My mammal-recording efforts aren't very systemmatic as I don't record every example of common mammal that I see but here's a summary of those I encountered in 2019 and 2020.
RODENTS (RODENTIA)
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis - One of the common species I don't record properly. I occasionally see them in the garden and more often at the meadows.
Grey Squirrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 20th September 2019
Grey Squirrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 15th April 2020
Grey Squirrel, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 1st June 2020
Water Vole Arvicola amphibius - I was pretty sure that some holes along the edge of the dyke next to the railway at the bottom of the meadows belonged to Water Voles. They looked like the animal had accessed them vertically from the water whereas I understand that Brown Rat holes would show a horizontal rat-run access from the sides. It was over a year before I actually saw a Water Vole here, on 25th May 2019, and that was a pretty poor view. It was initially completely hidden but I could see dead reed stems being pulled into the vegetation. Eventually I saw the animal, albeit only very limited partial views. Spring 2020 produced much better views as an adult and a youngster showed well on 19th and 22nd April. The youngster showed again on 2nd May and one was seen again on several occasions up to 25th May.
Water Vole hole, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 11th January 2019
Water Voles, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 22nd April 2020
Water Vole, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 2nd May 2020
Bank Vole Myodes glareolus - Good views of one obtained at Lackford Lakes on 23rd February 2019.
Bank Vole, Lynford Lakes, 23rd February 2019
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus - this is the most likely ID for two mice seen well, one in my garden (where it was seen scurrying up to an empty fat-feeder (intended for birds) and hiding in the hole, and one at the meadows. Without seeing the underside of their neck I can't absolutely rule out Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis as the ID for either of these, however that species is apparently rare in this part of Norfolk whereas Wood Mouse is very common.
probable Wood Mouse, North Elmham, 4th July 2019
probable Wood Mouse, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 12th August 2019
Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus - None - sadly no repeat of the Harvest Mouse that graced my garden one day in 2017.
Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus - Seen twice at the Cathedral Meadows, on 22nd March and 10th May 2019.
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RABBITS (LAGOMORPHA)
Brown Hare Lepus europaeus - I'm sure I saw others but the only ones I recorded in Norfolk in 2019 were at Sennowe on 17th April. Although I have seen the species in the North Elmham area, including at Spong Hill in April 2020, I haven't yet seen it at the Cathedral Meadows (or in the surrounding farmland viewed from there). Also some young Hares at Fidden on Mull in June 2019.
Brown Hares, Sennowe, 17th April 2019
young Brown Hare, Fidden (Mull), 9th June 2019
Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus - Regularly seen at the meadows among other places.
Rabbit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 14th April 2019
Rabbit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 27th April 2020
Rabbit, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020
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HEDGEHOGS (ERINACEOMORPHA)
Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus - None - the last one I saw alive was in my garden in 2017.
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SHREWS and MOLES (SORICOMORPHA)
Mole Talpa europaea - Plenty of evidence of their activity at the meadows but I haven't seen an actual live mole anywhere since 2013. No Shrews recorded.
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BATS (CHIROPTERA)
I acquired an Echo Meter Touch bat detector in late October 2020 so hope to be able to record more bats in future but this was a bit late in the season to get started so not much to report yet.
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus -
One identified using Will Soar's Echo Meter at Brancaster on 2nd July
2020. Several detected using my new Echo Meter at different points
round the meadows between 30th October and 13th November. Also a
day-flying bat at Foxley Wood on 10th July which I think was either this
species or Soprano Pipistrelle.
Common or Soprano Pipistrelle, Foxley Wood, 10th July 2020
Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus - Several detected with the Echo Meter at different points round the meadows between 30th October and 13th November.
Soprano Pipistrelle, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th November 2020
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CARNIVORES (CARNIVORA)
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes - 1-2 recorded at least 5 times at the meadows in each of 2019 and 2020. One young fox was watched chasing Pheasants in one of the neighbouring fields, with great ineptitude. It would eye up a particular Pheasant in the distance and then start running at it, apparently not noticing other Pheasants that it was running straight past, and then give up the chase before it reached the target. Maybe it was already well-fed and just larking about, but the Pheasants didn't seem to be very worried.
Red Fox, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 19th July 2019
Red Fox, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 8th September 2019
Red Fox, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd May 2020
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus - Common on Mull where 90 counted at Eilean an Fheoir on 11th June 2019.
Otter Lutra lutra - I didn't see any in Norfolk in 2019 or 2020 but seen on Mull in June 2019 with one near Carsaig and one at Dervaig. I am aware that they're in the Wensum just below the Cathedral Meadows so they ought to be visible from the meadows on occasion. I've had no sign yet though...
Otter, Carsaig, 10th June 2019
Badger Meles meles - A wonderful view of 2 Badgers at Great Wood in Borrowdale on 5th April 2019.
Stoat Mustela erminea - Seen on 2 out of just 3 visits to Burnham Overy in 2019. None in 2020 and these were the third and fourth consecutive years that I failed to see a Weasel Mustela nivalis.
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EVEN-TOED UNGULATES (ARTIODACTYLA)
Wild Boar Sus scrofa - None seen but some were heard when I stopped between Sant Vicenc and Torrelles de Llobregat (Spain) to look for moths.
Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus - Frequently encountered at the meadows, or rather from the meadows as I don't think I saw one actually on the meadows themselves all year. This included a family of 2 adults and 2 young - not sure I've ever seen any so young they're still spotty before.
Roe Deer family, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 3rd August 2019
Roe Deer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 28th October 2020
Roe Deer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 4th November 2020
Roe Deer, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 23rd November 2020
Red Deer Cervus elaphus - My only records in 2019 were from Mull where they were frequently encountered. The individual photographed was taken from the cabin where we were staying at Carsaig. None in 2020.
Red Deer, Carsaig, 10th June 2019
Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi - Frequent at the meadows. A calling animal on the green in North Elmham was visible from my study window one day in 2019, the first confirmed record for my house (though I'm pretty sure I've heard them on a number of occasions).
Muntjac, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows, 13th July 2020
Muntjac, Stiffkey, 16th October 2020
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CETACEANS (CETACEA)
Bottlenose Dolpin Tursiops truncatus - 3 lots of 3 dolphins watched from our holiday cabin at Carsaig in June 2019 were probably this species although I'm not very experienced with dolphin identification and wasn't 100% certain.
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