Pine Marten, how rare?

[Doobie Doo]

On my way to work last Thursday we spotted a Pine Marten at the side of the road. I was brought up in this area (Banchory, Aberdeenshire) and this is the first time I've ever seen one, let alone at the side of a road. Initially we thought it was a cat but as we got closer we noticed the head was different and as it bounded back into the verge we spotted the bushy tail and the fact it was much smaller.
We are lucky as we have lots on our door step in this area, but I thought Pine Martens were only much further North and in fairly remote areas? Has anyone else got similar sightings near the Crathes Bridge on the South Deeside Road?

[Rob_D]

Hi DD and welcome.

Very jealous of your sighting.

Vincent Wildlife Trust have been doing some studies in England and Wales. Their website has a distribution map Pine Martens - the Vincent Trust. I guess that shows they are expanding into your area.

Hope you get to see them a lot more.

[Doobie Doo]

We do see lots here:- Deer, Buzzards and Red Squirrells in the garden and even we've even seen an Otter on the same road but this was a first for us. Travelling to Aberdeen (25 miles away) early in the morning brightens up the day when we see something a little different.

Thanks for the link.

[STYRBJORN]

They are found in the Peak District. The forests where they live are among the ones Caroline Spelman wanted to sell.

[jamesthornton]

Hi Doobie, I don't suppose you would be up for recording your sighting? I recently spent 5 months at Crathes Castle where we were under the impression Pine Martens weren't round that area, but the nearest sighting was at the Bridge of Feugh.

NESBReC - Recording

[beech]

A few years ago I was in North West Sutherland for a week in June. I saw Pine Martens in various localities in that area 5 out of the 7 evenings I was there. I was very suprised at both the number of times I came across them and the habitat I found them in, open moorland in some cases, I have also had a good run of sightings around Loch Maree, West Ross, and one off sightings near Dornoch, East Sutherland and twice in Invernesshire at Loch Morlich and Glen Cannich. Maybe they are commoner than previously thought.

[STYRBJORN]

[quote=beech;757487]

Maybe they are commoner than previously thought.

I get a strong impression that they turned out to be more common than once thought when people started looking for 'em in pine forests. Surprise surprise, pine martens don't live in oak trees.

Ric

[Blizzard]

Originally Posted by Doobie Doo

but I thought Pine Martens were only much further North and in fairly remote areas? Has anyone else got similar sightings near the Crathes Bridge on the South Deeside Road?

Hi DD and welcome to WAB.

I saw one about 3 years ago on the bank of the River Dee a couple of miles upstream from Banchory. When I mentioned it I was told that someone else had also seen one in the area and another had been found dead on a road.

I'm in Moray and I've seen a few here too.

Blizzard

[Doobie Doo]

Thanks for that, the link was good and gave a great insight into other reports in the area.

[kercock]

Hi there,I saw my first and only Pine Martin( carrying a red Squirrel) about twenty years ago. I was on my way to work,heading for and close to Dunkeld,which is way south of yourself. The thing is that the Pine Martin is alive and well and certainly breeding in the Dunkeld area. They have been seen numerous times on the night cam at Loch of the Lowes which of course is where the Osprey nests. Thre are plenty in Tayside,the latest one I was told about was three weeks ago further north close to the village of Loch Rannoch .