Little acrobats

Energetic stoat …

Have you ever seen a stoat? Well, I (Jacobine) hadn't even heard of one until one cold winter morning when we spotted one crossing a ditch in the polder. Its speed, stealth, and shyness didn't allow for great photography opportunities, but at least I now knew what a stoat was. Stoats are fascinating little creatures, as their coat turns pure white in winter, while the rest of the year their backs are red-brown instead of white. The white coat in winter provides excellent camouflage, especially during snowy winters.

Despite their cute appearance, stoats are relentless hunters. They can take down birds, rodents, chickens, and even hares, which are much larger than they are, by biting them in the neck. This varied diet increases their chances of survival, which explains why these little animals are found in many parts of the world.

This spring of this year, we were fortunate enough to spot a stoat during one of our walks in the polder. It had also noticed us and decided to hide in a cluster of grass. Since we had enough time, we settled down in the grass not far from this tiny creature. Every now and then, the stoat would peek around the grass to check if we were still there. And of course, we were! Eventually, it grew impatient, realizing that those strange humans weren't going to leave. Sneaking stealthily through the grass, we were surprised to see it suddenly cross the road a little further ahead. Patience clearly wasn't its greatest virtue!

… times seven

However, those two brief encounters pale in comparison to what Greg witnessed one early morning in June. He had gone to the polder hoping to capture a nice photograph of a western yellow wagtail during the golden hour. While patiently waiting for the perfect shot, he noticed some movement in the corner of his eye. Whatever it was had vanished, so Greg quietly moved closer, lay down, and waited.

Sure enough, ten minutes later, a stoat emerged from the grass and started playing on the path. Soon, another one appeared, and then another. Wow... it seemed he had stumbled upon an entire litter! Greg remained almost motionless, except for very subtle movements with his camera. In the end, he counted 7 kits running around and playing together. They were so active and incredibly fast that he couldn't capture them all in a single picture.

Nevertheless, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The little creatures chased each other, leaped over and around their siblings like true acrobats, and occasionally peeked shyly from behind one another. Eventually, either tired from their playful antics or startled by something Greg hadn't noticed, they disappeared back into the long grass. Greg packed up his gear and headed home. We revisited the spot several times, patiently waiting, but knowing that stoats move their kits from nest to nest, we understood that the chances of seeing them again were slim. Nonetheless, that one experience made all the effort worthwhile!

Curious stoat

Too much energy

Somersault