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Back in March while I was out walking the dog on a forest road, about 2 or 3 miles from home, I found some pine marten droppings in the middle of the track - the first indication that I've seen that they've spread this far west from the Galloway Forest Park. So out of sight of the road, I started baiting up a likely looking spot with peanut butter, jam and eggs, and set up a trail camera nearby. After a few days the camera picked up at least two individuals, and with regular baiting they began visiting every night.(More recently a female with two kits has been coming to feed at dusk.) I made a hide with some camo netting, but after five months of no actual 'live' sightings, I was on the verge of giving up. But on Monday evening I at last got a result - this very dainty little pine marten (I think she's one of the kits) appeared just as the light was failing and I finally managed some half decent images with her backlit by the setting sun. I was able to watch her for several minutes until something spooked her and she slipped away into the undergrowth.
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on Flickr
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on Flickr
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on Flickr
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on Flickr
All pictures taken with the EM1mk2, 300mm f4, @f4, ISO 800, shutter speeds as low as 1/15s
Pine Marten by DavidMB2006Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on FlickrPine Marten by DavidMB2006, on FlickrPine Marten by DavidMB2006Pine Marten by DavidMB2006, on FlickrPine Marten by DavidMB2006, on FlickrAll pictures taken with the EM1mk2, 300mm f4, @f4, ISO 800, shutter speeds as low as 1/15s
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