In the spring a bitch and her three cubs were frequently seen on the Wenning, sometimes for long periods. One morning, on the Wenning upstream of Hornby Castle, this posse was seen walking along the bank towards my informant (Ken Green) when mum – in the lead – took a flying leap into the river onto the back of a mallard which managed to escape this assault.  This reminds me that in examining spraints on both Wenning and Lune I have found remains of feathers.

One memorable morning, a regular informant (Ian Holcroft) for about half an hour watched something remarkable: on the edge of some clear water mum appeared to be teaching her cubs to fish.  A large eel or eels had been caught and rendered into pieces, as had a brown trout.  Mum then placed these among stones on the river bed and then encouraged the cubs to find them.  The family seemed aware of Ian’s presence, but so long as he walked no farther toward them they remained happy.  If he advanced by so much as a pace, they retreated into the water.  The last sighting reported to me of this family was in September.

After that no sightings were reported in our vicinity until a week or two before Christmas when a young adult was seen on the Wenning below Hornby.  Elsewhere an otter has been seen descending Cowdber hill (Burrow), most likely making the crossing from Cant Beck to the Blind Cant, or perhaps onward to Leck Beck.

There has been the occasional sighting, and frequent spraints and padding found on the Lune at Arkholme, and interestingly on Beckerthwaite Beck.  In my previous un-reformed otter hunting days it was reckoned that this was the route by which otters crossed from the upper waters of the Keer to the Lune and vice versa.

Downstream on the Lune, there has been a sighting of three otters on the weir opposite the rowing club boathouse. Much padding has been seen in the vicinity of the Hermitage holt – a strong indication that someone may be in residence. It is reported that there have been many sightings under the motorway bridge at junction 34, and one report was of an otter that appeared to be stalking a mallard.  It is also reported spraint has been found in Tarn Brook after a long absence, following the death there of a young female otter. Another report is of a phenomenon I’ve previously not heard of: a well used otter loo, found at the base of a poplar tree on the riverbank.  One thing that has not been reported locally is any road death.

Elsewhere: South of Preston otters have been sighted on the river Lostock in the Cuerden valley and at Croston bridge on the Yarrow; the former being a tributary of the latter.  James Williams, writing from Somerset, tells me that in 2011 they counted forty deaths on the county’s roads.

Many thanks to my informants; your reports are important and greatly appreciated.

In my last report (Habitat Herald, January 2011), we had noticed an increase in red squirrels in the upper Lune valley with new sightings extending as far downstream as Sedbergh. I am pleased to report that more red squirrels have again been seen at Brockholes Wood, Lunesbridge Farm, Old Tebay Bridge and on Chapel Beck up to Orton in 2011.  Further down the Lune catchment there has been some encouraging news with sightings of red squirrels at Barbon, at Rigmaden and near Caton (although photographic confirmation is needed – if you have any, please let us know).No squirrel pox was reported or seen in the Lune area, but a red squirrel died in the Eden area of Dufton near Appleby in 2011.

Our work is beginning to bear fruit.  However, we need to remain vigilant as grey squirrels are very mobile and need sustained control to allow expansion of the red squirrel population.  My records show only 25 greys were trapped in the Tebay to Orton area in 2011, whereas 5 years ago the number was 101.  This year 50 grey squirrels have been trapped in Smardale Gill very near to the start of the Lune and the edge of the catchment.  I am currently distributing more traps for use round Middleton Bridge where there are lots of grey squirrels.

If you spot red squirrels or would like help to control the greys, please contact Gary on 01539 624788 or 07974 788434.

Photograph: Sarah McNeil, www.penrithredsquirrels.org.uk

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Claughton Village Hall is on the north side of the A683. Travelling from the Lancaster direction, it is just after the SWS factory and before a row of houses on the left. Travelling from the Hornby direction, it is 200 yards past the Fenwick Arms, on the right.

The agenda will follow.