Dormousing

Out with my friend, Nick Young, this morning checking dormouse boxes in one of his Forestry Commission sites. Nick is a licensed dormouse handler and is kindly helping me work towards my licence.

The Hazel Dormouse is a protected species meaning it is an offence not only to harm them, but also cause them disturbance. In order to check nest boxes on sites where dormice are known, you must have the relevant licence to prove that you know how to minimize disturbance whilst carrying out this vital surveying activity.

It was an enjoyable morning, despite the showers and spopping wet ground and we found 13 nests in the nest boxes (of which there are 50). Slightly disappointed not to see a dormouse, but hardly surprising at this time of year, when they are likely to be safely tucked away at ground level, hibernating.

Young Fox

On the way to Guilsfield to see Calender Girls (blooming marvellous!), decided to take evasive action against the flooding and try the back roads. Nearly went headlong into a young fox which seemed intent on something in the road verge! It then ran along the road for about 100 metres before having the sense to dive through the hedge. What a tail!

Otters in Newtown

Without doubt, Newtown must be the best place to see Otters in Montgomeryshire. I have received a number of sightings in the town over the last couple of years and they have even been tame enough to allow photos and videos to be taken of them.

The latest one of these is this lovely 3 minute video of two Otters hunting in the middle of Newtown in broad daylight. This was taken by Russ Edwards, who has filmed Otters in Newtown before. Great footage, Russ! Keep your eyes out for Water Voles too!

Dormice at Dolforwyn

A day of checking dormouse nest boxes today, with licensed handler, Nick Young. First we checked the one hundred boxes which were erected at Dolforwyn Woods in July. This is the first time these boxes have been checked and so we were delighted to find that two boxes contained unoccupied dormouse nests. This is a new record for the site; great news!

Nick and I then moved on to Coed Pendugwm where dormice were re-discovered last month after an absence of nine years! Two unoccupied nests were also found here.

It was a shame that we didn't get to see any actual dormice, but it is getting a little late in the year now, as they will be thinking about going in to hibernation. Checking the dormouse boxes will recommence in April (licence permitting) and I'm hopeful we may have even more success next year.

Unusual passenger

This little Bank Vole was found by staff and volunteers of the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, running through the garden and onto the platform at Llanfair Station. Typical of a naive youngster, it was quite tame and allowed itself to be put back in the garden. However, it seems that it was determined to catch a train to Welshpool, as it was last seen running towards the train!

(Many thanks to Kevin Heywood for the photo and report)

Fox at Roundton

Fox seen on the very top of Roundton Hill at about 06:30am (whilst doing the Breeding Bird Survey).

The not-so-clever squirrel

Whilst walking the dogs along Glyndwr's Way today, something caught my eye. I was surprised to see a very unconcerned squirrel on the ground, in a field next to the road, barely 5m away. The nearest tree would require the crossing of a fence and the road, past myself and the dogs; was this the reason he didn't run or was he just very sure of himself?!

After watching him for a couple of minutes, foraging amongst the roots in the grassland, I continued on my way, thinking not much more about it. However, on my return some 40 minutes later, I disturbed a Buzzard from that very grassland. What should he be carrying in his talons, but a squirrel! Not such a clever squirrel afterall!