Wild About the Borders

Hazel catkins. Does anyone know why these ones have grown like this? I wondered if it was a gall but haven’t been able to find anything that looks like it. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @plantlifeintl.bsky.social #wildflowerhour

Sorry to hear you had one stolen. Don't suppose the camera captured the culprit? I've been having issues on and off for a few days. Wondering if it's just me or a bigger issue.

Is anyone else having issues with their #zeissseacam trail cameras? Neither of mine are working - keep getting a ‘can’t connect to server’ error message. @pinetencolin.bsky.social

Out checking pine marten den boxes. Remains of a pigeon foot & a lovely marten shaped depression in the sawdust in one & the remains of a grey squirrel & egg in another. The martens are definitely around and making use of the boxes - even if it’s not for breeding. @pinetencolin.bsky.social

A family of otters has taken up residence in a local pond. It’s been brilliant to be able to see them up close. #localwildlife #otters #mustelids

I assume they’re good quality cameras?

I hope so! It’s every day at the moment!

Seriously! This little guy is determined to destroy the camera! @pinetencolin.bsky.social

That’s amazing footage 👏

Lovely footage - nice bib shot too!

Yes, I do like this site. Lots of activity on that log!

Please don’t destroy my camera…… @pinetencolin.bsky.social

There’s a tree next to it that will give a better view for the camera I think. I’ll need to put up some sort of platform/feeder as well. I’d put out raisins and peanut butter yesterday but unfortunately the badger found it and managed to get itself up.

Trying a similar set up. Put it together quickly yesterday to see if the marten would visit. It did so now need to set it up properly. Any suggestions?

Brilliant!

It’s taken a while but the red squirrels have found the feeder. They’ve been back and forth all afternoon, emptying the feeder as they go. Now the hazelnuts are gone, so are they! @scotwildlife.bsky.social #squirrels #woodlandwildlife

Can anyone help me find out what this is? It was blown out of a tree during Storm Amy. About the size of a small football and made from grass, moss and small sticks. No feathers in it. I think it might be a squirrel drey….? #nests #ukwildlife

Found this stunning Phaeolepiota aurea (golden bootleg) fungus at work this morning. Not one I’ve come across before - seems it might not be that well recorded in the region. @whitmuir1.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk #fungi #mycology #fascinatingfungi

Looks like we have a second marten visiting now. Brilliant. @whitmuir1.bsky.social @pinetencolin.bsky.social

Both 1 and 4 were in deciduous woodland with lots of beech and birch. The first went faintly blue on the inside of the cap when cut. I thought maybe Xerocomellus chrysenteron.

Can anyone help me with ID for these fungi on this #ukfungusday? All found in Selkirkshire, Scottish Borders. @whitmuir1.bsky.social @jeremybartlett.bsky.social @davidst999.bsky.social @joaniemcnaughton.bsky.social @britmycolsoc.org.uk

There’s an apple above the feeder but it’s just ignoring it. Eggs, cranberries and raisins seem to be the winners with this one. Might be worth trying some dates….

Might give that a try as well.

Decided to try an experiment. One of our pine martens (Big Norm) likes eggs and will immediately carry them away. Tonight I thought I’d try hanging one from a branch. Took a bit of work but it was fun watching him trying to remove the egg! @whitmuir1.bsky.social @pinetencolin.bsky.social

The whole system of compensating land owners for loss due to raptors (and possibly Lynx in the future) needs to be stopped as well. Instead they should be given incentives to coexist. Celebrate living with these amazing animals rather than constantly focusing on what might go wrong.

The sooner grouse moors and shooting estates are confined to the history books the better. So sick of this. Even if they find the culprits there won’t be any real punishment. It needs to change.

Love how gently this marten removes the egg from the feeder. @pinetencolin.bsky.social @whitmuir1.bsky.social

Cheeky things 🤣🤣🤣

Could this be rosy bonnet (Mycena rosea)? Found on grassland next to Beech trees in the Scottish Borders. #fungi @davidst999.bsky.social