Mike Dilger
Naturalist, presenter and writer
Mike Dilger has been an obsessive naturalist since childhood, equally at home either on his hands and knees identifying wild flowers in the British countryside, or surveying the Amazon for hummingbirds. With degrees in Botany and Ecology, Mike’s obsession with the tropics began when studying moths in the South American Andes. This then led to over five years carrying out research work in the tropical forests of Ecuador, Vietnam, Tanzania and Peru. Finally emerging out of the bush and returning back to Britain to find a job in television, Mike is probably best known for over 450 appearances as the ‘wild man’ on BBC’s The One Show, which sees him regularly pontificating on everything from bumblebees to basking sharks. Since the start of 2018, he has been writing a regular feature in BBC Wildlife magazine on where and how to watch wildlife in the UK.
Recent articles by Mike Dilger
King penguin guide: species facts and where they live
Learn about the spectacular aquatic flightless bird known as the kind penguin in our expert guide, including essential species facts, diet and habitat. Plus, the mystery of the shrinking colony.
Hammerheads come equipped with underwater metal detectors, and hold their breath to dive to the deep
Scalloped hammerheads captivate the imagination of scientists, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts alike. Here’s why
Monarch butterfly migration: its remarkable 3,000 mile journey explored
Mike Unwin explores just how far this remarkable butterfly species travels when migrating
How and where to watch whales and dolphins in the UK
Catch all the action as spectacular cetaceans swim by UK shores
Peregrine falcon guide: where they live, what they eat and how peregrines hunt
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
Where and when to see courting and mating adders
Adder courtship was one of the star turns of Sir David Attenborough's Wild Isles, but there's more to this ritual than you may realise
Where and when to see leaping salmon in the UK
Get settled by the water's edge this autumn and marvel at Atlantic salmon bravely leaping homewards to reproduce.
Wood ant guide: what they are, what they eat - and why a wood ant nest is a whopping metre in height
Learn about the different species of wood ant and where to find their impressive domed nests.
Brown hare guide: why they box and how to see them
Early spring is the perfect time to see brown hares, when the mating season commences. Here is our guide to the species and where to see them.
How butterflies and bumblebees know when to emerge from winter
Mike Dilger takes a look at how some invertebrates survive winter and know just when to emerge in spring to maximise chance of survival
Ring-necked parakeet guide: what they look like, what they eat and where and when to see them in the UK
Noisy flocks of emerald-green birds are becoming an increasingly common sight in the UK, from London's Hyde Park to as far north as Glasgow. Naturalist Mike Dilger tells you everything you've ever wanted know about this exotic non-native bird.
Where and when to see overwintering geese
Autumn is the time to see skeins of geese flying over their wintering feeding grounds – and observe the strange phenomenon of 'whiffling'. Naturalist and broadcaster Mike Dilger explains.
Wild boar guide: what they eat, where to see them, and how they returned to the UK countryside
Once extinct in the UK, wild boar have been accidentally (and sometimes deliberately) reintroduced into our countryside. Here's all you need to know about them.
Wildlife Spectacles | Where and when to see spider webs in the UK
Dewy autumn mornings are the perfect time to marvel at the beautiful, intricate work of our eight-legged friends.
Wildlife Spectacles | Where and when to see orchids in the UK
Step into a rare lowland flower meadow and lose yourself among dreamy wild orchids in late spring and summer.
Wildlife Spectacles | Where and when to see great crested grebes dancing in the UK
In spring, head to the water’s edge to see great crested grebes perform the beautiful, ritualised moves of their courtship display, including the ‘weed ceremony’.
Wildlife Spectacles | Where and when to see grey seal pups in the UK
In the autumn, thousands of grey seals come ashore in one of Britain's most spectacular natural events. The annual fiesta of synchronised birthing is soon followed by almost half the world's grey seals flocking for a mating game on our beaches.
How to identify UK waders
If you are new to the waders, then make it your business to learn the most common or easy to recognise species first.