Beaver Diaries September 2024
September’s warmer, drier weather caused water levels in the reserve at Sculthorpe to drop further. Leaving the deepest water confined to the main drains and ditches. However, the sluice, persistently blocked by the ever-industrious beavers, continued to hold back a significant amount of water. Waterproof boots are still essential for getting around, though the drying ground near Dragonfly Gate has made camera checks and volunteer tasks much easier.
Trapping the Yearlings
The month marked a key phase in the monitoring program, with preparations to trap and chip last year’s kits. A door less Bavarian Beaver Trap was placed on a trail and baited with apples to familiarize the beavers before any interventions.
First Visit – 6th September
On our first visit, we collected footage from all six trail cameras. The recordings showed active movement across the reserve, including this year’s new kit. Sadly, it seems this may be the only kit surviving this year. Despite lower water levels in most areas, the sluice remains a hotspot of activity, blocked nightly by the beavers even after being cleared each day.
While walking the reserve, we spotted newly hatched red admiral butterflies, a small lizard basking in the sun, and frogs thriving in the damp conditions. A speckled wood butterfly flitted through the trees, and a great white egret was seen on the Wetlands. In response to signs of recent gnawing on a tree trunk in Plantation Wood, we repositioned one camera for better coverage.
The evening was lively. Setting up at the IDB sluice earlier than usual, we watched a pair of great spotted woodpeckers on a nearby tree while red admiral butterflies appeared along the path. Two kingfishers added vibrant flashes of colour as they darted past.
The highlight of the evening was, of course, the beavers. We spotted three or four individuals along the IDB, including the new kit and what appeared to be a yearling, and possibly the female. Among them was a beaver with a pink patch on its tail, first noted during a volunteer survey. One beaver busily added mud to the sluice, using its feet to pack it down. Earlier in the day, apples were left near Plantation Wood. By evening, one beaver was happily eating an apple, while the kit stayed nearby, hiding under a fallen tree.
18th September – Second Visit of the Month
During our second visit, we entered through Gate One, checked the sluice at Gate Two, and crossed Oak Fen to reach the drain. The sluice was noticeably packed with branches and mud, forming a solid blockage again.
Trail cameras were checked, batteries replaced, and SD cards collected. Initial footage reviews showed beaver activity on all cameras, with otters also caught on video moving through the area in the late afternoon. The beavers appear to spend the nights in the meadow before retreating to their lodges early in the morning.
Butterflies and dragonflies were still abundant, adding life to the reserve. With help from a warden, we repositioned the trap near Dragonfly Gate, baited it with apples, and set up a camera to monitor activity. The goal is to trap and chip some of the beavers later this autumn.
A warm evening allowed us to set up at the sluice. A kingfisher landed on its regular perch, giving a stunning view. Overhead, we spotted a little egret, a great white egret, and buzzards. Apples placed in the drain attracted a beaver, which carried one into an area of fallen tree trunks before vanishing into the reeds. Despite hearing it chewing nearby, it remained hidden, leaving us without photos for the night
24th September – Third Visit of the Month
Our third visit began at Gate One, continuing to the sluice, through Gate Three, and across Oak Fen. The ground remains relatively dry, though not as dry as this time last year.
A roe deer crossed the track, and several red kites soared above as we made our way to the cameras. Batteries were replaced, SD cards collected, and one power pack taken back for recharging. Footage showed beaver activity on most cameras, especially near the dams. Beavers were seen climbing over dams on their way to the meadow, now their primary feeding area.
Apples were replenished on the platform, and the trap was baited again. Encouragingly, footage confirmed all the beavers, including the kits, are going through the trap in order to get to the apples.
Wildlife sightings included a great white egret, several buzzards, large red dragonflies, a mating pair of green dragonflies, speckled wood butterflies, and clusters of agrimony seed heads.
As the evening grew cloudy and days shorter, we decided not to stay late, reflecting last year’s pattern. On our way back, we could hear the beavers moving through the reeds, a subtle but satisfying end to the visit.
| fox | hedgehog | muntjac |
| pheasant | water vole | woodpigeon |
| heron | rat | squirrel |
| moorhen | woodmouse | frod |
| otter | blackbird | robin |