The snow has seriously curbed all badger activity! I'm guessing they sensibly stay underground. I noticed this evening that they have taken all of the hay into the sett.
The reserve still looks wonderful in the sunshine with the last of the Snowdrops, the Daffodils and Primroses and newly emerging Butterbur. I've just downloaded the BirdTrack app from the BTO and I'm keen to get lots of sightings at the reserve.

Wow! Lots of Badger activity, a lot of digging has been taking place and by the look of the latrines there is no shortage of food. More Otter like prints, this time on the reserve side of Badger bridge.
After careful scrutiny of the prints, we think they are too small for an Otter as they are between 2cm and 4cm long, as both sets were close to the river we think that they could be Water Vole.

Beautiful evening at the reserve. Still no frogspawn but I did see perfect otter prints at the bottom of the new steps (4) and also new otter spraint under bridge, took photos in low light and will add later. Pete saw a Green Woodpecker on the tree with birdbox 11 on it and also the Woodcock emerging from under the Yew tree in the corner, seems as though the little Muntjac stag has moved out and the Woodcock has moved in! Let's hope he keeps away from the guns. Lots of Badger latrines at the far edge of the reserve, at least 6, I'm guessing they are to mark their boundary?

Down at the reserve again tonight searching for the first frogspawn. We're already 3 days later than last year. All we saw on the ponds was....ICE!!! Walking around the reserve we disturbed a hawk who had recently killed a pigeon, didn't get to see the hawk close up, but our best guess is a Sparrowhawk. Saw a Heron flying over, possibly landed in the lake.
Lots of badger activity, will return to Badger watching closer to the full moon!