It was June 2007 when BBC Springwatch was on Islay and brought the Islay Wildlife and scenery to millions of homes in the UK. It was a fabulous way to promote the island and apparently the BBC decided that Islay was interesting enough for a return visit, and this time they will broadcast from Islay in the Autumn.

BBC Autumnwatch posted an article last Tuesday on their website in which they said that "from Friday 7 October at 8.30pm on BBC Two, once a week for eight weeks, Autumnwatch Live will be tracking the very best wildlife action from the beginning to the end of this dramatic season." If you click on the read more link you can also read that the team will visit Islay in week 5: "It's all change as we journey north to the Scottish island of Islay. We'll witness the spectacular sight and sound of thousands of barnacle geese, meet resident otters and golden eagles, and maybe even catch a glimpse of the elusive merlin." Week five means that the BBC Autumnwatch team will be on Islay beginning of November. Continue reading....

In the meanwhile preparations have started and at this very moment one of the researchers of BBC Autumnwatch is on Islay to choose the best locations for their show. They will do that together with the RSPB. One of the researchers currently on the island is Becky Steele. Becky has a Twitter acount and she wrote today that "Islay is throwing up some lovely stories for @BBCAutumnwatch! The arrival of the geese & hopefully hunting Merlins!" Just after she arrived on the island she tweeted: "Sparrowhawk sneaking up on twite & linnet flocks, ravens mobbing buzzards within 2 mins of arriving at location.... Islay - will be amazing!"

Barnacle Geese at Loch Gruinart

So if you don't have a Twitter account yet this is perhaps a good reason to start one and follow Becky and the BBCAutumnwatch team to find out yourself when they are on Islay and what you can see on the show. Of course you an also follow them on their website. So here's already a reminder that the first episode of the show will start on Friday 7 October at 8.30pm on BBC Two. That means that Islay is planned for the episode of 4 November.

Tag: autumnwatch bbc wildlife birding