Wildcat Photo (captive)

[Blizzard]

Originally Posted by larachmor

Yes. Springwatch contacted me regarding the use of our local wood as a standby for filming capercaille. I asked them what else they were filming, and they said that the wildcat was their primary target for the series. We had a friend who lives in a nearby farm where the wildcat would visit, although fairly irregularly. (It took me some weeks and several visits to get the shot I did). Our friend was very keen on keeping any disturbance to the cat at a minimum, but I told the BBC guy that I would try and persuade her to get in touch. The BBC re-contacted me to say that a lady had been in touch and asked me to confirm if it was the same person, which it was.
The BBC moved in, setting up in her garden, dawn to dusk for a week or more. (The young kids were very excited, and became celebrities in their own right at primary school!!) They got some splendid footage on their very first day - which was featured on the series, and that, apart from one or two distant glances was it!
When the series finished, she got a visit from Simon King, so all in all, a good experience.
(And to cap it all, the series featured a nest of crested tits in one of my own nestboxes, which was rigged up with a camera by John Aitcheson, and filmed them right through to fledging)

Well I must say thank you, for both the wildcat and crested tit footage. Two of my favourite things.

[larachmor]

Just for interest ...... without wishing to dip into the "black cat" thread also running ..... Autumnwatch will this evening show footage, filmed in The Cairngorms, of what appears to be a black Scottish Wildcat kitten. The kitten's siblings are thought to be, and appear to be "pure" Scottish Wildcat. Various theories arise - as to whether it is a melanistic black wildcat, or one that could be the offspring of a wild feral cat.

[Blizzard]

Originally Posted by larachmor

Just for interest ...... without wishing to dip into the "black cat" thread also running ..... Autumnwatch will this evening show footage, filmed in The Cairngorms, of what appears to be a black Scottish Wildcat kitten. The kitten's siblings are thought to be, and appear to be "pure" Scottish Wildcat. Various theories arise - as to whether it is a melanistic black wildcat, or one that could be the offspring of a wild feral cat.

Very interesting. I wonder if the Kellas cats will be mentioned.

I think I'm going to record as well as watch this episode!

[earthdragon64]

Originally Posted by Blizzard

Very interesting. I wonder if the Kellas cats will be mentioned.

I know them as Dallas cats - I used to live in Dallas and that's what they were known as there. I once saw a large Black cat up on the moors on the road that leads to Knockando from Dallas. A melanistic wildcat is probably closer to what I saw than the "Rabbit-headed" Dallas/Kellas cat. Apparently there is a stuffed one in Forres Museum.

Regards, Audrey.

[Blizzard]

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

I know them as Dallas cats - I used to live in Dallas and that's what they were known as there. I once saw a large Black cat up on the moors on the road that leads to Knockando from Dallas. A melanistic wildcat is probably closer to what I saw than the "Rabbit-headed" Dallas/Kellas cat. Apparently there is a stuffed one in Forres Museum.

Regards, Audrey.

It's in Elgin Museum (unless there is one in Forres as well) and if I'm honest, not terribly impressive lol.