Otters

Probably the same otter family at Cors Dyfi over the last few days as in the image two blogs down. Almost certainly a mother with two kits.

Short video here

National Polecat Survey 2014-2015

Vincent Wildlife Trust are launching a new polecat survey to gather up-to-date information on the current distribution of polecats in Britain and investigate introgression between polecats and ferrets. This survey follows on from 2 previous surveys carried out by VWT in the 1990s and 2004-2006.

They are keen to receive records of polecats, polecat-ferrets and feral ferrets from all over mainland Britain, including Montgomeryshire. The survey will start in January 2014 and run until the end of 2015. For more information, click here.

Otters

Two otters were feeding this morning in a perch stocked pool on the boundary of Cors Dyfi and Morben Isaf caravan park. Here's one of them!

(Image Alan Davies)

Otters at Cors Dyfi

Three otters captured on Stealth Camera on December 11th at Cors Dyfi. An adult and two juveniles.

Great Otter footage

Today I was sent this short, but sweet video of three Otters on the Afon Cain in Llanfechain - many thanks to Jake Stephen (www.jakestephenphotography.co.uk). Two of them spraint at two different locations, under the bridge. Great footage!

Strange sound from Yellow-neck

Whilst checking the dormouse nest boxes at Coed Pendugwm Nature Reserve the other day, I found two Yellow-necked Mice in one box, one male and one female. Once in the bag, the female constantly made a sound which I have never heard any mouse make before.

I'm guessing it was a response to the stress, maybe even a warning to stay away. I would be interested to know whether anyone else has heard something similar.

New bat species recorded in Montgomeryshire

Guest blog, courtesy of Simon Cope, Chair of Montgomeryshire Bat Group...

The Nathusius' Pipistrelle is known to migrate long distances, with populations in Eastern Europe flying south and west for the breeding season. The resident population in the UK is boosted during the summer by these migrants, and they become especially obvious during the Autumn when the males establish 'lekking roosts' from which they spend many nocturnal hours calling to attract females that are flying overhead. Although there have been occasional instances of Nathusius' Pip's in our neighbouring counties, they have never been detected in Montgomeryshire, until now!

During a survey near Newtown in the last week in September, a member of the Montgomeryshire Bat Group recorded a very special series of calls. In addition to the characteristic echolocation calls of Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, the sonogram included some with a peak frequency down at 38kHz. This was later confirmed by a national expert as our first record of a Nathusius' Pipistrelle. As well as its rarity, the lack of previous records is probably also due to the low numbers of people listening, so the challenge now is to gather more records and to find some roosts - a process that is being carried out all over the UK with varying degrees of success. If you would like to get involved, please contact the Montgomeryshire Bat Group.

The sonogram which clinched it!