The footage was captured thanks to the efforts of Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's Conservation Intern, Rhodri Blakeway. Funded through the Moondance Foundation, Rhodri is undertaking a six-month internship with the Trust and has proven a wonderful asset, turning his hand to everything from camera trap setting and moth trapping to practical conservation work.
A pine marten has been captured on camera at Gilfach nature reserve for the very first time - a good sign for the recovery of this elusive native species in the local area.
Efforts eventually paid off after reviewing one batch of footage; the bushy tail and yellow bib of a marten appeared on my computer screen! This is the first confirmed evidence that pine martens are on the reserve, and it's great to know they are using the reserve after their reintroduction to Mid-Wales 11 years ago.
Rhodri Blakeway
Pine martens have been recorded regularly along the River Wye, particularly between Llanwrthwl and the point where the River Marteg joins the Wye. For the past year, at least one pine marten has been picked up by a trail camera upstream of Gilfach, but this latest sighting marks the first time the species has been confirmed on the reserve itself.
Pine martens have large territories and are constantly on the move in search of food. They forage both on the ground and in trees and are not afraid to cross bodies of water. Because they rely on vegetation and tree cover to move safely, river corridors and woodland act as their main highways through the landscape. They prefer mixed woodland containing both deciduous and evergreen species. This approach, known as Continuous Cover Forestry, is a management practice actively encouraged and implemented by the Trust wherever possible.
Landowners bordering rivers are also encouraged to leave a buffer of ungrazed trees and undergrowth between pasture and water. As well as preventing bank erosion and aiding water filtration, these buffers provide a protective corridor along which wildlife such as the pine marten can travel in relative safety.
We encourage woodland cover on any land that borders a river," said a spokesperson for the Trust. "Having that vegetation and tree cover is what allows species like the pine marten to move safely through the landscape. River corridors and woodland really are their main highways.
Rhodri Blakeway
Since this first record, pine martens have been captured regularly on camera traps at Gilfach, and attention is now turning to identifying individual animals. This is done by examining the yellow fur "bib" on each pine marten's throat and chest, the markings of which are unique to every individual, varying in the size and number of spots.
By building up a picture of these individual markings, the Trust hopes to determine exactly which animals, and how many, are using the reserve. This will inform long-term monitoring of the species both at Gilfach and across the wider local area.