0:47:37and for that alone it deserves some serious respect.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40But since I've been brought up close to ponies and horses,
0:47:40 > 0:47:44I have to admit, it's hard for me to think of them as wildlife.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48One thing I'm really curious about is how wild are they, really?
0:47:48 > 0:47:51And how do they survive in this incredibly tough
0:47:51 > 0:47:52and demanding landscape?
0:47:53 > 0:47:56Over centuries, they've been bred to be strong and sturdy enough
0:47:56 > 0:47:59to transport granite from Dartmoor's quarries.
0:47:59 > 0:48:05Their calm nature means they've long been popular as riding ponies.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10Though they roam wild, by Dartmoor tradition,
0:48:10 > 0:48:12every pony is owned by commoners,
0:48:12 > 0:48:15local people who have grazing rights on the moor.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21No longer in demand as working animals, pony numbers have fallen.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26In 1950, there were around 30,000 ponies on the moor.
0:48:26 > 0:48:30Today, there are just 1,500 purebred Dartmoor ponies left.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33To find out what the future may hold for them,
0:48:33 > 0:48:37I've tracked down one of their great champions.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43Drew Butterfield runs the Dartmoor Heritage Pony Centre,
0:48:43 > 0:48:46dedicated to conservation of the purebred Dartmoor pony.
0:48:46 > 0:48:52And she's offered to take me on my very own Dartmoor pony safari.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54Welcome to Daisy.
0:48:54 > 0:48:55- This is Daisy?- Yeah.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04So, that cattle grid drum roll means we're on the moor?
0:49:04 > 0:49:06Yeah. It means we're now on Dartmoor.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09That's a special feeling, that moment, for you?
0:49:09 > 0:49:13Every time I go over that cattle grid, my heart just lifts a moment,
0:49:13 > 0:49:17because I know I've entered one of those incredibly special places.
0:49:17 > 0:49:22I used to have a crossbred Dartmoor pony at home, but talking to Drew,
0:49:22 > 0:49:24I'm beginning to realise how little I know
0:49:24 > 0:49:27about her wild-roaming cousins.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30They come in all shapes and sizes,
0:49:30 > 0:49:33so it stands to reason that, to the informed eye,
0:49:33 > 0:49:36there are some big differences between them.
0:49:37 > 0:49:41My induction begins, as it does for many visitors to the moor,
0:49:41 > 0:49:45with a special little herd that Drew knows exactly where to find.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49In an asphalt lay-by.
0:49:49 > 0:49:50Hello!
0:49:50 > 0:49:52How are you?
0:49:54 > 0:49:55Hello.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58These guys are a type of Dartmoor pony
0:49:58 > 0:50:01that's more closely related to the Shetland pony,
0:50:01 > 0:50:04famous for its short legs and shaggy mane.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07They're real kind of car park ponies.
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Car park ponies! They hang around here quite a lot?
0:50:09 > 0:50:12Yes, you know, it's warm, the sun's just come out,
0:50:12 > 0:50:13and they're all very chilled.
0:50:13 > 0:50:16Getting a bit of extra heat off the tarmac,
0:50:16 > 0:50:18- they're getting their bellies warmed.- Yeah, I think so.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22And they look incredibly relaxed, and basically tame.
0:50:22 > 0:50:25I haven't stroked this pony or patted it yet.
0:50:25 > 0:50:28Is that, do you think, on balance, the right thing to do or not?
0:50:28 > 0:50:33So, all we can do is ask visitors not to feed them,
0:50:33 > 0:50:37and not to treat them like pets.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39Because they aren't. They are semi-feral ponies.
0:50:39 > 0:50:40I have to tell you,
0:50:40 > 0:50:43right now I'm having to restrain my impulse to cuddle this pony!
0:50:43 > 0:50:46- I know, no touching! - It's almost unbearable!
0:50:46 > 0:50:49I just want to reach out and pat her on the head.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52- Yes.- But you're saying you'd rather I didn't, basically?- I can see it.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54I can see you're fighting it.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57I'm twitching, aren't I? I can't really cope!
0:50:57 > 0:50:59- So...- They...
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Oh, that was interesting, I just moved my hand up there as a gesture,
0:51:02 > 0:51:05and she reacted, and suddenly you get a sense that,
0:51:05 > 0:51:07even though they're very approachable,
0:51:07 > 0:51:08they're not completely tame.
