More badgers 26 to 29-12-2011

Badgers at the new site from 26/12/2011 to 29/12/2011. A couple of badgers meet and indulge in a little mutual grooming. 2 others catch and eat worms.

More from the Trophy Cam last week

Here a Muntjac stops by and checks out the camera. The deer always seem to know there is something there, I assume they detect my scent on the camera.


I was surprised to see deer close to the camera location, as you can see it is extremely overgrown, they squeeze through though.
A day time fox was also a nice change.


This is three clips edited together. The fox passed through and then must have come back around the side of the camera, tripping it a second time. It then came back again 15 mins later.

23rd December 2011

A badger came by early on and then another/same came back about 3 hours later.

22 December 2011

I finally got around to putting the camera trap out at a new location. Thanks to JB for the tip off for the new location which is close to a Badger Sett.

First night (22/12/2011) was an excellent start, first up were a pair of Muntjac. They were very timid in front of the camera and definitely seemed to know something was out of place. Probably picked up my scent on the camera. About 3hrs later a Fox passed through and a few minutes later a Badger, the target species. Another 45 mins went by and the Fox came back again.
Not bad for the first night but there is more to come.

Box End Park WeBS: 18/12/2011

Another cold start for the WeBS count this morning at Box End Park. Fortunately the lakes were pretty much free of ice and the usual characters were in residence. Highlight was a Redshank, only my second record for this site and a handsome looking Fox at the north end of the park. Thought it was going to catch a Mute Swan which was on the bank, but the Swan recognised the danger in time.

Fieldfare and Redwing were much in evidence this morning with parties to and fro throughout. As I got out of the car I heard Redwing passing over and I saw the tail end of a flock heading south in the half light. Further parties of 3, 8, 4, 2 and 1 were seen. Parties of 7, 5, 3, 15, 21 and 17 Fieldfare were also seen.

Full counts as follows:

Black-headed Gull 16  
Cormorant 3  
Grey Heron 1  
Kestrel 1  
Lapwing 107  
Little Grebe 2  
Mallard 70  
Mandarin Duck 1  
Meadow Pipit 8
Moorhen 4
Mute Swan 5
Pied/White Wagtail 3
Redshank 1  
Skylark 1
Total number of species: 14 Individuals: 223