Guess who we had to supper?

**Jock Scot** · 23rd May 10, 12:54 AM

Alan H might like this! Anyway, there we were, all eight of us sitting around the table chatting away whilst having some very nice Stilton cheese and some even nicer port when we had a visitor.

A Pine Marten. They are not uncommon in this part of Scotland , rare in most of Scotland and I think non existant in the rest of the UK. A visitor to this part of Scotland MIGHT see one if they were extremely lucky once in a while. So----

Not very good pictures due to lack of time and ignorance of how to take pictures in near total darkness and through double glazing. So shoot and hope was the policy. It worked!

**PEEDYC** · 23rd May 10, 12:56 AM

Great pics. As a boy my family used to spend weeks in the highlands, mainly on Forrestry Commission land (With permission) and we never ever saw one. Thanks for posting.

**cessna152towser** · 23rd May 10, 01:31 AM

Superb.

**tyger** · 23rd May 10, 04:05 AM

What a great experience! Thanks for what turned out to be very good pictures; you did very well under pressure.

I have only seen one of those in my many years in the woods. It was pretty much face-to-face too, about 8 feet away from me. The rascal was focused on hunting chipmunks, or mice, and I was sitting quietly at the base of a tree.

What was he doing outside your window? Is there a bird feeder there?

**piperdbh** · 23rd May 10, 04:39 AM

I was expecting a bird!
Is the pine marten a relative of weasels and such?

**Jock Scot** · 23rd May 10, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

I was expecting a bird!
Is the pine marten a relative of weasels and such?

Yes indeed, they are all Mustalids, as is the badger.

**Panache** · 23rd May 10, 06:57 AM

Thanks for sharing your visitor with us Jock

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

**Sir William** · 23rd May 10, 04:53 AM

A nice Stilton cheese and even nicer port, and you didn't invite your visitor in to join the company? Small wonder he turned his back on your lack of hospitality!

Great photos, Jock! I'm sure his visit made the evening. I don't think I've ever seen one outside of a zoo.

**artificer** · 23rd May 10, 05:21 AM

What a wonderful encounter! I think the photos are very good given the circumstances they were shot in.

Is it wrong of me to think almost immediately upon seeing the little critter what a striking full mask sporran it'd make?