All sightings around Strongstry and environs, unless stated.
Rodents
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carollinesis.
There numbers have never really increased or decreased here, there only real predators are Fox and domestic Cats and Dogs. A couple of Dreys were lost during strong winds this year when the adults were feeding young. They do well around the feeding stations but I have never seen more than 3/4 at a time. The most young I have recorded with adults was three.
Bank Vole Myodes glareolus.
Very common in the woods and fields along the valley, this is the commonest animal caught in live traps and also the commonest bones found in Owl pellets. I have some corrugated sheets left out and when lifted in late summer the Bank vole numbers are high.
Field Vole Microtus agretis.
Not as common here because stock grazing, but good numbers where rough grassland is left non-grazed, the voles are difficult to tell apart but the tail is longer in the Bank Vole.
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus.
Surprisingly common in the woods, quite a few around the feeding stations and one that robs my bird food store every evening, I can leave the light on and sit at the shed door and he shows no fear. Quite easy to recognise larger eyes and ears than voles, longer tail and paler underneath than house mouse.
House Mouse Mus domesticus.
There is quite high populations around the old Mills I have never caught one except in those locations, that does not mean anything but generally I see more Wood Mice.
Common Rat Rattus norvegicus.
Extremely common every where, can be a problem at the feeding stations, not really any point in trying to move them on because of numbers, amazingly very few people actually see them. When we had the large flood in August 2012 there was a large movement away from the river into the woods.
Lagomorpha
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus.
Not common, small split populations which have never increased in the last seven years, I don't think it is a habitat or food issue, but other than disease or predation neither of which I have witnessed I have no idea why there is no increase.
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus.
Never seen one in the valley even in extreme weather, this year I have seen them on four occasions all in the Bull hill area, given more time I am sure we could find a reasonable population.
Insectivores
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus.
None ! the only reason I have included Hedgehog is that I have spent some time this year around the Scottish Borders and was amazed at the high population of this iconic mammal.
Mole Talpa europaea
Plenty all over the valley and up onto the moors, having said that as usual the only one I have seen this year was hanging on a fence.
Common Shrew Sorex araneus.
Difficult to assess numbers, the live traps I use are built to allow Shrews to escape as they are protected by law. We do have a population as the local cat can testify to, and they do show up in Owl pellets. I hope to receive a license soon and when I have more time try carry out some counts.
Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus.
This species is here as well, we know for the same reasons as above, I have never seen a live mammal here.
Chiroptera.
Common pipistelle Pipistrellus pipitrellus,
This has been a terrible year here for Bats, I can count on both hands the numbers I have seen, I have no way of knowing that the ones I have seen are this species, we have had other species recorded here in the past but not this year.
Carnivores.
Fox Vulpes vulpes
Two local earths produced a total of nine young, these young are now dispersed some have been seen recently and one visits our patch on a regular basis and looks very healthy, the main prey appears to be Wood Pigeon by the amount of feathers in the woods.
Badger Meles meles.
There are two active setts in the area both of which produced young, We have watched the young a couple of times this year, they are not big setts probably one bore and two females with young.
American Mink Mustela vison
I have seen three this year on the river all at different times and places so could be the same animal, have not seen any young.
Ungulates.
European roe deer Capreolus capreolus.
There is a healthy population along the valley, probably around eight females and two males, numbers are fairly static, we have seen three different young this year. One set of twins were born in late may and have been seen with a group of seven recently.
We have not recorded any Stoat, Weasel this year, probably bad luck or poor observations.
-- Edited by brian on Thursday 12th of December 2013 10:39:23 PM
I can't agree that rabbits have not increased in some areas, much more prolific and propbably accounting for the decline in the predation of my chickens by foxes, here in Balladen. On another note this year is the first time I've seen Brown Hare up here, been here six years now.
Thanks for your comments, my observations are taken over the year but only recorded on a regular basis in my "patch" which is roughly Stubbins to Ewood Bridge. This is only a snapshot within a larger area, it may well be that there has been an increase in Rabbit population quite close to my area and it is worth noting we are seeing an increase of Buzzard records over Rossendale which could be an indicator of a rise in Rabbit numbers.
Regarding the Brown Hare, it is great news if you are seeing Hares where you have not seen them before, there is an organisation called the Hare Preservation Trust who are trying to build a population map of this species, they are always looking for new sightings.
