We were late, so we drove the car down the track to the river and parked next to the swing bridge. As we walked along the riverbank, two pairs of mallard ducks were squabbling on the water, no doubt feeling spring territorial urges.

The wood containing the badger sett filled a small valley leading down to the river between farm fields on either side. We crossed the stream flowing down the valley where it opened out into the river’s water meadow, and climbed the opposite bank. A short distance up the valley, and we were in position opposite the sett, with the light rapidly failing. Fortunately, we both had binoculars, so when the boar badger emerged at 8.10 p.m. in quite murky light, we could both see him easily.

He was very cautious and took a few minutes to settle down for a scratch on the mound of earth outside the hole, and after a while was joined by a second badger, probably a female. They groomed each other and scratched sociably, before the male wandered off down the bank. While he was scouting for food along the bottom of the valley, a third badger emerged to join the other one still on the mound outside the hole. They also groomed each other and scratched, but went back down the hole after a while.

By this time, it was very dark and difficult to see more, so we left. I expect that there are cubs in the sett, mothered by the second badger up, and hope to see them above ground in 3-4 weeks time.