Millions of TV viewers were given a glimpse of nature in the raw when dramatic footage of killer whales hunting seals off the east coast of Caithness was shown on the BBC's Springwatch programme.

The drone video captured by Sam Mackay was described as "amazing" by presenter Iolo Williams when he introduced the slot in Friday's edition of the long-running series.

Sam, who lives in Wick, said it was "very pleasing” to have some of his footage screened on national TV. His video, shot on May 10, shows a pod of at least seven orcas hunting and killing seals at Freswick Bay.

The 17th season of Springwatch has been attracting viewing figures of around 2.5 million on BBC Two.

“One of their filming guys messaged me on Twitter," Sam explained. "He had seen my footage somewhere – it must have been on social media – and we exchanged a few emails as they were keen to use it on one of their shows.

"He gave me a heads-up that it was going to be shown on Friday night so there was a lot of recording getting done.

“It was weird because it’s national television and you’re getting your name mentioned and your footage is there as well. The footage I thought looked really good on the TV."

The 32-year-old has about six years' experience of operating drones but this was the first time he had filmed orcas.

“I noticed they put the sound of water on it – the drone doesn’t record any sound," Sam added. "They’ve obviously got a high-tech editing team and equipment.

“But what you saw was what it was – that’s what happened, and to see it on TV was very pleasing.

“They’ve used probably the best bits of the clip. It was a four-minute video that I sent them. They picked out one kill but there was more than one kill there.”

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Introducing Sam's footage on Springwatch, Iolo Williams told viewers: “Orcas are getting more and more frequent now around the north coast of Scotland.

“Out in the open water like that I’m afraid the seal has got no chance. They [orcas] are very intelligent animals.

“Usually the seals seek refuge on rocky islets, rocky shores, on a small island, anything – but in the open water, not a chance.

“And of course they’ll eat it all. Nothing will go to waste – that’s nature for you.

“These northern pods wander between the coasts of Norway, Iceland, the Faroes, the north of Scotland, and they can travel up to 100 kilometres in a day.

“If you want to see them close then the best time is between May and August. That’s when they come near the coast and that’s when they’ll often be seen hunting seals as well.

“In winter they tend to move north, to the northernmost part of the North Sea, and feed on fish like herring and mackerel.”

Springwatch can be viewed on the BBC iPlayer.

Sam, who works as a mechanical technician at Vulcan, is originally from Golspie. He is well known on the north football scene as a former player with Wick Academy and Brora Rangers in the Highland League and now as manager of North Caledonian League club Golspie Sutherland.

He had spotted orcas going past Staxigoe earlier on the day of the Springwatch broadcast, although they were quite far offshore.

Related stories:

• Orca Watch 2021 invites viewers to see killer whales around Caithness coast from the comfort of their homes

• Orca frenzy as three pods are encountered off east coast of Caithness

• WATCH: Drone footage shows 'nature at its brutal best' as killer whales hunt seals off Caithness coast

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