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Mammal Watching
Credits: Steve Waterhouse
You've been busy mammal watching and writing in about your nature-tastic experiences. From deer to bats, seals to badgers, you've seen it all!
We've picked five lucky winners out of a hat. Here are their entries:
BADGER - Phoebe Edwards (aged 13) from Edinburgh
"I was guided up a hill by the owner of the hide, keen to see my first badger. I settled down in a hut with a large window, looking out into the woodland. Peanuts had been scattered over the mossy ground and over a fallen branch.
A small black nose poked out from the nettle bushes surrounding the clearing. I leaned forward excitedly to get a better look at the comical creature that was snuffling the ground with its shiny black nose. Soon there were six badgers, their grey furry bodies swaying as they waddled forward, sucking up peanuts like hoovers.
One bravely climbed the fallen branch to reach its prize. An envious squirrel watched from above but made no move to come down from its perch. Suddenly it started to rain and thunder tore through the sky. The startled badgers ran for cover and dived back into the nettles."
This is a very well written story, Phoebe. You sound just like a real wildlife writer!
WATER SHREW - Jessica and Rachel Perry (aged 7 1/2 and 5) from Gloucestershire
"We have just been reading your article on 'Top 5 Hardest to See' in Wildlife Watch issue 52. We had to tell you about our encounter with a water shrew.
Last summer (09) whilst at Eversham Crown Meadow Park we saw a little water shrew sitting on lilly pad in the old paddling pool. He scampered across the pads, had a rest, dived into the water, then swam to the edge.
He came towards us and wasn't scared of us at all. We even put a finger on his back and gave him a little stroke. He decided that was enough and wandered off into the bushes.
It was one of those magic wildlife moments, and although we didn't get a photo, we drew these pictures for you."
Jessica's drawing Rachel's drawing
What a great sighting - water shrews are very hard to see. Thanks for sending in your fabulous pictures too!
OTTER - Amelia Khalsa from Doncaster
"I went to the Sea Life Centre in Scarborough. My favourite thing was watching the otters there - they are so clever and love to play!
One of the otters was playing with stones. They have a flat head and small ears but they are very beautiful."
We love otters too, Amelia. Flat heads are really useful when you spend a lot of time in the water. Otters can peek up out of the river without lifting too much of their head out of the water. This helps them to hide from enemies (and their lunch). And they wouldn't want great big ears that might slow them down in the water either. They are the perfect shape for swimming!
BAT - Bethan Humpries (aged 10) from Oxfordshire
"One day I explored the ruins of Minster Lovell, and as I approached an empty window I saw a small brown thing on it. I went for a closer look. It was a small bat with very long ears! It was out in the middle of the day. It had a bare patch on its back and its wings were crinkly.
Later that day when we were making our way to the car park I saw that the same bat was sitting on a wall! I took a photograph to show you."
Bethan's bat
It's unusual to get such a good view of a bat in the wild. This little fella was probably feeling a bit poorly which might be why he was out during the day. It looks like a brown long-eared bat which is the UK's second most common (after the tiny pipistrelle).
SEAL - Declan Gorman (aged 8) from Alnwick
"I was walking along the River Tweed with my Dad and his friend. We noticed a seal pup stranded by a really high tide that wouldn't get that high again for another 24 hours. The pup was trapped behind the fence next to the path where people walk their dogs. Normally I would have left it alone, but this was a dangerous place and the pup knew no way of escape.
I called to the pup but it didn't come. I went a little bit closer and it growled at me. I crawled along the wall, calling. It followed me through a hole in the wall, across the path and onto the river bank.
The mother was waiting in the river. The seal pup crawled across the sandy beach and river mud to join its mother. Then they swam off together."
That's a lovely story, Declan. We're glad the pup found its way back to Mum!
Well done to all five of you - your copies of Dominic Couzens' 'My Family and 50 Other Animals' are on their way to you!
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