Mammals in Wiltshire? Where to look? Book guides?

mouseman11 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 07:29 AM

Hi there,

This is my first post.. I'm really into pets, but as I move around a lot I'm not able to keep too many, so instead I want to go looking for wild mammals (mostly to photograph) to satisfy my love for animals..

I was just wondering if anyone knows anywhere in Wiltshire, especially in Swindon where I can see some wild animals..?

Mostly interested in stouts, weasels, polecats, deer, foxes, rodents, rare birds etc but anything will be good!

Just bought a long lens for my SLR so I'm looking to put it to use!
Also any books that are good for pointing me in the right direction would be good also..

Thanks

artdemole · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 10:29 AM

Some places to visit listed are mentioned on Swindon Birds and Wildlife

pressld2 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 10:45 AM

Welcome to WAB mouseman.

Your first port of call should be the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: Wiltshire Wildlife Trust | Home.

They have thirty-seven reserves listed on their website, just under half of which are up the Swindon end of the county.

Dave P.

mouseman11 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 10:58 AM

artdemole Thanks for the link.. very bird orientated but a good reference to locations to visit..

I've also found this web-site which shows sightings that have been submitted all over the country..NBN Mammal Distribution Maps

Pressid the WWT web site is also great.. I've lived in swindon for 25 years and not heard of any of those places!! Hopefully not many others have either and the wildlife are undisturbed..

Thanks.. any more books or websites or personnel experience very much welcomed and appreciated..

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 01:17 PM

There is a Where to watch Mammals in Britain + Ireland by Richard Moores (A+C Black).

The only Wiltshire site I noted was at Severnake Wood

mouseman11 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 01:21 PM

aeshna5 I did see that book but from what I could find most of the sites were in Scotland

won't be going there anytime soon unfortunately..

Are there any exciting species mentioned in Savernake? I know there are deer there, not sure what else..

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouseman11

aeshna5 I did see that book but from what I could find most of the sites were in Scotland

won't be going there anytime soon unfortunately..

Are there any exciting species mentioned in Savernake? I know there are deer there, not sure what else..

There's far more pages devoted to England than Scotland (110 pages vs 36).

For Savernake mentions mainly various bat species(Daubenton's, Natterer's, Brandt's, Whiskered + Brown Long-eared), Fallow Deer common with smaller numbers of Red, Roe + Muntjac.

Also Dormice, Wood + Yellow-necked Mice, Fox, Badger, Stoat + Weasel.

Good luck + have plenty of patience!

mouseman11 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 01:57 PM

ah ok! I obviously read a bad review.. Savernack sounds very promising, thanks so much for the info..

Are there any books/web sites that will help me attract the beasts, or is it purely a find their tracks/dens and wait scenario?

aeshna5 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-09-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouseman11

ah ok! I obviously read a bad review.. Savernack sounds very promising, thanks so much for the info..

Are there any books/web sites that will help me attract the beasts, or is it purely a find their tracks/dens and wait scenario?

A really useful book which was less than a tenner when I purchased it was:

Mammal Detective by Rob Strachan (Whittet Books)

There are other useful, but more expensive books on tracks, signs, etc.

Baiting may be useful for rodents, Foxes, etc.