North East Scotland Mammal Network
@nesmammals.bsky.social
Celebrating North East Scotland's mammals through conservation, recording and research. nesmamnet.org
Calling all NESMNET members - we recently emailed members about how we handle your details and how we contact you. If you did not respond, please do get in touch to ensure that you continue to hear about our upcoming field events and online talks. 🦡🐁🐬🦇🦦🦌🦭🦔
With almost all grey squirrels now removed from Aberdeen City, read our new blog to find out what day-to-day life looks like for our North East team, and how they stay motivated when there’s (hopefully!) nothing to find… scottishsquirrels.org.uk/2026/07/31/l... 📷 Raymond Leinster
A reminder that some areas of prime mammal habitat receive very little mammal recording activity. This is especially true in some of our large forests that provide some of the most extensive habitat for Red Squirrels.
Alan Knox@alanknox.bsky.social · 3w agoInteresting the *apparent* absence on the map from almost all the big forests along Deeside - lack of recording. Broadly similar pattern of non-recording reported for Roe Deer in the annual NE Mammal Reports. @nesmammals.bsky.social
Catch up on the latest episode of Out of Doors where Rachel talks to Nick and Vicky of the North East Scotland Mammal Network about monitoring #SmallMammals using our #CameraTrapBoxes - starts around 11 min 54. #Mammals #Recording www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Out of Doors - Clippers in Oban, Snorkelling and Marsh Harriers - BBC Sounds
Mark Stephen and Rachel Stewart with stories from the great outdoors.
bbc.co.uk
First Leisler's #Bat in the garden this year (last night). Still a rare occurrence here this far north (Aberdeen) - apart from in our garden where we get a few each year now! @nesmammals.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social
Two in-person chances to find out more/contribute to the discussion about potential reintroduction of Polecats to our region, this coming Monday (6th July): 2.00 - 4.00 pm Bennachie Visitor Centre 6.00 - 8.00 pm Garioch Heritage OR Email jenny.macpherson@vwt.org.uk @vincentwt.bsky.social
We're sorting 2025 data for the NE Scotland Mammal Report. The map here (all records) shows the usual good coverage around Aberdeen and the major glens with sparser recording in the north and the mountains. Created in #QGIS using @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social's TomBio plugin.
There was a tiny moribund Field Mouse outside the back door this evening. It was even covered with fly eggs. We managed to revive it, but we don’t know if it’ll make it through the night. @nesmammals.bsky.social
It's been a terrific year so far for sea mammal sightings in the region. Recent days have seen multiple Minke Whale records. We watched at least three, probably 4 or 5, off Portsoy for several hours today. #seamammal #cetacean
NEXT members' field event! Join us on 20 June at Tyrebagger Woods 12.30-2.30 pm for a live demonstration of the power of detection dogs with our wonderful friends at K9 Insight and Shire Scentwork and Trailling. The event is free, but email us at nesmamnet@gmail.com so we know how many to expect.
After last autumn's mega Nathusius' Pipistrelle #bat spike, they have been popping up in the garden through the winter which is most unusual, and have been *much* more common this spring. Graph shows comparison with more typical recs last year. @batconservation.bsky.social @nesmammals.bsky.social
Join the action on our Facebook group, where we are getting in the mood for Mexico / Canada / USA 2026 with our very own Mammal World Cup. YOU decide who wins and the group stage has just kicked off: www.facebook.com/share/p/18u3...
facebook.com
While Magnus has left these shores (now in Norway) we've been digging out the newspaper report of the last Aberdeenshire #Walrus, from 1981. (Image source details in alt text ) #marinemammals #seamammals #marinelife
How many species of Pinniped (seals and allies) have there been in North East Scotland? It might be more than you think. Check out our latest blog: nesmamnet.org/2026/05/05/t... #seamammals #MarineMammals #MarineLife
Tusks and Flippers – Vagrant Pinnipeds in North-East Scotland
How many species of Pinniped (seals and allies) are there in North-East Scotland? A normal answer might be two. We’ve got the Grey Seals, that can be found all around our coast and haul out in thei…
nesmamnet.org
First Walrus in NE Scotland since one at Collieston in 1954.
