Megan McCubbin leaves BBC Springwatch viewers distracted with ‘outrageous’ appearance: ‘New life goal’

Iolo Williams took a dive into the secret lives of little owls and little terns on the Dorset coast, whilst McCubbin was in the heart of Glasgow at the Botanical Gardens, investigating the wildlife that resides along the river.

As well as the Botanical Gardens, she explored the population of Puffins in Skomer Island and was put to the test when having to blend in with the birds in the water.

She explained: “The puffin colony here is booming, thanks in part to a healthy sand eel population close to their breeding sight. The fact that these puffins have the ability to go and hunt locally is so important because it gives them more time to focus on socialising and raising their young.

“But to see these charismatic animals in their element I can’t just stay on the land, I have to go undercover in the water as well. Richard Reece is a qualified diving instructor who takes people out to see Puffins in the water here.

“He works closely with the wildlife trust which manages the island to ensure the Puffin’s wellbeing.”

Discussing how they were going to navigate getting close to the birds, Reece admitted: “We have one rule and that is the wildlife always comes first. They are very social and the technique of ours is to use Puffin decoys as a way to pique their curiosity.

“I think you are going to enjoy this,” before pulling out multiple models of the bird and left McCubbin to ask: “Have I got to put that on my head?”

Laughing at her curiosity, Reece revealed: “We are going to have that on your head and then we are going to have some float next to us as well.”

McCubbin embraced the look and noted: “This is outrageous I love it. The jury is out about how scientific my disguise is and it is important to maintain a safe distance from the Puffins at all times, a least a couple of meters.

“But the puffins don’t seem bothered by me being here. From a Puffin’s eye view, it is great to see such a thriving population. I don’t even know how to describe that, took a little while to be accepted but once you were you were just engulfed by thousands of them.”

It wasn’t just McCubbin who was left unsure about the new hat of hers, as many viewers at home also commented on the fashion choice and took to their X accounts.

One noted: “Diving while wearing a puffin-decoy hat is a new life goal.”