Evening Wildlife Watching Hide Update July 2026

The nights are getting earlier as the year goes on, but there are still plenty of things to see from our Evening Wildlife Watching Hide, with plenty of sightings of Badgers, Pine Martens, the Scottish Wildcat, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Wood Mice and Bank Voles. Hopefully there’ll be many more things to see as August approaches.

Badgers

There are still plenty of Badgers appearing and there are at least six in the family just now. One night, the dominant male Badger came in while it was still light, even before I had a chance to lay the food out. It looked around for a while, concluded that it wasn’t time yet and went away.

I came out and laid out all the food, then it returned to feed properly. After it left, another one took its place, which I think was a smaller male. Four females then showed up and I think there is at least one grown-up cub among them, as it appeared very skinny and had a vertical angle to its tail, though its face wasn’t as freshly black and white as I would expect.

They all eventually left and everyone was very happy.

Badger (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Badger (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Pine Martens

There are still regular sightings of Pine Marten from the hide and there are now at least four individuals present. Two kits born this year have also been appearing.

One night, one of these kits came in from the left-hand side while it was still daylight. It was behind a tree initially, but then came into clearer view. There was a Badger not far behind, which initially made me fear that the young Pine Marten might be naive about the danger it posed. Although the Badgers and Pine Martens can be present at the same time, the Pine Martens will keep their distance, as the Badgers would kill them if they got the chance.

This one, however, seemed to understand the risk and eventually went up onto the platform to feed. As far as its bib markings go, it appeared to have its parent’s semi-collar but no spots. I’ve found from previous years that the bib markings are inherited to a degree, and this one seemed to confirm that.

Hopefully our sightings will be even better while we have this ‘surplus’ of Pine Martens, before they disperse and find their own territories later in the year.

Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Scottish Wildcat

We still have the Scottish Wildcat appearing. One night, we were coming out of the hide having just watched Badgers when the Wildcat appeared in the garden as we were walking back to the car park, allowing fantastic views.

On another night, I was checking the back windows of the hide, where it is most often seen, when it came from the right-hand side and into view below the hide. It peered up at everyone before making its way back into the garden, walking below the hide and down the steps. Everyone got to see it and we had all three mammal species that night.

Other Wildlife

Red Deer and Roe Deer have appeared in the field below, with plenty of Wood Mice scurrying after the peanuts and one Bank Vole, which was only the second I’d seen this year from the hide itself, not including ones I’d seen scurrying through the garden.

Tawny Owls have been heard, as have Barn Owls, but both managed to remain unseen, as they usually do. There have also been Leopard Slugs, Common Toads, Common Frogs and Violet Ground Beetles in the garden as we have walked back to the car park.

If you would like a chance to see our nocturnal visitors, go to: http://bit.ly/sw_EWW to book your place.