Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey (BBC One Sunday 24 September 2023)

Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey airs Sunday 24 September 2023 on BBC One.

What is this episode about

Hamza Yassin, a wildlife cameraman, travels all over the United Kingdom in an attempt to film birds of prey, his personal favourites.

He travels all the way from remote Scottish highlands to bustling Ealing Borough in Greater London. He reconnects with many people along the way, including long-lost pals and fellow filmmakers and conservationists whose enthusiasm for the outdoors is infectious.

Hamza’s journey begins in his native Ardnamurchan Peninsula on Scotland’s western coast. He is especially excited to film eagles, his favourite bird of prey, among the incredible variety of wildlife here. He has spent years watching a family of white-tailed eagles from a hide he constructed on a cliff above their nest, filming every stage of their development. He now has a deep understanding of these magnificent eagles, the largest of the British Isles’ raptors.

The white-tailed eagle was reintroduced to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. Hamza recently filmed the incredible spectacle of him and John Aitchison hunting geese for Wild Isles. They reflect on the efforts required to record this extraordinary, hitherto unseen behaviour.

On the other hand, Hamza follows the trail of a peregrine falcon to the London neighbourhood of Ealing. He and his team of spotters follow a pair of peregrine falcons as they defend their nest atop a hospital building from an intruder. Our nation’s capital is a great place for peregrines to nest and feed on ring-necked parakeets. Hamza watches as the male gives the female his catch in midair so they can feed their family.

When he returns to Scotland, he hooks up with a knowledgeable local who guides him in his search for the regal but evasive hen harrier. Due to illegal persecution, sightings of these birds engaging in their elaborate courtship display—known as sky dancing—are increasingly rare. Some private landowners in Cairngorms National Park are engaging in ecological restoration to benefit local fauna.

Stunning oak trees and a family of buzzards can be found just behind Hamza’s home. Hamza has been keeping a close eye on the female bird as she tends to her fluffy white chicks. Now that the young birds have flown the nest, he returns to the wooded hills to see how the family is doing. He observes the exact moment a parent catches food for a youngster in the trees nearby.

There is a magical bird hide hidden in the woods on the shores of Loch Garten in the Scottish Highlands. Hamza goes to the RSPB reserve to learn more about the efforts made to save a previously extinct species. The osprey, a bird best known for the spectacular way it fishes, travels from Africa to the United Kingdom every spring to breed. He wants to pass on his excitement to future generations.

Thousands of dragonflies gather on the Somerset Levels as the sun rises on a perfect summer morning to warm their wings. The hobby, one of our smallest and most nimble raptors, is drawn to the area because of the abundance of insects. Simon King, the cameraman, explains how amazing it is to watch this tiny predator catch its dragonfly prey mid-flight.

Another wetland specialist that uses the marshes for nesting and foraging is the marsh harrier. Because of its superior hearing and ability to glide effortlessly through the air, this animal is able to locate prey hidden among the reeds. Hamza is able to photograph them because Simon is familiar with the area. We also get an education on why this area is a conservationist’s best hope.

David Plummer, an avid wildlife observer and photographer from suburban Sussex, has turned his backyard into a veritable oasis. David has taken comfort in this familiar space as his health has declined, and he has been diligently trying to lure in the tawny owl, the next bird of prey on our list. Katie Mayhew, the camerawoman, and Hamza both see an owl swoop down and steal a mouse right out from under their noses.

The golden eagle is Hamza’s favourite raptor and the last one he has. He goes back to the Cairngorms, where he shot them before for Wild Isles, in the hopes of getting a shot of a nesting pair. Unfortunately, this nest has failed, but Hamza’s friends Ewan and Jenny, who are also conservationists, offer him special access to a nest where he can observe some golden eagle chicks up close for the first time.

His trip culminates at the Ardnamurchan site of the first bird hide he ever constructed, marking the beginning of his career as a wildlife photographer. A note left for him here by admirers causes him to think back on his travels, the incredible things he has witnessed, and the ways in which people are working to aid and protect our birds of prey, giving him hope for the future.

When can we see the episode

Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey airs Sunday 24 September 2023 at 7.00pm on BBC One

Featured Image Credit: BBC One