Hi all
In May I visited a reserve in Devon where there is opportunity to enter various enclosures with a wide range of British mammals from wild cats to harvest mice. Here's a series of pine martens - I'd never seen one before.
Regards
Jeff
Jeff, very nice shots. I think the first one is my favourite.
WesternGuy
Great series. Love Pine Marten.
Used to have a weasel living under my garden shed when I was in the UK.... never saw any mice or rats when he was there!
Thanks for the messages, very encouraging! Here's a rather colourful frog who I think I spotted in the water vole enclosure (I was outside the enclosure this time though). I really like this one! Cheers, Jeff
(Jun 10, 2015, 14:36)Freeman Wrote: [ -> ]Hi all
In May I visited a reserve in Devon where there is opportunity to enter various enclosures with a wide range of British mammals from wild cats to harvest mice. Here's a series of pine martens - I'd never seen one before.
Regards
Jeff
Great shots Jeff. I like them all but do tend towards the first one of the pine martens.
Well, here's a wild boar and he was far, far too close as far as I was concerned...(I have cropped the image a bit, mind)...and I've no way of escape...
I think you get the picture ... you enter the animal's enclosure, lie on the ground, and wait.....
[
attachment=4697][
attachment=4696][
attachment=4695]If ever anyone finds themselves or wants to see wildlife truly in the wild in Scotland, head over to Aigas Field Centre in Scotland (
www.Aigas.co.uk, Inverness). They can show you just about everything you want to see in their natural environment (as per attached) including deer, golden eagles, etc. Red squirrels, Beaver and otter in the grounds. Just wonderful. They run various conservation projects (including wild cats) and are a registered charity.
This is a fantastic thread and a spectacular series of images.
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attachment=4698]
(Jun 15, 2015, 08:52)EnglishBob Wrote: [ -> ]This is a fantastic thread and a spectacular series of images.
My favourite was this - my first crested tit! A delight!
In total agreement with Craig. Ed.
Outstanding images Jeff. Can you point me to the reserve? My Son and his family live in Bampton N Devon and we are going down to stay week after next. It looks well worth a visit!
Hi Keith I hope I'm in time with my reply: please try this at
http://www.naturesphotos.co.uk/pages/wor...ammals.php which should lead you to all the info you need. It is a private reserve that specialises in water vole conservation and boasts rows and rows of water vole hutche so I'm not sure when and if it is open to the public ... this is where to stay ...http://www.devonfarmcottage.co.uk/
...Frankaborough Farm is very close to the reserve...If you need more info let me know or ring Bob Brind-Surch direct. All the best.. Regards Jeff
Hi everyone
First of all I absolutely love that crested tit! And the Scotland reserve Derbygirl mentions looks well worth a visit - shame Scotland and Devon are so far from anywhere....!!!
In view of the wonderful compliments I feel inclined to risk offering more shots from that weekend...hope that's OK...here they are...harvest mice, Scottish wild cat, and stoat...
Regards all, Jeff
[quote='Freeman' pid='101956' dateline='1434923393']
Amazing harvest mice. Never seen any in the wild.
Had a fabulous day on the Yorkshire coast yesterday and puffins galore!
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Nice! puffins should be the national bird in my view...nothing against the robin of course...Jeff
Hi Jeff
You don't say where the reserve is. I would like to visit myself.
Cheers RayG
Hi Ray It's at Broadwoodwidger, Lifton, Devon PL16 0JS - but I assume you derived that from my posting above with information for Keith? As I mentioned, it's a private concern and I don't actually have direct contact details and I am not sure if and when it is open to the public. If you do go looking for it, it doesn't look anything from the lane, but there is a small easy to miss notice on the barn on the roadside for the water vole project. Best I can say is contact Bob direct:
http://www.naturesphotos.co.uk/pages/wor...ammals.php. If that doesn't work, let me know and I will have another think. For Bob's weekend we had a specialist animal handler with us all the time as well as Bob. All the best and hope you get there. Jeff
Thanks, Jeff.
I'm in Wiltshire so I might just try and give it a go before the summer is out.
Some wonderful pictures on this thread.
Regards
Ray
Hi all
Polecats! It was tough getting a half decent picture of these guys!
Regards
Jeff
(Jun 23, 2015, 16:17)Freeman Wrote: [ -> ]Otter!
Stunning!
Where did you catch this?
Hi Derbygirl, all my photos on this thread were taken at the Devon wildlife reserve. Glad you like the otter picture - I have to say this series came out better than I really expected. But then I didn't expect England to beat Australia in the first Ashes test today! Regards, Jeff