Otters in the snow

When I went to collect the camera, I saw it had redorded over 100 pictures. This camera takes a photograph approximately every second for as long as it detects movement, so i was hopefull that there would be something interesting to see, and I wasn't dissappointed. The first few pictures were of two different Foxes that sniffed around before passing. Then later in the night two Otters appeared and had a roll around in the snow before Sprainting, and heading back towards the beck. A few hours later, what appears to be a different Otter turned up and, after having a roll around in the snow, it curled up and went to sleep (pictured above) for just under ten minutes, after which it had a good scratch before it too went back towards the beck.

The snowfall at the weekend made it ideal to have a look around to see what animals had been active overnight, and I wasn't dissappointed with the amount and variety of signs that I found. One interesting sign was this furrow through the snow, leading from a beck, and I was pretty certain even from a distance, that it could only have been made by an Otter (their very short legs mean they have to 'plough' their way through even a few inches of snow). Closer inspection revealed a few tracks in the centre of the furrow, proving that it was indeed an Otter that had been here.

I returned later that day and set up one of our cameras, overlooking the area, and I intend to collect it tonight, so check here tomorrow to see any pictures.

I'll be visiting the R.S.P.B reserve at Saltholme, over the next few months, working with staff there, to set up an exciting project in which we'll be filming Water Voles at the reserve. As well as carrying out some habitat management to improve certain areas for Water Voles, we'll also be creating a safe viewing area where visitors will be able to watch the Voles, without causing any disturbance to them.

I'll be posting regular updates of our progress, and opportunities for the public to visit and see the Voles will be available throughout June and July of next year.

Garden Birds

As wildlife photography can be very time consuming, this time of year is ideal if you've not much time but want the chance to capture a decent photo or two. Many different Bird species will be visiting gardens, especially if there are feeders in place. Also time spent just watching and waiting is never wasted, as you almost always see or hear something interesting.

I spent an hour or so at the weekend, beneath some trees at the bottom of the garden, and although the light was pretty poor, I managed to get shots of Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, and the Bird above, which is one of my favourites, the Nuthatch. These are unique among British Birds, being the only species to walk headfirst down trees (though this one came down the back of the tree before coming round to my side!).

Due to other work commitments, and poor weather, I've not had chance this week to visit the becks to try and capture a Kingfisher on film as I'd intended, but here's a photo I took on Ormesby Beck last year.

I did get chance to check on the artificial Otter Holt that we installed a couple of months ago with the aid of volunteers, and there were Otter footprints in the mud close to the entrance. In order not to cause any disturbance, I avoided approaching any closer, and I'll be returning to carefully set up a camera overlooking the entrance, very soon.

To view regularly updated 'Wildplaces' footage and photographs, visit: http://www.urbanwildplaces.co.uk/

A couple of days ago on my way to a meeting, I decided to have a quick walk along Middlebeck (the beck behind the Southlands centre, which runs parallel with Ormesby road in Middlesbrough).
I took the camcorder with me, as this is usually an excellent place to spot Water Voles, and although I've managed to photograph them many times over the last few years, I'd not recently had time to do much filming of these fascinating animals, which are thriving along most of Middlesbroughs becks.
There were several Voles feeding and moving about along the beck while I was there, and I've put together a little compilation of the videos I shot.
There was also a Kingfisher flying up and down the beck, but unfortunately on this occasion I didn't have enough time to try and film it, but hopefully I'll be returning to try again when I've got a bit more time.

Wildplaces Tees valley

On this blog I'll be giving regular updates of what 'Wildplaces' activity is going on in the Tees Valley. I'll also be adding photos and videos of local wildlife which have been taken recently by myself and by memebers of the public who have volunteered to set up or monitor some of our cameras. The images that are captured are used to help promote the area and raise public awareness of the diversity of wildlife that can be found locally.

When I'm out and about during the course of my work, people often remark to me that the beck valleys in Middlesbrough support little or no wildlife. At times I've received some very disbelieving looks when I tell people what animals I've seen here, so back in September I decided to set up one of our static cameras along one of the local becks, to try and capture footage of some of the animals which I knew were here. I carefully chose a spot to position the camera facing the hollow base of a mature Willow tree growing right on the beck side.
After a week, I returned to collect the camera and check what, if anything, it had recorded. Watch the video and see for yourselves....

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