Badger bonanza

Although a lot of memories from my childhood are long forgotten, I distinctly remember a family holiday to France, when I was around 9 years old. My uncle asked me which animal I would liked to see and without skipping a beat I said badgers. Where I got this desire from I have no clue, but what I do remember is that I would have to wait until after the holiday, as we (of course) didn't see any badgers. Since then, I've spent quite a few evenings near badger setts. Usually spending hours waiting, for nothing in return. A few years back I got lucky, and got my first shots, beside my first sightings that were longer than an animal crossing a road or running into the bracken (see: Eifel 2023). Better images were always still on the back of my mind though. My job has got me working on a project where we've got quite a few badger setts. So knowing I would have to be in a hotel (meaning I'd spend my evenings in the area) I already started thinking of where I might be able to get some shots. I tried 2 different locations, two nights at the first one without sightings, making me decide to move to another sett. I positioned myself downwind, and waited. This location was in woodland, so far darker than the first one, but the sett itself was larger. After about half an hour of waiting (I was expecting at least an hour) I saw a tuft of grey hair poking out. A few seconds later, the first badger left the sett. After a short rummage it went back in, to come back out followed by another adult and 4 youngsters. I was incredibly fortunate to spend the evening watching these beautiful creatures play, wrestle, run about, prune and clean. Although I've had to wait 18 years, my childhood craving for badger was satisfied, what incredible animals. Despite bad light I got quite a few shots that I'm super happy with, although nothing will beat seeing the youngsters play at a distance of just 2 meters.