'Real thrill' as camera captures rare pine marten

An elusive and rare mammal described as being notoriously "hard to spot" is believed to have been caught on camera in Suffolk for the first time.

The sighting of what wildlife experts believe to be a pine marten - cat-sized animals related to weasels and stoats – came at the Benacre National Nature Reserve.

It was captured on a camera trap installed to monitor predators and disturbance affecting rare beach-nesting birds at the beach, which is south of Lowestoft.

Adam Burrows, senior reserve manager for Natural England, said it was a "fantastic find" and a "real thrill" for everyone who worked there.

"Pine martens are primarily nocturnal and hard to spot, but their light bib and bushy tail help set them apart from other mustelids," he said.

"Seeing what we think is a pine marten in Suffolk for the first time shows just how special this landscape is."

The last recorded sighting close to Benacre National Nature Reserve was made at Heacham, Norfolk, in 2024.

The reserve, managed by Natural England, is part of the Suffolk coast's protected habitats for breeding and migratory birds.

It supports more than 100 breeding bird species, including marsh harrier and bittern, while its shingle shoreline hosts plants such as yellow horned poppy and sea holly.

Once widespread across Britain, pine marten numbers have declined sharply due to habitat loss and historical persecution.

There are strongholds of the mammals in Scotland and parts of Wales, but in England they are now rare.

"Their presence at Benacre National Nature Reserve reflects the natural balance of a healthy ecosystem, where predators and prey coexist as part of the site's wildlife thriving together," Burrows added.

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