British Badgers Facebook Group

If you have an interest in badgers, and are on Facebook, please join my British Badgers Facebook Group. Thank you.

Badger-Watching in Mid Wales

Some video footage which I took recently on a lovely sunny evening in mid Wales. I was in the hide with ten others, most of whom were taking photos, so that is the clicking you can hear in the background:

Badgers Mutual-Grooming

Some mutual-grooming and a bit of rough-and-tumble at the badgers' sett:

Hopefully, some cubs will be appearing above ground before too long.

Badgers Digging Out Their Sett

Some recent activity at the badgers' sett I've been monitoring:

Badgers Mating

My trail camera captured this badger mating behaviour recently, which is hopefully a sign that there will be cubs at this sett this season:

Badgers Eating Peanuts

Much of my free time lately has been spent at a Badgers' sett I discovered about three months ago. After spending some time just observing them, I've set up a camouflage net near a couple of holes which are being used by a sow and her two babies. This is giving me great close views from only two or three metres away. They are now coming out before dark, generally around 9 p.m., and this clip was filmed at about 9.20 p.m. on June 1st. I took it on my Canon 7D with a 90mm lens:

Some photos to follow soon!

Grooming Badger

More fun from the sett:-
 Here's a Badger grooming itself, filmed at around 8 p.m. on March 30th:

Badger Clearing Out Its Passage

I suppose, if you drag all those leaves into your burrow, you have to clear some of the excess out. Here's a Badger doing just that, filmed on March 13th:

I wondered how my trail camera came to be coated in a fine covering of soil, and now I know.

Badger Gathering Bedding

I've been continuing to monitor, with my trail camera, the badger sett I found a few weeks ago. Here's some footage of a couple of badgers gathering bedding material. Quite funny to watch them slithering backwards into their burrows clutching a bunch of leaves:

On a totally different note, have a look at THIS ARTICLE in the Daily Mail. The buffoon featured is my brother (at least, I'm told we're related).

Badger and Fox on a Trail Camera

Whilst out in the woods on Friday evening looking for Tawny Owls, I stumbled upon (nearly stumbled in, actually, as the holes were so big) a large Badger sett. This is only the third sett I've found, and all within the last few months, so I must be getting my eye in. Anyway, I went back on Saturday evening about 6.30 and put my trail camera in place nearby, sprinkling a few peanuts down to tempt any passing wildlife. Here's a compilation of one night's footage, taken on the 23rd/24th:

The first Badger appeared about 7.30 p.m., only about an hour after I'd left the area, and the last one retired for the day at 6.30 a.m., so they are pretty nocturnal at the moment. The Foxes (which may be sharing the same sett), however, were active before dusk and still active at 10 a.m.

Not sure if this is one Badger, or several different ones passing through; but, judging by the size of the sett and the number of holes, I'd say the latter. I can't wait for the warmer evenings to come, when I'll hopefully be able to spend some time watching them in person!

Badger on a Log

I've been feeding this Badger for a couple of weeks now, and he turns up about 11.30 p.m. each night without fail. I assumed he (or she) must come from Clyne Woods, a few hundred yards away, and reach this field via the large and sometimes overgrown gardens of the houses behind. The only problem to this theory was that there is a stream running between the field and the gardens, so how was it getting across? I then noticed a large tree that had fallen across the stream, which could conceivably provide a route over it. Only way to find out was to leave some food out on the tree, and set up my trail camera nearby, which is what I did. Here are the results of three nights' footage:

In fact, the fallen tree was a veritable highway, with - as well as the Badger - squirrels, birds, mice, rats, and various domestic cats, all using it to cross the brook. A Fox also appeared at the end of the log, but seemed disturbed by the red lights emitted by the camera, and soon disappeared, as did two dogs which briefly popped their heads in front of the lens.

Last night - Sunday into Monday - was the first time the Badger hasn't shown in the last two weeks. I only hope it hasn't been culled!

Badger Cull in England

A cull of Badgers in the west of England is likely to go ahead within the next few weeks, ostensibly to control bovine tuberculosis (TB). Whilst one can sympathise with farmers whose cattle are thus affected, informed scientific opinion seems to suggest that culling is only likely to make matters worse, and further the spread of the disease. Watch this video for more information:

Brian May, guitarist with rock group 'Queen', has created a petition against the cull, and there is another one in the sidebar of this blog. If anyone reading this (all two of you!), could take a minute of your time to sign one or both petitions, it would be much appreciated, and might even do some good. Thanks for your time.

Badgers in Mid Wales

A few shots taken on a Badger-watching trip to mid Wales on August 11th - the same location I went to for the first time last year: 

Badger in the Suburbs

Just a quick post before I go off to watch the football.

I recently set up my trail camera in a field about a mile from home, just to see if the foxes that were active there earlier in the summer were still there. I left a little food in front of the camera to attract in any passing wildlife. No Foxes appeared, but, surprisingly as this is a suburban area, a Badger came to help itself to the goodies. After seeing this, I've left out food most nights for the last week, enabling me to obtain this footage:

Badger on a Trail Camera

Just trying out a new trail camera I purchased a few days ago. I sprinkled a few peanuts on a likely-looking path in a Gower wood, and set up the camera for a couple of nights to see if anything took the bait.

It didn't take long for a Badger to show up:

Badger Photos

A few of the better shots from my badger-watching trip to mid Wales on Saturday:

Due to the dull conditions, shutter speeds were down to around 1/25th of a second at ISO 1600 or even 3200. I was able to get some sharp shots by resting my Sigma 500mm f/4.5 lens on a solid beanbag on the hide's shelf, although some shots were spoiled by subject movement, and some by the peanuts which were put out by our guide appearing in the picture.

I definitely hope to return to this location again, and hopefully my next visit will coincide with some better and brighter weather.

Badgers

Until yesterday, I had only ever seen two badgers - and one of those was dead! Anyway, as it was my birthday yesterday, I decided to treat myself with a spot of badger watching in mid Wales. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible for photography and filming, with strong winds and heavy rain for most of the nearly two hours we were there, although at least we were under cover in a hide, so didn't get too wet. To be going on with, here's some video footage I shot:

I'll probably post some photos later, once I've had a look through to see if I managed any decent shots in the very low light levels.