Not even rabbits, but plenty of wind!

So, not my most productive night with the trail cameras.  The one by the badger latrine at least shows that it's still being used, but my positioning of the camera proved to be rubbish.  I strapped it to a tree (see previous post) and it seemed to be pointing where it should, but proof is in the pudding, so they say.  You can see the result here, but on the plus side I did get three separate videos spaced out overnight so assume not the same badger each time.  Note the wind!   Quite a large branch down in our front garden, and collecting the cameras this morning was quite a scary and challenging business.  But I don't like to leave them out for too long.  You never know who is around and might see them.

As for the potential sett, well not even rabbits made an appearance!  Just sheep, who were nowhere in sight when I set up the camera.  At least this one was pointing where it should, much to the curiosity of this particular sheep.  Quite amusing really.  I should add, although on our land, the sheep are not ours but belong to a neighbouring farmer.  Video after this showed the usual lame sheep who couldn't put his back leg to the ground.  Very typical unfortunately as is the occasional dead sheep just left on the land to rot and for the crows and Red Kites to pick at.  At least they feed the carrion birds I guess, but it's a sad way to treat animals.  Thank goodness I'm vegetarian. 

Autumnal thoughts

I don't like the cold - or wet - or wind - so why the hell did I move to Wales?!!  But today, considering it is now Autumn, the weather gradually turned sunny and rather warm.  A good day to go exploring down the hill and to check on the badger latrine.  I haven't done that in weeks, got rather out of the habit in the very hot weather and since have been very busy with our holiday cottage.  Ironing seemed to take a priority for most of the time!  

So I set a trail camera up near the latrine which does look as though it's been used recently with some evidence of fresh droppings and lots of scooped-out earth.  Photos aren't as good as I'd like as I only had my phone with me, but you get the idea.

Badger latrine

Camera in position at the latrine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I'm not holding my breath that this might be a badger sett, but there was quite a large hole with lots of new-looking activity and soil disturbance, looking far too much to just be rabbits.  I've left a camera near here before and got nothing but for the sake of it I've set one up there tonight. Ah well, you never know.  I've searched and searched before and can't find a sett, this however looks new as I'm sure this wasn't like this the last time I visited. 

Watch this space.  Bet it's just rabbits.

Hawthorn berries

Nice large conker still on the tree

Love these ancient looking trees

These leaves will soon be falling to the ground

A Visit from Mr Hedgehog!

I can't tell you how excited I was to see this little fella on the trail cam.  I know badgers can eat hedgehogs and we have a few badgers around here, obviously.  I have never seen a hedgehog here and thought I never would, then surprise, surprise, this little critter appears.  I do hope I see him again.  In the meantime maybe I should think about putting a cat-proof feeding station out for it, in the hope it is hanging around and might become a regular visitor.  Please Mr Badger, don't eat him!

And despite having two cats on the prowl, this little mouse provides some entertainment between badger visits.  Of course it's not necessarily the same mouse all the time and no way of knowing.  I do know I have many trail camera videos of this excitable mouse (well I HOPE it's a mouse!) and chose this one from the many clips.

No post would be complete without another clip of Spot.  I think we have two or possibly three badgers visiting regularly, but Spot is the only one I can positively identify.  Still no sightings or any signs of a fox recently.  Maybe I need to get back down the hill with my trail camera but have got lazy since the badgers are coming to me at the house.  And now I am down to two cameras since the Apeman finally gave up the ghost and I had to return it to Amazon.  I got a full refund as it was less than one year since purchased and I'm tempted to buy another Browning, but haven't quite decided on that yet.