Evening Wildlife Watching - Hide Update - May 2026

The Evening Wildlife Watching Hide has been producing plenty of sightings this month. Badgers have been regular visitors, along with Pine Martens and the Scottish Wildcat. Other wildlife seen or heard from the hide has included Wood Mice, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Eurasian Snipe, Woodcock, Grey Heron and even an Otter, which was the first one I have ever seen at the hide. As the weather continues to warm up, the sightings keep coming and will hopefully continue into June.

Badgers

The Badgers have been visiting every night this month for the food laid out for them, often arriving before darkness has fallen. One evening, shortly after putting out the food, a male Badger appeared from the left-hand side. I explained to the guests how I knew it was a male, based on its domed head and generally larger appearance, although there can be some overlap in size and bulk between males and females.

As the evening went on, two females appeared at more or less the same time. After they left, three more females arrived together and fed before moving off again. It provided everyone with a satisfying end to the evening.

Badgers (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Badgers (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Pine Martens

Pine Martens were seen regularly throughout the month. One night, a new male appeared that I had never seen before. At first, I thought it might simply be a squatter, as I had occasionally recorded an unfamiliar individual on the camera traps that was not one of our usual pair. However, as time went on, it became clear that the previous male was no longer returning and this newcomer had taken his place.

What happened to the original male, I am not sure. He may have died or he may have been pushed out. Because the change happened fairly quickly, I suspect the latter. When we lost one of our female Pine Martens to road traffic, it took several months before the vacancy was filled by another female.

The fact that this new male appeared so soon suggests the previous one may have been displaced, although I cannot be certain. We have seen him on subsequent nights and, on one occasion, he arrived so suddenly and quietly that half the guests, who were focused on photographing a Badger, did not notice him until I pointed him out. He fed for about ten minutes before disappearing again.

It was a great relief to see him that evening, as relatively few Badgers had appeared beforehand. It also made up for not seeing a Wildcat that night.

Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Pine Marten (Photo Credit: Harris Brooker)

Scottish Wildcat

The Scottish Wildcat has remained elusive but is still around. One evening we had an even bigger surprise. While checking behind the hide to see if it was nearby, I caught sight of its face peering around a corner. I tried to alert everyone, but by the time I did, it had vanished.

I waited to see if it would appear at the front of the hide, but when it did not, I told the guests that if we wanted to follow it, we would need to finish the evening a little early. As we had already enjoyed sightings of Badgers and a Pine Marten, everyone agreed.

As we made our way back towards the car park, we managed to catch sight of the Wildcat in my torch beam. Although it was some distance away, everyone was able to see it. Needless to say, everyone left happy that night.

Other Wildlife

There has been plenty else to enjoy at the hide. Roe Deer and Red Deer have been seen in the fields below, while Common Snipe have been heard 'clucking' and drumming after dark. Occasionally, the croak and lisp of a Woodcock can be heard overhead as it performs its roding display.

Tawny Owls have been heard calling and, on some evenings, Barn Owls have been seen hunting across the fields below. Leopard Slugs and Brown Slugs have been spotted in the garden as we return to the car park, while Brown Hares have been seen in the surrounding fields.

In one of the wetter fields below the hide, we recorded a first, at least during my time here: an Otter. It was a guest who spotted it and, at first, I thought they had mistaken a Pine Marten for something else. However, when I looked myself, it really was an Otter. I only managed a quick view as it waddled across the field before disappearing from sight, but it was enough. That sighting brings the hide mammal list to 13 species.

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