Badgers
They continue to come every night and delight our visitors and now that it’s getting dark earlier the Badgers have been coming earlier too and are sometimes there before the food is laid out. One night as the Badgers came in to feed one of them was growling. It wasn’t quite clear at first which one it was growling at, as it appeared to be looking in no direction in particular. Then when the Badger it didn’t like got nearer, its growling loudened and eventually the two started fighting. They made loud chittering sounds and at times they stopped and one would try to push down the other, still having its fur in its teeth, then they ran off into the woods. The other Badgers were drawn into it, peering curiously at them but didn’t run off with them. Afterwards they resumed feeding.
On another night, all eight of them fed together. That is unusual because you normally don’t see the family members altogether. Then one by one, they left to go and feed on worms somewhere else.
Pine Martens
Both individuals are still regular visitors to the hide. There are now four individuals that we’ve seen come in regularly this year, two of which are this year’s kits. It’s unclear at this point if the kits have left or if the adults are still there, as the male kit has its father’s markings and the female kit its’ mothers’, which makes it hard to determine which ones we’re seeing now. Part of me thinks it’s still the kits - so that’s what I’m going with in this post! One night the male kit came up from the two Lawson’s Cypresses overlooking the middle of the platform and ran along the log bridge and started eating the sultanas. At times its tail draped over the side as it fed, sometimes with its back to the guests, then it marked the site with its urine, a sign that it’s preparing to leave and descended the two Lawson’s Cypresses.
Then on another night, which had started off well with the Badgers coming just minutes after I’d put the food out, both Pine Martens came in quick succession. They fed together and wherever the female went, so did the male. At one point the male ran along the log bridge and attempted to either eat the apple or carry it away. It took one bite of the apple and then finding it not so easy to grasp, abandoned the idea and went back towards the platform. Then after about ten minutes they left together by descending the two Lawson’s Cypresses.
Scottish Wildcat
The Scottish Wildcat continues to amaze guests on the occasions it decides to visit. I’ve found that if it enters the viewing area, it tends to do so earlier in the evening before it gets dark. One night when it was dark it showed only briefly, quickly passing through and not lingering. I’ve determined that the reason for this is because it doesn’t want to meet any Badgers, because if encountered they could easily pose a threat to it.
One night, whilst it was still light and before we even got into the hide, it was sat under a tree with its haunches raised before eventually moving off. Hopefully as winter draws nearer its visits will be more frequent as it searches for food.
Other Wildlife
We’ve seen Red and Roe Deer in the fields below. They are especially conspicuous now that we’ve trimmed away some branches to allow everyone a better view to the fields below. When I was putting food out for the Badgers there was a female Red Deer grazing in the field and it looked up at me, as though well aware of my presence.
Tawny Owls and Barn Owls are sometimes heard through the microphone, but so far none have come in to the feeding area. Bats fly through, but you have to be looking in the right place at the right time to see them as they don’t tend to linger. Wood Mice are still visible occasionally, but as it gets colder they’ll be more inclined not to come out of their shelters. As we leave the hide and go back to the car park smaller things are seen such as Devil’s Horsecoach Beetles, Leopard Slugs, Black Slugs and young Palmate Newts which like to come out at night to feed and one has to be careful not to step on them as you go. There have also been nights where the stargazing has been incredible, as there is so little light pollution and constellations such as Hercules, which are normally faint and difficult to see, have been more visible than they ever and I witnessed a shooting star at one point, which appeared so quickly that you had to be looking in the right place at the right time to see them.
If you would like a chance to see our nocturnal visitors go to: http://bit.ly/sw_EWW to book your place.
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