BBC Countryfile star Hamza Yassin has shared the respectful restraint he had to exercise while filming wildlife, which ultimately led to a breathtaking find during the latest episode of the popular nature show.
A Respectful Distance for Protection
Exploring the stunning landscape of Loch Affric in the Scottish Highlands, the presenter and wildlife cameraman was on a mission to capture footage of migrating ospreys. Hamza emphasised the importance of keeping a "safe and discreet distance" from the birds' nests for their protection, positioning himself and his camera rig well over a kilometre away.
He explained to viewers that while much of Glen Affric's wildlife is accessible, special care must be taken with these protected birds. "It's really important for people to realise that, to be able to film these birds, you need to a) have a special licence, but also respect the birds themselves," Hamza stated.
The Challenge of Capturing the Perfect Shot
Even with a powerful telephoto lens, the distance presented a significant technical challenge. Hamza admitted that capturing pristine images was difficult due to the heat haze over the long range. He confessed that the ideal scenario for a photographer would be to get closer, but that was a line he refused to cross.
"Ideally I'd want to be a lot closer," he said, "but if I'm a lot closer I'm going to be disturbing these birds and that's the last thing I want to be doing." He highlighted the osprey's own incredible eyesight, capable of spotting fish from 40 metres in the air, as another reason for his cautious approach.
A Rewarding Discovery
His patience and ethical filming practices were richly rewarded. After carefully observing the birds' behaviour and ensuring the female osprey was not agitated, Hamza finally captured stunning footage of them in flight. It was then that he made an exciting discovery.
"Hang on a minute!" he exclaimed. "I can officially say that this pair of ospreys have got a very young chick. So young that you can't even see the chick poking its head up." He pointed out that the female was delicately feeding small pieces of fish to the unseen newborn in the nest. "That is awesome," the delighted presenter concluded.
The episode, which aired on Sunday, 4th January 2026, showcased not only the beauty of Scotland's natural world but also the responsible practices required to document it. Countryfile continues to air on BBC One and iPlayer on Sundays at 6pm.