0:51:08 > 0:51:12Should someone come along with an ice cream and be feeding that pony,
0:51:12 > 0:51:15because what happens, when they take the food away, they want more.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18So you then get ponies mugging people.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20- There's a sense here that... - But that's been created.
0:51:20 > 0:51:23- And this pony's looking for food. - Yes. Yes.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25So, the best thing to do is not interact.
0:51:25 > 0:51:29We're probably interacting enough in what we're doing already.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36These motley multicoloured coats are a product of the Dartmoor pony's
0:51:36 > 0:51:40history, bred over centuries to meet the different and changing needs
0:51:40 > 0:51:44of their owners, all whilst still being able to withstand
0:51:44 > 0:51:45life on the moor.
0:51:45 > 0:51:48It's a legacy of life here before car parks.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56These are ponies that have evolved on Dartmoor through breeding,
0:51:56 > 0:51:59through what the farmer has decided is their preference.
0:51:59 > 0:52:02So, they've gone for colour,
0:52:02 > 0:52:05which can be very attractive to potential buyers.
0:52:05 > 0:52:09They've gone for a pony that's calm and quiet.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12And they've gone for something that is smaller,
0:52:12 > 0:52:15which may be more suitable to higher terrain.
0:52:16 > 0:52:20Adorable as they are, with their shorter legs and rounded tummies,
0:52:20 > 0:52:24this car park crew have come a long way from the original Dartmoor pony.
0:52:26 > 0:52:29Drew tells me that the classic Dartmoor is still out there,
0:52:29 > 0:52:31though much harder to find.
0:52:31 > 0:52:35To have a chance, we'll have to venture a bit further from the road.
0:52:38 > 0:52:41Drew has an idea where one of her favourite herds might be.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45But tracking them down will take some real expertise.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49Drew, are those ponies under the tree there?
0:52:49 > 0:52:51You spotted them first!
0:52:51 > 0:52:53I can't believe that!
0:52:53 > 0:52:56- Now I feel...- These are the ponies! - I feel like I am on pony safari!
0:52:56 > 0:52:59They look like lions in the long grass, don't they?
0:52:59 > 0:53:02- Yes, and you spotted them before me! Well done, Hugh.- Very exciting.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05- This is such a beautiful spot. - Yes, it's stunning.
0:53:05 > 0:53:08This herd has an altogether more distinguished look about them
0:53:08 > 0:53:10than their cousins at the car park.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14These are the purebred Dartmoors.
0:53:14 > 0:53:16Taller ponies, usually of a single colour.
0:53:18 > 0:53:19Slightly shyer, too.
0:53:19 > 0:53:24They prefer to find more secluded spots, away from the crowds.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29I guess they are as wild as such a large mammal can be
0:53:29 > 0:53:32in a national park where people are never far away.
0:53:32 > 0:53:36- Hello!- Do they come and say hello to you?- Yes.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39- Cautiously.- Hello, my lovelies.
0:53:39 > 0:53:43Tell me a little bit about how they function as a group.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45Are there sort of bonding behaviours and friendships?
0:53:45 > 0:53:47I've seen some grooming, which is lovely.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49Are there more subtle things than that?
0:53:49 > 0:53:53Just literally standing together and feeling comfortable.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55So, you may see them resting under a tree together.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57You may see them nose to tail.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00You know, like, I've got a bit of an itch on my back,
0:54:00 > 0:54:03you do me and I'll do you. You know? They're very, very
0:54:03 > 0:54:07herd-orientated, and they do need those friendships and bonds.
0:54:07 > 0:54:09Just looking at them now,
0:54:09 > 0:54:11they're all pointing in slightly different ways.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13Between them, they can probably see all around.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16They've got eyes on the side of their head.
0:54:16 > 0:54:19So, when they graze, they can see predators coming around.
0:54:19 > 0:54:20But they do have blind spots.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24So, if a predator was to come up behind them, in a group,
0:54:24 > 0:54:27you're far more likely for someone to be alerted.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30Because they're covering your blind spot.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32If a pony was suddenly alarmed,
0:54:32 > 0:54:36it would go from one side of this site to another, literally calling.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41And they will neigh and whinny, and call and call and call
0:54:41 > 0:54:42to identify each other.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45Do you think it's fair to say
0:54:45 > 0:54:49they're not properly wild, but they're definitely not domesticated?
