This three part series shows presenter Simon King heading to Shetland, the most northerly of the British Isles, with his wife and young daughter to observe and film the local wildlife at three times of the year; Winter, Spring and Summer. We are shown a wide variety of the local fauna; otters, orcas, seals and dolphins are the main mammals shown and amongst the birds we are shown red-necked phalaropes, gannets, arctic terns, guillemots, puffins, bonxies and fulmars. As each episode takes place in a different season we get to see the wildlife at various points of the breeding cycle; birds sitting on eggs in spring and summer; hatchlings fledging in summer; young otters growing to the point they are due to 'leave home'.
I really enjoyed this documentary; the shots of the wildlife were impressive and Simon King was a likeable host. I liked the fact that he didn't shy away from showing the sadder side of nature; a tern that had to be put down after flying into wires and at injured otter that dies despite the best efforts of a local lady who cares for injured animals. We also see how he goes about getting the shots; setting up cameras that will be used months later and carefully camouflaging other cameras to minimise disturbances. At first I was a little unsure about the inclusion of his daughter in a nature documentary but her fascination with the wildlife was a joy to behold. While this is primarily about the wild life there are also plenty of views of Shetland's impressive scenery. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to those interesting in British wildlife in part of the country most people will never visit.
