A stoat in the kennel

Achvaneran, Highlands The stoat seemed almost ethereal in its ermine winter coat, looking incongruously white with no snow for camouflage

Looking at one of the bird feeding stations from the end of the house, I could see two male siskins attacking the peanuts with their usual enthusiasm. At least until a female great-spotted woodpecker decided the feeder was hers and the siskins moved to another. Then a small movement of white at the bottom of the door of the disused dog kennel attracted my attention. There was a tiny hole and whatever it was it seemed to be peering out at something. I reached for binoculars just in time to see a white stoat dart out of the hole and push something I could not identify into the kennel.

The stoat seemed almost ethereal as it scamperedaround in its ermine winter coat, looking incongruously white with no snow for camouflage. Judging by its length it was a male, as they are larger than the females, and the characteristic black tip to the tail seemed longer than usual.