Guess who we had to supper?

**Rob Wright** · 23rd May 10, 10:56 PM

When i saw the thread title my first though was, Grant somehow made it over to Scotland to mess with Jock!

Rob

**ThistleDown** · 23rd May 10, 11:06 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

WOW! Oh, how lucky are you! I'm jealous...wonderful, wonderful pictures, wonderful experience!

I DO like that!

Alan to see REALLY BIG wildlife you should have been at the Victoria Highland Games over the past two days. The IHGF World Heavy Events Championships. There can't be much bigger than Sebastian Wenta of Poland, Harrison Bailey III and Larry Brock of the US, Jason Johnston of Canada or Craig Sinclair of Scotland. BIG wildlife!

Oh, sorry, I forgot. This thread is about wildcats and martens and red deer and the like. Sorry.

To get myself back on track then, other than the adder there is no extant native species in Scotland dangerous to man. The "wilds" of the country are scenic and, quite often terribly dangerous despite their beauty, but tame in so many ways when compared to -- for example -- the North-West Coast region of North America. The Highland geography and climate can combine to kill you in jusr a few short hours, but there are no animals that join in to make you prey.

Rex

**ali8780** · 24th May 10, 07:49 AM

What a beautiful animal

Thanks for sharing the pictures Jock!

**ThistleDown** · 24th May 10, 08:32 AM

Jock is exaggerating just a bit, Ali. The pine marten is not at risk of extinction in the Highlands, but it really is quite rare to see one as close as Jock and his family have in this case. They are quite shy creatures.

Rex

**Jock Scot** · 24th May 10, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Jock is exaggerating just a bit, Ali. The pine marten is not at risk of extinction in the Highlands, but it really is quite rare to see one as close as Jock and his family have in this case. They are quite shy creatures.

Rex

I am not at all sure that I have ever said that the pine marten is "at risk from extinction", but no matter!

**ThistleDown** · 24th May 10, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am not at all sure that I have ever said that the pine marten is "at risk from extinction", but no matter!

Yes, that was confused, wasn't it? I meant to say that it is rare to see a pine marten in quite so close proximity, despite the fact that they are far from rare in the Highlands.

**Jock Scot** · 24th May 10, 09:36 AM

I do believe the words I used were;"-----not uncommon in this part of Scotland----". Worry not Rex, life goes on!

**ali8780** · 24th May 10, 09:42 AM

Shy at any rate though-- he or she wouldn't even look at the camera!

**Jock Scot** · 24th May 10, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by ali8780

Shy at any rate though-- he or she wouldn't even look at the camera!

Normally Ali I would agree with you, the Pine Marten is a very shy animal. But I took these pictures an hour or so ago in broad daylight. I am supposing that it might be a "she" with youngsters to feed(you know how youngsters get!), and she needs to take a few risks. I think that it--she--- is very wary of the children's cat who apparently chased it away earlier.I also wonder if the window is like a one way mirror, as we can be only a foot away from each other? Anyway we put some pineapple on the bird table, just in case, as they like sweet things and lo and behold here it is. Again it was a point and shoot situation.