pine marten calling

[caernerch]

on a visit to the applecross peninsula with friends we were hoping to see pine martens - a species we had never seen. we were parked up and lain in wait, when i heard a sharp call which i was unfamiliar with and within a minute saw one run alongside a wall and cross the road 50 yds in front of us. on subsequent evenings we got further sightings of an adult visiting the food we had placed out and a juvenile (scruffy looking thing) emerging from a log pile 6ft away! on each occasion i heard the call - a short sharp 'mew'. I can't find any reference to any vocalisation of pine martens. anybody know of one?
by the way = the locals think they're a bit of a pest raiding wheelie=bins.
if anyone would like to look and listen for themselves i'd be happy to give further details. the area is spectacular and very underwatched.
caernerch

[thunder]

You need the Forestry Commission publication Pine Marten by H G Hurrell published in 1968 Forest Record No 64. I fear it may be out of print, but well worth seeking out.

henrya

[Dogghound]

Collins guide to Mammals of Britain & Europe states can make a 'tok-tok-tok' call. Or a shrill yowl like a cat in mating season (July-August).

[The Woodman]

Have a listen to this....

Pine Marten - Archival Sound Recordings

there are five more sound files under "Related to this" on the page.

[caernerch]

thanks for the responses. I'm trying to track the forrestry Commision publication down - it has gone out of print. I listened to the recording and bits of it are the right pitch, the recording sounds like a dialogue between two martens. I think what i heard (in June) was a contact or warning call between adult & kit(s). it was very brief, a single call like the 'chip' of a great spotted woodpecker. though it was definitely cat like as described.
once again, many thanks
caernerch

[The Woodman]

I've been in very close quarters to a female Marten and her young. Her warning was a low churring growl, that's the best I can describe it. I've never heard any other vocalisations.

As it was in June when you heard the noises, it may be that you heard mating noises. According to the 4th Mammal handbook, mating is a noisy affair with growling and high pitched chattering, squealing or snarling noises.

If they are anything like Polecats and ferrets pairing, it will be noisy and seemingly violent.

[ChrisJB]

When Monty Halls did his 6 month odyssey up by Applecross he too looked for pine martens thereabouts, but was unsuccessful I think. As I recall, he ended up crossing the Bealach na Ba, to Loch Carron to see them. A beautiful area, with perhaps Britain's most accessible ptarmigan too and the only place I've seen them.

Regards, Chris

[caernerch]

anyone visiting applecross now shouldn't have any trouble finding them - there are a couple of locals feeding them. we found our own by putting out a couple of 'jammy dodgers' on a logpile where we'd heard the call. it took ten minutes so i figure we were being watched all the time.
anyone going there please feel free to contact me.
caernerch