Britain's best wildlife - Mike Dilger

From leaping dolphins to boxing hares, soaring eagles to the beat of a million wings - the British Isles offer some of the richest and most varied wildlife encounters in Europe. But how do you pick the must-see events?

Britain is one of the best wildlife spots in Europe and this is the best of the best - as voted for by a panel of naturalists from suggestions from the public via BBC TV, BBC local radio and the web.

Nature's Top 40: Britain's Best Wildlife is a definitive top-40 list of the UK's most spectacular wildlife wonders. Based on the public's recommendations, Mike Dilger gives a unique countdown of the UK's 40 most remarkable sights, with tips on where and when to go, along with the fascinating stories behind each event - why it happens, what's going on and how to get the very best view.

So what are Britain's top 40 sights, and which one is top of the wildlife pops?