Today was a classic April showers day( although its May). There is a location where a recent colony of badgers have set up home.
The tracks of one of the males are the biggest badger tracks I have ever seen. They are big in size, but the stride is normal.
I suspect if that it is a rather portly male

Here we are , into early summer, and we have had the best weather imaginable this year. We have had a our spring tracking course, which was a little wet, and they team did a brilliant job tracking and stalking. They were lucky enough to track and spot some  melanistic fallow. They also located a new territory that is growing daily. During some private tuition a  couple of weeks later, the tracker could see a welcme member of the family. The patter of tny badger feet in the tracks.
Had a some great results with interpretation of roe deer tracks, where a yearling was suckling from its mother. Lots of practice done at the reservoirs on bird dynamics, and after gettig some old gorse needles down my neck we were delighted to find a complex kill site, in a very in-accessible place. In tracking terms its called 2nd penetration, and its amazing what wildlife secrets are going on around us all the time.
We are back at Canonteign next week filmng with Countryfile, and private tuiton. It should be interesting, because this is the cusp of rapid growth in the vegetation and it goes through a transition from sparse to  vibrant colours and then green.
Somehow the woods seem to have lost the austerity of winter, the vegetation and wildlife, is looking good!

Thanks to Bruce at Heinne Haynes for sending my new Maxpedition out so quickly. This is my second Falcon, the first one was stolen!
They are amazing backpacks. My  last one was the perfect pack whether going through airports or deep inside the jungle or desert. I had it for six years, and I used it every day in Namibia, India, Kenya, USA, Nepal, and the Amazon.
It is jammed pack full with well thought out features. An example is the intermal mesh puches for valuables and a lanyard with a clip, that slips into an internal pouch. The first thing I do with car keys is to clip them on, that way there is no chance they will get lost whilt out and about.
Its easy to customise, an in true tracker stlye I have customised it with Maxpedtion Cocoons, which are shoulder mounted for easy access to kit while on the hoof. I have customised it to give access to trail markers, track pack, latex gloves, GPS and Easy Id Cards withoo
The Shadowhawk tracking instructors are big fans of Maxpedition kit, incuding the Falcon, that they have customised in their own style.
http://www.heinnie.com/search.asp?strKeywords=maxpedition+falcon&submit=%C2%A0

Now that summer is here( despite the slight chill in the air) wildlife is seems to abundant.Some of our migrating birds have arrived, and the woods are teaming with life.
Just a few days of shine has brought the new growth into action. Blue-bell carpet woods are just around the corner.
Next week we have a whole new group of trackers arriving and some familar faces from the USA coming over to mentor.

Had a brilliant day up at Canonteign Falls doing one 2 one tracking. I have never seen it that cold up there, and was amazed by the ice crystals that were growing upwards from the ground. Very unusual, as this only occurs when it is very cold and the air is saturated with water( usually at dew point). We did lots of skills n a very rrelaxed yet focused manner. Some challenging tracking was done and was a useful confidence boost for the client, who is already

We are approaching our first wildlife tracking course this year. It is my favourite course of all. The woods will be alive with new life, and its always great to see a new influx of

Wel done to al 17 of you who passed either the Advanced or Basic Search and Rescue Course.
It was good to see people on course who had been on our Search and Rescue courses ten years ago, returning to their avanced and incorporate it into their SOPs.
For a couple of years I have wanted to experiment with a SAR bike team, by placing a low mounted light onto the bike for night tracking. I was amazed  that it was more succesful than I had expected and works well.

The team are busy preparing for an intense tracking course. This is the first time we have done an Advanced Search and Rescue course, that includes controller ,tracker team.
That means that those who do the Advanced course will be trained in controlling a tracker team
Over more than ten years we have evolved a course that is specific to SAR tracking, and it is getting great results from the SAR technicians who out there come all weather.

We are working on a mantracking program, and due to start filming in the Ardennes in June. I need some extra trackers, and if Shadowhawk trained trackers want to spend a four or five days mantracking let me know soonest.
Preferably you will have done the Advanced Tracking Course, but if you havnt, dont worry, because I know some excellent trackers who have done the module 1&2 tracking courses,or the SAR Courses, but not yet taken the Advanced tracker, so its open, as long as you have done a Shadowhawk course. Expences and accomodation paid for. I have already got some excellent Lead Trackers and Controllers, so

Its  been a week since I was last out tracking. Part of the on the Advanced course is to sleep out, utilising any natural resources available to keep dry and warm.
As the rain lashed down and they struggled to keep dry, I was minded of how animals survive harsh winters.
As things get desperate, I remember that its only temporary, noom and do the best I can. Even if it means a couple of branches or foliage, which might keep 10% of the body dry, its still 10%!
Relentless rain , means that it get harder and harder to keep that vita
Clothing is essential, cotton really is a killer in these conditions. The deluge of rain soaks it, the fabric wickes it up, and as the conditions did last week, the wind shifted to the north regularly.
Lighting a fire is nearly impossible, although utilsing rubber inner tube would make it easier, keeping the fire going is not easy.
The UK, is not only one of the toughest places to track, but its one of the toughest places to survive, whe you have wet weather, and a weakening winter sun.