0:54:49 > 0:54:52What they are, in a sense, is free.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56Here, we see them leading a very wild existence,
0:54:56 > 0:54:59and they live a free life.
0:54:59 > 0:55:00They're semi-feral.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04Living out on the moor,
0:55:04 > 0:55:08these ponies exhibit much of the natural behaviour of a wild horse.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12We're a long way from the car park here,
0:55:12 > 0:55:15but there are signs of a much more ancient human presence.
0:55:17 > 0:55:20What's happening in this strip along here with these big stones?
0:55:20 > 0:55:25Were now in a Bronze Age, very heavy Bronze Age area.
0:55:25 > 0:55:28They're remnants from a large pound enclosure.
0:55:28 > 0:55:33Our team of volunteers came and cut, and allowed the archaeology
0:55:33 > 0:55:36to be seen and to be uncovered.
0:55:36 > 0:55:39But the thing that really delights me is that the ponies are here,
0:55:39 > 0:55:43and now they're keeping on top of the work that we started by hand.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47These ponies are actually assisting with the conservation
0:55:47 > 0:55:49of this ancient settlement,
0:55:49 > 0:55:52and the positive impact of their grazing goes beyond that.
0:55:55 > 0:55:59This purple moor grass that's so dominant in this open space,
0:55:59 > 0:56:02how might that transform if the ponies really get settled
0:56:02 > 0:56:04into this area, and what benefits could we see?
0:56:04 > 0:56:07Can you see here, we've got a lot of bilberry?
0:56:07 > 0:56:09We've got some heather.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11Does this actually produce berries?
0:56:11 > 0:56:13- Yes.- I love a bilberry.
0:56:13 > 0:56:15Yes, in the month of August, everybody comes up here,
0:56:15 > 0:56:18and we go back with kind of Ribena-stained lips
0:56:18 > 0:56:21because we've been picking the bilberries and eating them.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24And that's the kind of diversity that you'd like to see more of
0:56:24 > 0:56:27- throughout this area?- Yes, just here we've got far more diversity.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31And that's what we would unleash if we could get our grazing increased
0:56:31 > 0:56:33into those other areas.
0:56:33 > 0:56:36So, as long as they stay in this area and move around,
0:56:36 > 0:56:39and get on top of this purple moor grass,
0:56:39 > 0:56:41you'll get more of this diversity?
0:56:41 > 0:56:45You get more diversity, it creates a much, much better ecosystem.
0:56:47 > 0:56:52The Dartmoor pony has played such a big part in the moor's history,
0:56:52 > 0:56:55and it can clearly have a vital role in its future, too.
0:56:56 > 0:57:00I just wonder, how do you feel about the role you've played
0:57:00 > 0:57:03in bringing them back from a really difficult situation?
0:57:03 > 0:57:06Actually, the future is looking very rosy.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Whereas if you'd asked me a couple of years ago,
0:57:08 > 0:57:10I would have thought it was all doom and gloom.
0:57:10 > 0:57:13But just to be here with them now, and to see, you know,
0:57:13 > 0:57:17really see what they achieve from a biodiversity point of view,
0:57:17 > 0:57:20that in itself is enough to secure their future.
0:57:20 > 0:57:23But perhaps the most important thing
0:57:23 > 0:57:25is that they're out here on Dartmoor,
0:57:25 > 0:57:28doing everything they want that satisfies them,
0:57:28 > 0:57:31but also doing great things for this landscape.
0:57:31 > 0:57:32It is a win-win situation.
0:57:32 > 0:57:35They are happy, and doing all they need to do,
0:57:35 > 0:57:39but it's what they provide to the environment,
0:57:39 > 0:57:41and it's what they provide to the landscape of Dartmoor
0:57:41 > 0:57:44- that is so important.- I've shared it with you and with them today,
0:57:44 > 0:57:47- and it's been an absolute pleasure. - Thank you.- Thanks a lot.
0:57:59 > 0:58:04If you'd like to explore Britain's diverse landscapes in more detail,
0:58:04 > 0:58:07and find out how to create your own wildlife habitats,
0:58:07 > 0:58:12the Open University has produced a free booklet with bookmarks.
0:58:12 > 0:58:18Order your copy by calling:
0:58:18 > 0:58:22Or go to:
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Follow the links to the Open University.