top of page
Writer's pictureOwen Newman

Lifting the curtain on mammals: scrub diary #2

Hiding in the scrub, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the footpath network and farm business, are nineteen mammal species.

A roe deer wanders past one of our trail cameras

Rare bats detected


Nine species of bat use the scrub for foraging and, in some case, perhaps even roosting in the summer. These include tiny pipistrelles fluttering amongst the leafy ends of twigs and the mighty noctule high in the turquoise-twilight sky above the scrub flying in circles before diving onto insects rising into the gathering night. There are also lesser and greater horseshoe bats which is very exciting as, not only do they have fascinating scrunched up faces, they are also both rare and iconic species.


Hoping to see hares


There are ten other mammal species though, sadly, there are no brown hares. In the recent past, there would have been many brown hares; maybe with sympathetic land management they will return. For now, though, tantalising recordings from a static bat detector indicate that there may possibly be common dormouse and harvest mice, pygmy and water shrew, together with the handsome yellow-necked mouse, weasel, stoat and hedgehog. Time and more surveying will tell!

A bank vole poses perfectly for the camera

Dusk visitors to the scrub


In the evenings, roe deer emerge from the scrub - cautiously gazing around before stepping safely out onto the meadow below. A fox skirts the shadowy edge and, in the darkness, mice and voles scurry under low vegetation and along grass tunnels in the base of the grassy thatch at the scrub edge. Rabbits stop nibbling to watch alert, ears upright, as a badger digs for cockchafer larvae.

A badger enjoys a blackberry dinner

The secret life of birds in the scrub


But it’s the birds, perhaps, that take centre stage in and around the scrub. Find out why in our next post, Bird busy-ness!

45 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page