Badger spots - south wales?

[StuMack]

Hello with another question!

Being new to wildlife photography there's certain shots everybody wants, raptors in flight, kingfishers and badgers are usually up there.

Just looking for advice really on finding badgers in the wild in the south wales area and any advice on photorsphing them. Bags of patience is a given, but any practical tips would be great.

Again, thanks.

Stu

[Wild-Woman]

Trouble is Stu, I think that giving out a specific location over the internet on where to locate badgers is a no no.
I would suggest finding a local badger group and signing up as a member. Great way to get to know like minded folk and I'm sure they will have tips on photographing them.

[StuMack]

Sorry, not thinking maybe someone could pm? With camera club, hill walking, kayaking, ft job I'm not sure I have the time to do anything else!

Thanks tho

Stu

[Gatekeeper]

Unfortunately, as Wild-Woman says, it would be really irresponsible to give out such sensitive information. Particulary with the threat of a badger-cull in Wales, and the activities of badger-baiters in the area. Really, the only practical route you should take is through a badger club, or perhaps going on a guided badger holiday- there are alot of Wildlife Holiday companies that offer this service.

[StuMack]

Oh I agree completely, just didn't engage the old noggin. Keep forgetting there are still Neanderthals around who would want to track and kill such beautiful animals.

[Eryri]

Hello StuMack

The reason why specific badger setts in Wales are not publicised is nothing to do with 'badger baiting', (an extremely rare criminal activity) but simply because landowners and farmers may not want members of the pubic trespassing on their land. Most badger sett disturbance is accidental, by inconsiderate dog owners. You may be relived to hear that although the badger is a protected in the UK, in come areas of South Wales the species is relatively common, and in South West Wales, abundant. It is however, a very shy nocturnal creature and this is the reason it's such a prize to observe and photograph. You will see plenty of tips and experience from other members on this forum on how to go about observing badgers.

As far as general areas are concerned, most local authority websites in Wales have details published on the general areas where badgers are found and can be observed, with details of habitat. Most notable is in RCT, where the council has published details of the badger tunnels built on the new Pontypridd to Llantrisant by-pass around Church Village. You can also see the 'dormice' bridges. There are also details of nature projects where schools have badger habitat on Hirwaun common, and Llwydcoed/Cefn Coed. NTP council also have details of 'badger trails' at Afan Argoed and Glyncorrwg, but to gain access to them you need to approach the country park wardens. There are also badger groups that are based at the Brecon Beacons National Park Centre near Libanus. Details and links from the website, but it's better to call and again, speak to wardens. As for the Swansea area, I'm not sure, you have the Gower AONB on your doorstep so I suggest a visit to the Oxwich centre run by CCW, as first point of contact. Hope this helps.

I wish you best of luck, and if you do venture further north, I'd be glad to show you some Red Kites and other marvellous raptors to observe and photograph. In the meantime here is a stunning video of how rewarding observing badgers can be.

Eryri.

[NicolaB]

Hi again Stu

They do badger watches at Dinefwr Park in Llandeilo during the summer months, they've usually got details at the visitor centre, and on the National Trust website. I haven't been on one yet but keep meaning to!

If you can get over to Dorset this place is great too, it's where I got my badger photos.

http://www.badgerwatchdorset.co.uk/

[Gatekeeper]

Originally Posted by Eryri

Hello StuMack

The reason why specific badger setts in Wales are not publicised is nothing to do with 'badger baiting', (an extremely rare criminal activity) but simply because landowners and farmers may not want members of the pubic trespassing on their land. Most badger sett disturbance is accidental, by inconsiderate dog owners. You may be relived to hear that although the badger is a protected in the UK, in come areas of South Wales the species is relatively common, and in South West Wales, abundant. It is however, a very shy nocturnal creature and this is the reason it's such a prize to observe and photograph. You will see plenty of tips and experience from other members on this forum on how to go about observing badgers.

As far as general areas are concerned, most local authority websites in Wales have details published on the general areas where badgers are found and can be observed, with details of habitat. Most notable is in RCT, where the council has published details of the badger tunnels built on the new Pontypridd to Llantrisant by-pass around Church Village. You can also see the 'dormice' bridges. There are also details of nature projects where schools have badger habitat on Hirwaun common, and Llwydcoed/Cefn Coed. NTP council also have details of 'badger trails' at Afan Argoed and Glyncorrwg, but to gain access to them you need to approach the country park wardens. There are also badger groups that are based at the Brecon Beacons National Park Centre near Libanus. Details and links from the website, but it's better to call and again, speak to wardens. As for the Swansea area, I'm not sure, you have the Gower AONB on your doorstep so I suggest a visit to the Oxwich centre run by CCW, as first point of contact. Hope this helps.

I wish you best of luck, and if you do venture further north, I'd be glad to show you some Red Kites and other marvellous raptors to observe and photograph. In the meantime here is a stunning video of how rewarding observing badgers can be.

Eryri.

You might care to check this link on Badger sett interference:

http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/press-releases/animal-welfare/new-rspca-figures-reveal-shocking-increase-in-badger-crime-calls-$21384323$366366.htm

Has it crossed your mind that if badger sett locations were publicised, there just might be a larger increase in badger baiting?

The only thing that's rare are convictions for badger baiting

[Eryri]

Nice press release by the RSPCA headquarters, and of course, utter nonsense.If you actually look at the figures the it's pretty consistent, well below 100 phone calls each year for England and Wales, and the number of people found guilty of such a crime (11) in 2009 was half that of the previous year.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Successfull Convictions 4 14 3 7 22 11
Digging/Baiting 81 72 66 52 56 89
Sett interference 74 59 74 98 95 166

You will notice that the rate of badger sett interference, not baiting, has increased considerably, and this is usually rouge builders, and developers destroying setts. There are very few badgers killed by digging and baiting. Twice as many are destroyed by developers, and the numbers are miniscule compared to those killed on the road. In fact, even though I'm in a part of Wales of low badger density, I estimate I have more badgers on my small holding than all the prosecutions in the whole of England and Wales.

I am not a follower of the "lock up your children there's a paedo in th park" or the "grannies can't go out as there's muggers everywhere" approach, but such press releases do good copy in the Daily Mail. However, I find that introducing people to the wonders of the wild and publicising it, is the best way to cherish and preserve the natural habitat.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally Posted by Eryri

I estimate I have more badgers on my small holding than all the prosecutions in the whole of England and Wales.

I can't, for the life of me, see the relevance of this statement.

Unfortunately, we'll have to agree to disagree; you seem to think that 416 incidents of Digging/Baiting over 6 years equates to a rare event, I think that one incident over 50 years is too many.