Badger

Happy Badgers.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

Still photos taken from trail camera footage.

Some more Badger trail camera footage from The New Forest. This demonstrates good interaction between up to three animals. They seem to be playing; if the rolling around was in anger, I am sure that with their strong jaws and claws, there would be injuries. Our trail cameras are often knocked over, you can see how!

Badgers are the UK’s largest land predator and are one of the most well-known British species. They are famed for their black and white stripes and sturdy bodies, using their strong front paws to dig for food and to perfect their burrows, called ‘setts’.

Length: 75-100cm
Tail: 15cm
Weight: 8-12kg
Average lifespan: 5-8 years

Badgers are protected in the UK under the Protection of Badgers Act, 1992, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Mr Badger.

/ Andy Finnegan / 6 Comments

In the book The Wind in the Willows, Mr Badger is one of Rat, Toad, and later Mole’s good friends. He’s a wealthy older gentleman who lives in the heart of the Wild Wood, in an extensive underground home. Our Badger sett is in the heart of the New Forest, with many entrances to their subterranean home.

Badgers are our largest land predator, feeding on small mammals, birds’ eggs, worms, fruit and plants.

Our trail cameras picked up some good footage of the Badger last week.

Trail camera.

/ Andy Finnegan / 5 Comments

Yesterday we collected our trail cameras placed at a Badger Sett in the New Forest. It was great to see several Cuckoos en route (see yesterday’s post).

Got a bit muddy in the process trying to get some photos of a small fungus.

In the UK and Ireland, it is known as the Bog Beacon,( in the USA it is commonly referred to as the Swamp Beacon.) This little fungus occurs only in very wet places and looks like a flower popping out of the water.

1st New Forest Pony foals of the year were also spotted during today’s walk.

The camera had some good Badger footage.

Trail camera footage.

/ Andy Finnegan / 1 Comment

OK it is not a David Attenborough production but our trail camera footage from the New Forest has griven us some interesting results. This post gives further clips of life around New Forest badger Setts, I hope you have time to take a look.

One clip shows good interaction between 2 badgers I hope some youngsters may be about later in the season. There is also a clip in day time of a passing herd of Fallow deer.

If you go deep into the woods.

/ Andy Finnegan / 3 Comments

If you go down to the woods today what can you see?

A full day in the New Forest collecting our trail cameras from one of the active Badger Setts we have been monitoring. Some good footage of both Badgers and Fallow Deer.

Film 1 Badgers. (trail camera)

Following the Norman Conquest, King William I, designated the land as a royal hunting forest, reserved for the private use of the King and invited aristocracy. In the process over 20 small hamlets and farms were removed. It was the only forest described in detail in the ancient Domesday Book. Two of William the Conqueror’s sons were killed in hunting accidents in the New Forest. Today Deer roam free in many areas of the New Forest.

We came across several small herds of Fallow Deer, all young deer and hinds. The only shooting today was with cameras.

Film 2 Fallow Deer (trail camera).

Very windy weather on our walk but this male Chaffinch was holding on and singing his heart out – not easy filming with the tree moving so much in the wind.

Film 3 Chaffinch ( sound on to enjoy fully his singing).

New Forest April visit.

/ Andy Finnegan / 2 Comments

Our first visit to the New Forest in April this year with a fair walk deep into the forest to collect camera footage from where we left our trail camera last week. Returning to the van we found another Badger’s sett – we now know where 3 setts are located – It is interesting that once you understand these mammals’ behaviour and how they build their setts you can spot clues in the landscape where to look. Below is the footage from my brother’s camera which got the best footage.

As always some Fallow deer sightings on our walk.

After the badger walk, we checked out a forest pond, where we saw our 1st ducklings of the year. This mum was being hassled by a group of drakes so she moved them away onto an island out of their reach.

Storms.

/ Andy Finnegan / 7 Comments
The morning before we were due to be hit by Storm Dudley and Eunice. A red weather warning of 90mph winds in some parts has been forecast.

After a very windy night this morning (Saturday 19/02/22) it was time to come out from our cover following the passing of Storm Eunice through the south of the UK.

We did not come out unscathed a brick gate post had been forced over and a fence had broken off!

News reports are giving reports of many trees down with buildings and cars damaged. Early reports are saying 3 or 4 people have been killed.

With high tides and the wind still strong the seas remain rough.

A short trip to collect some trail cameras left in local woodland the cameras were safe despite the destruction in the woods.

Although it was late morning we spotted a Badger out in daylight – he was running across the field towards us he had not seen us until he was very close, once spotted he changed direction. I nearly did not bring a telephoto lens out with me today but I have been caught out before! This encounter brightened up the day.