Their breeding season is between July and August but, due to a delay in implantation, the female doesn't usually become pregnant until January. The young, known as kits, are born in March and April. It is between July and September that they on occasion break from their nocturnal habits and venture out during daylight; the earliest in my experience 1.30pm.
However, while they have no natural predators in Scotland they remain wary in daylight, presumably through instinct over year's of inherent predation when the British Isle's harboured larger predators like Wolves, Bears and Lynx. I also presume they're wary in daylight due to persecution from man as mentioned above.
I continued my efforts with the camera trap in different areas around the cottage. I found a tree covered in moss at the base so I decided to set up the trap there, tearing my trousers in barbed wire in the process! I think the photos below justify my clothing issues though!
As mentioned I continued with my attempts at photographing the Pine Marten in daylight. Over the course of 3 hours I had a couple of great encounters with them as they finally came to a prop I had set up in the garden. It was with relief that I, at last, had some usable daylight photos of them!
On my last night I was treated to a dramatic sunset. The sun sets at the far side of Loch Doilean so when you're lucky enough to get clouds of mist forming as well as cloud formations in the sky it can make for some great photo opportunities.
I had one such night as you can see from the photos below and further on in this blog.
So it came to my last night with the Pine Marten at the cottage. Once again they showed well when I wasn't around so the camera trap was set up in a different part of the garden. The photos below are the result, including one of my favourites from the week...
Just a couple more from the one dramatic sunset I had during my stay...