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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Mammals - Polecats, Mink, Ferrets, Stoats & Weasels Page 2
Image Taken on 14 Aug 2019
at 02:36 Image of day on 05 Oct 2019
The Polecat makes a rare visit to one of the high quality photo sites,
providing a sort of 'head and shoulders' portrait.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191005_e63_20190814_0236_193_fb1 polecat (head only crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Aug 2019
at 02:21 Image of day on 16 Oct 2019
We thought the Polecat would steer clear of this site after an earlier encounter,
but apparently the flash and camera noise isn't that scary.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20191016_e63_20190824_0221_231_fb1 polecat clambering over stone (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Oct 2019
at 23:57 Image of day on 01 Dec 2019
The Polecat made a midnight voyage across the orchard.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191201_bu6_20191016_2357_376+377+2358_378_sc2 polecat crossing orchard 1-3 of 3 (approx montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Mar 2023
at 01:51 Image of day on 08 Apr 2023
We glimpsed the first Polecat for months at the end of February 2 weeks, but now
get a couple pics worth showing. On the left they cross the ditch at the south,
and 3 minutes later we assume that same individual takes a selfie about 50m away
at the meadow site.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20230408_bu7_20230307_0151_001+e6a_0154_074_fb5 polecat enters at south hedge & 3 mins later reaches meadow site 1+2 of 2 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 07 Jan 2021
at 06:35 Image of day on 02 Feb 2021
A week later we see what is probably the same Polecat over a few
seconds as she scampers left to right along the bottom of the mound.
A Polecat may be the nearest creature we have to the American 'Groundhog',
whose day is celebrated each 2 February,
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20210202_bu2_20210107_0635_409-411_sc7 polecat foraging along base of round mound 1-3 of 3 (approx montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Aug 2018
at 03:37 Image of day on 14 Oct 2018
After some weeks of absence this Polecat is hunting over the mound (right) and
12 minutes later (left) has found a Rodent (Fieldmouse (Wood Mouse) or Vole judging by size)
and is carrying it off.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20181014_bu2_20180825_0337_249+0325_246_sc7 polecat hunting over round mound and catching rodent 6+3 of 6 (acc montage right first)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Sep 2011
at 03:18 Image of day on 01 Nov 2011
We found a dead young rabbit on one of the grass walks and took
it to one of the photo sites. The only visitor taking an interest
in it was this first Polecat of the season. It didn't drag the
rabbit away, but we saw a few fresh bites next morning.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20111101_d5c_20110916_0318_324_fb2 polecat inspecting dead rabbit but leaving it (crop)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 13 Mar 2018
at 01:57 Image of day on 20 Apr 2018
This Polecat spent 30 minutes wandering over the mound - we can only
think that the bare soil is 'alive' with worms and other invertebrates.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20180420_bu2_20180313_0157_123+0203_128+129+0218_131_sc7 polecat on round mound for 30 minutes 2-5 of 6 (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 12 Jul 2021
at 22:21 Image of day on 20 Aug 2021
Our first sighting of a PAIR of Polecats.
First seen 'canoodling' near the South entrance (left pic),
2 minutes later they are running along in close contact through the
orchard.
Close contact MAY mean the male has her by the neck - we can imagine that
Polecat courtship may be a bit of a rough-house!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20210820_bu7_20210712_2221_021+bu9_2223_031-033 polecat pair courting near sw entrance 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Feb 2024
at 04:12 Image of day on 18 Mar 2024
We see a Polecat in some years- usually just a fleeting passage.
Here it looks as if the Polecat has arrived from the left along the dry section of the ditch and
clambered out to carry on the journey without going through the sticky mud where the
ditch is blocked where it goes under the access track on the right.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20240318_bu7_20240205_0412_157-159 polecat running along south hedge 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Feb 2021
at 00:46 Image of day on 12 Mar 2021
Just after midnight the Polecat approaches one of the Rabbit Warren access holes.
Quote: They are slender enough to chase rabbits into their warrens to catch them,
so are specialised to underground predation.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20210312_bu2_20210202_0046_196-198_sc7 polecat running up round mound (montage)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Feb 2020
at 22:19 Image of day on 28 Feb 2020
The Polecat is also happy to cross the ditch, but at such a speed that
the one frame each second or two is too slow to catch more than one image.
.jpg)
Ref: 20200228_bu7_20200203_2219_010 polecat streaking across ditch(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Feb 2021
at 02:55 Image of day on 12 Mar 2021
We normally see the Polecat in the South of our patch, but here they are
at the far South East corner by the flooded ditch. The middle image seems to show
the Polecat rolling herself on the bank of the flooded ditch.
 + s of orchard 1-5 of 5 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20210312_bu7_20210210_0255_122+0256_126+bu9_0258_349-351 polecat visits flooded ditch (rolling) + s of orchard 1-5 of 5 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jul 2018
at 22:32 Image of day on 01 Sep 2018
Following months of occasional sightings on trail cams, here over one night at
the Woodland site we have a Polecat on the hunt, we think moving a kit in her
mouth, and then carrying 2 dead rabbits back into her burrow. Here are the
event and time stamps:-
| TL | 10 July 22:32 | First sighting
|
| TR | 10 July 22:34 | Probably carrying a kit to a new burrow (see separate detail image).
|
| ML | 11 July 03:58 | Different camera with 2 young rabbits 20m away - possibly the prey.
|
| MR | 11 July 05:20 | First Rabbit being dragged.
|
| BL | 11 July 05:27 | Second Rabbit 7 minutes later.
|
| BR | 11 July 05:39 | Final clear sighting (last actual image 2 minutes later) |
We have all the original images available on request.
 and rabbit(s) prey (montage 2)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20180901_e64_20180710_2232_093-20180711_0539_099_fb2 polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey (montage 2)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Jul 2018
at 22:34 Image of day on 01 Sep 2018
Detail from the top right image of what we think is a Polecat Kit in the mouth.
 and rabbit(s) prey 2 of 7 (detail crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg)
Ref: 20180901_e64_20180710_2234_094_fb2 polecat visits including carrying youngster (q) and rabbit(s) prey 2 of 7 (detail crop)(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Sep 2020
at 00:55 Image of day on 26 Oct 2020
Over about an hour there are repeated visits by this Polecat to the Mound.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20201026_bu2_20200914_0055_247-0139_288_sc7 polecat visits over an hour (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Aug 2019
at 00:15 Image of day on 16 Oct 2019
The Polecat, first seen on the left first moving left, then right at the Round Pond,
continued right for 70 metres to arrive at the Hedge bottom about 5 minutes later.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191016_bu5_20190827_0015_112+0016_115_sc1+e63_0020_037_fb1 polecat visits round pond & hedge bottom in 6 mins 1-3 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Sep 2020
at 01:20 Image of day on 26 Oct 2020
About half-way through the above sequence the fox passed through, watched
suspiciously by the stationary Polecat.
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Ref: 20201026_bu2_20200914_0120_271_sc7 polecat watching fox leaving mound(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Nov 2015
at 23:24 Image of day on 14 Jan 2016
We slightly suspected seeing this animal in a trail cam test 2
weeks previously. Now at the ground level sight nearest the test
site this one passage through the site of what appears to be a
Polecat. In the background on either side of the tree you can
just see a Rabbit making a speedy exit!
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20160114_e64_20151130_2324_125_fb2 polecat with fleeing rabbit in background (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 19 Oct 2024
at 17:52 Image of day on 25 Nov 2024
Just this one pic of a Stoat at the Meadow site.
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Ref: 20241125_e6a_20241019_1752_150_fb5 stoat(r+mb id@768).jpg
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