A very complicated plate-spinning exercise
Autumnwatch is beginning to resemble a very complicated plate-spinning exercise. No sooner has one problem been solved than another rears its ugly head. Editorial, technical and logistical issues vie with each other, and at times it's easy to wonder whether we'll ever actually get the show on the air.
Outside the office where I'm typing this blog it's now pitch dark, and beginning to rain - a light drizzle that threatens to turn into a full-blown downpour, complete with winds gusting up to gale force eight, according to the nice man from I just spoke to. There is a very real chance that by the time we've finished the rehearsal at around 8pm tonight, we won't all be able to get off the island and back to the mainland...
On a brighter note, Kate and Bill have had a great day exploring the island, while wildlife cameramen Mark and Pete have already started to get some fantastic material in the can. Stars of the show have been, as expected, the red squirrels, which Mark managed to film feeding on sweet chestnuts. I haven't seen the footage yet, but our editor Steve is raving about it (and believe me, editors don't always rave about the stuff they have to cut together!)
Bird-wise it's been fairly quiet today - after lunch I needed some fresh air, and wandered down to the reserve on the north of the island. Along the path, I discovered the 'hide on stilts' which gives such a great view over the whole of the lagoon - a hide I remember visiting on my first trip to the island in 1970. Then, birds like the and even the were new for me, but almost 40 years later the view from the hide is still pretty amazing. Today I watched three hunting in formation: carefully stepping forward, necks hunched, ready to strike.
So with just four days (and about an hour!) to go before we go live, the first rehearsal is about to start. I can hear Kate and Bill speaking live, via a satellite link, to Gordon on the - which makes me realise that whatever the problems we may have with the weather here, compared to Gordon and his team we don't know we're born. If I had the choice between being on Brownsea or Brownsman (the tiny island where Gordon is right now), I know where I'd rather be. And I bet they don't have a plate of scones to keep them going...
Friday morning I'm off back to the office in Bristol to collect (and watch) our very last batch of films - in the meantime I hope you have a good weekend, and don't forget to keep sending us your pictures of autumn and wildlife videos wherever you live!
All the best - Stephen
Comments