Episode 2

Winter is in full swing at Mount Stewart as Winterwatch 2026 returns for its second evening on the shores of Strangford Lough. As the days grow shorter and the nights draw in, the estate’s wildlife reveals how it copes with the challenges and quiet opportunities of the season.

Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams observe secretive badgers emerging after dusk, as well as some elusive pine martens, who have been reclaiming their place in Northern Ireland’s woodlands. Plus the hidden lives unfolding beneath the winter canopy.

Alongside the stories from Mount Stewart, there are stories from across the UK, capturing the rich variety of wildlife that makes winter such a compelling time to watch and wonder.