North East Scotland Mammal Network

It was a bumper autumn for Nathusius' Pipistrelle in NE Scotland (and beyond). Read @batconservation.bsky.social's post to learn about some even found out in the North Sea.

How 'citizen scientists' helped red squirrels return to Aberdeen Red squirrels have returned to Aberdeen city centre, reversing a retreat north dating back to the 1970s.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This fascinating short article is highly recommended for anyone interested in marine mammals, zooarchaeology, history, folklore, Orkney and the links between humans, seals and the sea.

@mammalsociety.bsky.social
@coastalpaleo.bsky.social
@nesmammals.bsky.social
@marinemammalogy.bsky.social

Four people in a grassy area near trees. One is crouching and clearly examining something held on his hands with the others all looking down at same item.

Read the latest story on our website, as Mike Raby recounts our wonderful training day, recently, learning about mammal tracks and signs.
nesmamnet.org/2025/11/26/t...

Hedgehog PhD opportunity, based at @srucnews.bsky.social Aberdeen campus.

Single Nathusius' and Soprano Pipistrelle #bats out in the snow here in Aberdeen last night. Brave.

@nesmammals.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social

Coming up Wednesday evening. Don't forget to book 👇

Join us for our webinar on Wednesday 19 November, when Paul Reynolds of New Arc Wildlife Rescue will tell us all about the work that they do to rehabilitate local wildlife.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/new-arc-wi...

#mammal

Spectrogram, showing six calls over one second with more-or-less constant frequency at around 38 kHz.

Nathusius' Pipistrelle becomes #mammal species 2️⃣6️⃣ for Red Moss of Netherly, NE Scotland.

Recorded on @openacousticdevices.info #Audiomoth during September's influx. Just a handful of detections, but this quasi-constant frequency burst looks convincing.

@scotwildlife.bsky.social
#bioacoustics

After more or less abandoning us over the last few weeks, the #squirrels are back at the feeders again!
@nesmammals.bsky.social @scotsquirrels.bsky.social

That's quite some run of nightly bat activity. These colder days and nights are gonna bring slim pickings for bat fans. 🦇🦇🦇

Clipart-style image of dark cloud with rain coming from it

Well the weather has defeated us again and we are postponing the Harvest Mouse search planned for tomorrow at Blackdog. The sodden conditions would make for a very challenging survey.

We hope to rearrange in coming weeks - watch this space.

Five species from a #smallmammal #cameratrap at Portsoy, Aberdeenshire - a mouse, two voles and two shrew species - including Water Shrew 😀

#mammal #trailcamera @nesmammals.bsky.social

A Harvest Mouse nest on green grass

Last October, a Harvest Mouse nest was found at Blackdog. We will return next week in hope of finding more.

The survey is on Saturday 25 October 10am-midday (weather permitting). Booking not required, but keep an eye out for further details nearer the date.

📷 Carol Richardson.

A spaniel in a harness, nose to the ground, moving along a woodland floor.

We're delighted to kick off our winter online webinar series this month with Lindsey Taylor of Skerry Detection Dogs, highlighting the growing role of detection dogs in mammal monitoring.

The talk takes place on Wednesday 29 October 7.30 pm.

See:
www.eventbrite.com/e/conservati...

Happy #NationalBadgerDay from one of our resident clan. Don't forget to send all your local records to NESBReC (North East Scotland Biological Records Centre) or submit to the @mammalsociety.bsky.social's Mammal Mapper App.

#mammal #recording

Six people stood facing out across a sea channel with a Grey Seal haul-out. One person is explaining something to the others.

Read the latest blog post from our friends at Aberdeen Marine Mammal Project:

www.aberdeenmarinemammals.org/news

a field vole Microtus agrestis

For 101 years, ecologists have sought to explain the 3-4 years multi-annual cycles of voles and lemmings. In our paper, doi.org/10.1073/pnas..., we find that Density-dependent recruitment, but not survival drives cyclic dynamics in a field vole population, overturning accepted wisdom.

September Mammals This is the first in a series of planned articles by local zoologist, Annie Lamb, looking at what our mammals are up through the year. Check back here for future articles… Mammals in general are af…

Check out the latest blog post on our website: share.google/YkpoaulldGQR... - the first on a planned series about what our #mammals are up to through the year.

A Red Squirrel is in a coniferous tree holding a cone.

A Red Squirrel is in a coniferous tree, eating a cone.

A Red Squirrel is in a coniferous tree.

Red Squirrels are getting commoner in Aberdeen city but this one at St Fittick's Park today was my first patch record. It seemed to be enjoying the cones.
#Mammals #Squirrels #UKWildlife @nesmammals.bsky.social

Plenty of Daubenton's #Bats action at Cults reservoir this evening. Also *lots* of Common, Soprano and Nathusius' Pipistrelles. #thermalcamera
[best on a large screen!]

@nesmammals.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social

There seems to have been a substantial influx of Nathusius' Pipistrelles in recent days. This is a migrant species (though some also breed here) and these may have come from north-eastern Europe.

Bit of a surprise jump in the number of Nathusius' Pipistrelle #bat recordings in the garden in the last few days!

@nesmammals.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social @mammalsociety.bsky.social

A Mountain Hare in white winter coat, on brown snow-free heather.

Abstract submission for the next Mammal Society annual conference, which will be in Inverness in March, is now open.

Great opportunity to highlight some of the excellent #MammalResearch taking place across North East Scotland. Get your abstracts in by 30th November mammal.org.uk/annual-confe...

Carved wooden statue of a Pine Marten in a woodland with a knitted Pine Marten perched alongside it.

Happy National Pine Marten Day!

If you’re wondering what Pine Marten get up to in September, look out for a new blog coming out later this month - the first in a series of blogs highlighting what local mammals are up to throughout each calendar month.

#mammal

Scottish Wild Boar numbers are on the up. There don't seem to be current populations in North-East Scotland, but potential for re-establishment going forward.

We had a great talk a few months back by @jackantbam.bsky.social about his research on diversionary feeding to reduce Pine Marten predation on Capercaillie. Brilliant to see this associated paper now published.

List of upcoming events and dates

Lots of events, both online and in the field, coming up over the next few months. Take a look!

#Mammals #MammalID #BiologicalRecording #Conservation

Wildlife monitoring would be so much easier if it wasn't for the, errr, wildlife.

Weasel on the #SmallMammal #CameraTrap recently at Craibstone, Aberdeen.

We record these wee critters pretty frequently this way - presumably attracted by the 🐀🐁🐭 smells.