Pine marten comes to visit.

Sitting comfortably in our lounge last night absorbed in a TV programme when we heard a scratching at the patio door. Thought it was one of the cats demanding to be let in and got up to be the doorman but.....surprise surprise.....saw it was a young pine marten on the top step. Our guests last week said they saw the elusive pine marten on the bank behind Aspenwood Cottage and were thrilled. We followed it from room to room it as it ran playfully around the outside of the house exploring every nook and cranny and watched as it even cheekily sat on top of the cats kennel right by the back door - luckily the cat flap was locked for the night. Both cats were fast asleep on the sofa and oblivious to all the excitement going on outside. Luckily pine martens prefer easier targets and much smaller prey...mice,voles and even red squirrels so the cats would have given it a hiss, a spit and a growl and seen it on its way. It was moving too quickly to take a photo this time but here's one I prepared earlier.