Mad 'erm May hares

Just to prove that boxing hares can be seen outside of February/March, I saw two going 'at it' this afternoon, just outside the village of Pontrobert - fabulous sight!

Polecat @ New Mills

One seen at 23:30 this evening on the straight to Tregynon.

Bats at Cors Dyfi

Worked my first ever night shift (of any kind!) on Saturday night, Sunday morning, helping to maintain 24 hour suveillance on Monty & Nora, the Dyfi Ospreys. When not keeping my eyes glued to the screens watching Nora's every move whilst she incubated the eggs, I was trying to record the bats on the reserve (Cors Dyfi).

When the rain stopped, about midnight, a walk around the reserve with my Batbox Duet revealed Soprano & Common Pipistrelle, Noctule and even a Daubenton's briefly over the first pool. The real highlight was watching  a Clous of Noctules (yes apparently that is a collective noun for bats; I'd not heard it either!) whizzing around over the reserve at about 5am, foraging for their last snack before bed! Fantastic!!

St. Servatius' Day

I hope everyone enjoyed St. Servatius' Day today!

What the...? you may well ask! Well this day was invoked to ward off rats and the bubonic plague carried by their fleas!

Roe Deer @ Ceri Ridgeway

A pair of Roe Deer were seen in a clearing in the Ceri Forest (SO181868) this evening as the sun was setting beyond the hills.

Weasel near Welshpool

Lovely weasel seen crossing the road near Welshpool.

Best mammaling day ever!

Ran a woodland mammal workshop today for Dyfi Woodlands, near Machynlleth. I set six longworth small mammal traps last night and was delighted to catch four Wood Mice; two male, two female. One of the participants then set one trap and barely two hours later, a male Bank Vole was captured!

We then looked for nibbled nuts and several people discovered a remarkable number which had been nibbled by dormice!!

But the real icing on the cake was saved 'til last! A search along the stream revealed two otter spraints and whilst we were admiring one, we spotted an otter making his way towards us!!! Despite being upwind and talking loudly, he didn't notice us until the last minute, probably because the noise of the stream here was considerable. A really special moment which none of us will ever forget!

On arriving home, I persuaded the other half to go for a walk and on the way back I spotted a Stoat!

What a lucky day!