Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) 1 of 6
Here is one of those once in many lifetimes wildlife encounters... I was looking for orchids on the embankment of a busy road when I became aware of an orangey coloured mouse at my feet. The mouse then surprised me by running up the nearest tree in front of me, which happened to be a one metre high sapling. At this point I realised it was no mouse, but a hazel dormouse - I presume a young one and not fully aware that it ought to be nocturnal yet! I took a few shots and then carefully bent the sapling over so that it touched the dense hawthorn hedge from where the dormouse had presumably come, and it quickly scampered into the safety of the dense hedge. I don't expect to have another close-up experience with a hazel dormouse again, what a wonderful - if brief - meeting.
Hazel Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) 1 of 6
Here is one of those once in many lifetimes wildlife encounters... I was looking for orchids on the embankment of a busy road when I became aware of an orangey coloured mouse at my feet. The mouse then surprised me by running up the nearest tree in front of me, which happened to be a one metre high sapling. At this point I realised it was no mouse, but a hazel dormouse - I presume a young one and not fully aware that it ought to be nocturnal yet! I took a few shots and then carefully bent the sapling over so that it touched the dense hawthorn hedge from where the dormouse had presumably come, and it quickly scampered into the safety of the dense hedge. I don't expect to have another close-up experience with a hazel dormouse again, what a wonderful - if brief - meeting.