Dave Pullan@davepullanwildlife.bsky.social · 4mo agoWalrus having a nap on a pontoon in Lossiemouth harbour this afternoon
New paper from @bats-n-bugs.bsky.social's PhD. Sampling an impressive 26 farms in east Scotland, Rochelle found a complex picture with bats responding more to habitat and landscape features than to farming type per se. Open access: link.springer.com/article/10.1... @batconservation.bsky.social
Contrasting effects of mixed farming on bats are mediated by local and landscape features and differ between seasons - Biodiversity and Conservation
Homogenisation of agricultural landscapes, driven by intensive farming, is one of the key drivers of biodiversity decline in Europe. Whilst government schemes to address this have benefitted some inve...
link.springer.com
The Mammal Atlas of North East Scotland and the Cairngorms provides the definitive account of our region's mammal fauna upto 2015. Hopefully you have a hard copy but, if not, we are delighted that it is now available as a FREE PDF download from the NESBReC website: nesbrec.org.uk/mammal-atlas...
Mammal Atlas of North-East Scotland and the Cairngorms
Mammal Atlas of North-East Scotland and the Cairngorms,NESBReC,mammal species,
nesbrec.org.uk
Congratulations @nesmammals.bsky.social’s Nick Littlewood on being awarded the Mammal Society’s Richard Shore prize which celebrates individuals who have demonstrated remarkable commitment to protecting Britain's mammals. @blackdogbirder.bsky.social
We've been enjoying the fantastic @mammalsociety.bsky.social annual conference in Inverness. And we're keeping a close eye on Martha, who has taken a keen interest in a local squirrel 😱.
Just outside the window, eating peanuts like there's no tomorrow. @nesmammals.bsky.social @scotsquirrels.bsky.social
Still time to book for Wednesday evening's webinar....
North East Scotland Mammal Network@nesmammals.bsky.social · 5mo agoStacey Esson, medic and local co-ordinator with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, will present our final online talk of the season. Join us to hear all about the work of BDMLR, including #seal rescue, and the Large #Whale Disentanglement Team Info and booking www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stacey-ess...
First Daubenton's #Bat in the garden in Aberdeen this year on 10 March. @nesmammals.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social
Stacey Esson, medic and local co-ordinator with British Divers Marine Life Rescue, will present our final online talk of the season. Join us to hear all about the work of BDMLR, including #seal rescue, and the Large #Whale Disentanglement Team Info and booking www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stacey-ess...
Stacey Esson: The work of British Divers Marine Life Rescue
Stacey Esson joins the North East Scotland Mammal Network to discuss the work of the marine rescue charity.
eventbrite.co.uk
Our first field meet up of the year will take place at Bennachie on Saturday 11th April, where we will look for signs of Mounatin Hare, and maybe even spot one! Meeting details to follow, but save the date if you'd like to come along.
Check out Annie Lamb's latest monthly blog over on our website - find out what Pine Martens, Badgers, hares and more are up to at this time of the year: nesmamnet.org/2026/02/28/m...
Mammals in February
Late winter is often a time for snow, which means that snow is a sign of spring. It refills rivers and inspires a range of sports. But now, as food grows scarcer, many mammals are facing harsh and …
nesmamnet.org
Just out: 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩-𝘌𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘤𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 2024. Includes 20-page mammal report based on 8000 records submitted by an incredible 1000 observers in 2024. The mammal report will also be online in due course, but the full report is a bargain at £8.50 including p&p - so highly recommended. #mammal
Let me count the ways to record thee…Find out how long term recording takes a mammal site list from three to 26 in our latest blog. nesmamnet.org/2026/02/20/t... @scotwildlife.bsky.social
Twenty-six species and counting – recording mammals at Red Moss of Netherley
When we took on the volunteer convenor role for the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve at Red Moss of Netherley, in 2010, the site’s mammal list stood at three species; Fox, Badger and Roe Deer. Over …
nesmamnet.org
Why are rural Hedgehogs in such decline and what can be done about it? Join our webinar, on Wednesday 25 February, when Morag Boyd of People's Trust for Endangered Species will be telling us about the 𝘙𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵. Booking: www.eventbrite.com/e/rural-hedg... 📷 Silviu Petrovan
