Date: 23 September 2026
Location: Badger Hide
Activity: Evening badger watch
Group Size: 4 people
Species Encountered: European Badger (Meles meles), European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) and Great Tit (Parus major)

The early badger arrived very early again, before we had properly settled into the hide. As the four of us went in, we disturbed it and it quickly moved away. Wildlife will always respond in its own way, so we settled quietly into the hide and gave it space. It returned at around 7:05 pm.

This time I made a point of slowing down and really looking at its features rather than simply watching its behaviour. I have started calling this individual the “early badger” because it seems to be the one that regularly appears before the others.

The early badger had a noticeably bushy tail, with a fairly clear white patch behind the ears. The tips of the ears also appeared completely white, which made them quite distinctive.

A second badger appeared later and looked noticeably different. This individual had a more pointed tail, and the white markings around the ears were more jagged and less clearly defined. The white patch behind the ears was also not as obvious, and its coat appeared to be a lighter grey than the early badger.

It was really interesting to spend time looking at these small differences. I am beginning to realise that, with enough careful observation, it may be possible to recognise some of the individual badgers by their coat colour, tail shape and facial and ear markings.

The evening was not only about the badgers. I also spotted a Robin and a Great Tit around the hide, adding a little extra wildlife interest while we waited.

Another enjoyable evening at the hide, and this visit felt particularly useful because I was paying much closer attention to individual identification rather than simply recording how many badgers appeared.

Photographs