James Roddie
Pine martens - aren’t they just beautiful?
A departure from my mountain photography today. I have spent the last six summers photographing pine martens from my tiny hide in the woods near #Inverness in the #ScottishHighlands.
This animal on the right is only 5 months old, leaning up against her mum and having a look around. A magical moment, and one I am privileged to have seen.
#PineMarten #WildlifePhotography #Scotland #Inverness #ScottishWildlife
Nov 27, 2022 at 8:56amWeb
Show threadLucy2204Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Beautiful! 🥰
Show threadMarkRNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Also very useful as they help to control grey squirrels
Show threadPeter FrederickNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Hadn't really seen them before. So is the mother full size? Maybe the size of a cat?
Show threadPeeBeeJayBeeNov 27, 2022
@pfred60 @jamesroddie no, they're generally about the size of a horse...just kiddin...they're a slightly diff shape to cats, but more or less - about 18" - 2 ft
Show threadAngelaEwartDec 4, 2022
@PeeBeeJayBee @pfred60 @jamesroddie 🤣🤣
Show threadJo TobiasNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie They’re beautiful & never seen them before! Thanks for sharing 😊
Show threadKenneth BaillieNov 27, 2022

@jamesroddie Fantastic photo. I love these little creatures. They look like tiny bears but they are closer to being skinny sea lions.

Image from:
https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article/54/2/317/2842927

Molecular Phylogeny of the Carnivora (Mammalia): Assessing the Impact of Increased Sampling on Resolving Enigmatic Relationships

Abstract. This study analyzed 76 species of Carnivora using a concatenated sequence of 6243 bp from six genes (nuclear TR-i-I, TBG, and IRBP; mitochondrial ND2,

OUP Academic
Show threadHoward JonesNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie beautiful pic, thanks.
Show threadPete WalkdenNov 27, 2022

@jamesroddie Wonderful!

I really need to get over to see some of these. Possibly my most-wanted in terms of photos... I'll be in touch!

Show threadMarinaNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie beautiful
Show threadSueNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie
They certainly are beautiful.
Show threadFreyalyn 🌻🌨️ 🌲 🎄 🌲 🌨️Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Such wonderful creatures. I've not yet seen one in person.
Show threadpenwing (they/them)Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie TIL that a Pine Martin is *not* a bird…
Show threadBeanie MacIntoshNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie awww 🥰
Show threadFoosty Puddin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie When my sister stayed near Lochgilphead she had real problems with Pine Martens - a protected species (rightly so). She had a stone built outhouse and try as she might they would always find a way in and wreak havoc - very destructive, canny beasts, but yes beautiful as well. Much chicken wire, nailed up boards and repaired stonework later she finally managed to keep them out. They also leave a very pungent smell behind 😂
Show threadAnne @annevelink_adNov 27, 2022

@jamesroddie

Lovely.. i have never seen one in real life.. thanks for sharing

Show threadBasilNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie when I was a kid we spent some summers in a cottage on the Ardnamurchan. There was a pine martin journal for guests to log their encounters. They used to come right up to the porch at night.
Show threadAndrea YoungNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Wow what a fantastic experience! They are precious 😍
Show threadWyld Art PhotographyNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie
Love this shot!!!
Show threadSean GNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Thank you for sharing it
Show threadAndrea Merrell 🐈Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie pine martens are up at the top of the cuteness scale along side cats and marmots. :)
Show threadhtownmouseNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie
They're adorable! Great picture!
Show threadDana Bussing, MDNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie beautiful!! Thank you for sharing
Show threadJennifer WilckNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie beautiful photo
Show threadThe Bear (Stephen Rodda)Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie they're beautiful.
Show threadFlora FaunaNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Lovely photo
Show threadCerylNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Think @annelouiseavery will appreciate the #pinemarten family
Show threadrattlinbonesNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Beautiful creatures that have made a welcome return here to Ireland after almost being completely wiped out.
Show thread🇺🇸 Bewickwren 🇵🇹Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie
It almost looks as if they are posing!
Your photo is so crisp. What did you use to take it?
Show threadSpacedOut Studios Ent.Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Bravo! I love this :) TY for your work.
Show threadJohn McKennaNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie . I haven’t seen one in years !
Show threadPeeBeeJayBeeNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie had one of these run across the road in front of me a wee while back. God, they're gorgeous
Show threadMissy SmithNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie I’ve never seen those before. How cute.
Show thread🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🅱🆄🅵🅵🆈🦄Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie What a truly beautiful sight!
Show threadAriaflameNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie The Scottish Gaelic for a pine marten is 'taghan' (taghain for more than two) #gàidhlig
I have no idea if the word comes from the verb tagh which is about choosing.
Show threadBookfairiecymruNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Wonderful photograph!
Show threadShannonNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie That's a great shot.
Show threadAndy SteeleNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie what a cutie!
Show threadstellaNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie They are beautiful and Inverness and surrounding area is absolutely gorgeous. Scotland is a beautiful country.
Show threadRosie MNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie Oh, pine martens are just the most adorable of our native animals!
Show threadGaby (she/her)Nov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie They are so sweet!
Show threadJamesTDGNov 27, 2022
@jamesroddie honestly, Martens are adorable as fuck. I wish evolution didn't make their reproduction systems irritating to the point that domestication is impossible, I'd love to have one
Show threadComputeforloot Nov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie wow, beautiful little creatures
Show threadKristin RosenbachNov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie What a great photo! We were lucky enough to see Pine Martens on two occasions. Once in Grand Teton National Park and once in Banff National Park.
Show threadBzCris 💜✒️🏳️‍🌈Nov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie so cute! I've never known what they looked like, so thank you for sharing 💜
Show threadThe Old Reading RoomNov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie This is fab. I was amazed to hear there was a confirmed sighting in Sussex this year. It sounds like the population may be spreading eastwards from Wales, do hope it's true
Show threadCheriNov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie they're adorable!
Show threadJack SokolNov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie @MMGMaggie Gorgeous creatures! Love the coloring.
Show threadLiamNov 28, 2022
@jacksokol @jamesroddie @MMGMaggie Hi, Liam here.
PILEOFATOMS.
Let’s see what happens!
Show threadJack SokolNov 28, 2022
@PILEOFATOMS @jamesroddie @MMGMaggie Hi Liam! How nice to see you here! Welcome.
Show threadLiamNov 28, 2022

@jacksokol @jamesroddie @MMGMaggie

Thanks!
I made it.

Show threadJulietteNov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie so sweet
Show threadAccidental Resident (she/they)Nov 28, 2022
@jamesroddie in the weasel family?
Show threadPaul BrownjohnNov 30, 2022

@jamesroddie

There's quite a few of them over here in Luxembourg, where they are considered to be vermin, sadly. This is because they have a habit of exploring the engine compartments of cars and chewing through all the rubber hoses and electrical wiring.

They are regular visitors to our garden although I have never seen one but they tend to mark their territory with faeces and always in the same place, in our case, on the front door step!

Show threadAngelaEwartDec 4, 2022
@jamesroddie
Show threadAngelaEwartDec 4, 2022
@jamesroddie Wow, so cute . ❤️
Show threadFelicity MartinDec 10, 2022
@jamesroddie They look so intelligent. The last one I saw shot across a busy A82 north of Fort William just in front of me. I have a memory of its sunlit coat and horizontal tail as it chanced a gap in the traffic.
Mum’s claws look much heavier and stronger than her offspring’s.
Show threadSmallTownGirlDec 10, 2022
@jamesroddie a gorgeous capture! Beautiful animals