Friday 5th, 10:40 am. Stoat chasing Rabbit at the Mill Lakes.
The Rabbit and Stoat appeared from one bush and ran a short distance to another bush, only to reappear and then disappear into a third bush.
I didn’t witness the eventual outcome, but can only assume it was one nil to the Stoat!
This all took place on the railway side of the lake, where the wooden bench is that looks over the water to the old mill house, and lasted just long enough for me to pull my camera out of my bag, turn it on and take a couple of rapid shots – probably 30 seconds or so.

Blimey! You're quick on the draw, Alan. I would have missed that if my camera had been already out and set. It would have been a competition winner if you had been prepared and had a good panning technique. Well done anyway!

Albert – photographers are like fishermen, we’re always talking about the ones that got away.
This should have been a great shot but unfortunately it was quite a dull morning and I don’t think the auto-focus could lock-on to anything.
The first time I pressed the shutter nothing happened, so I tried again and got the shot, the next shot I got was the Rabbits rear end disappearing behind the concrete bench.
Surprisingly, for an animal running for its life, the Rabbit wasn’t running all that fast.
I’ve seen Stoats chase Rabbits before and they always bound along behind like they are playing a game. I think they must chase the Rabbit until it’s exhausted and just gives up before going in for the kill.
Pictures like this are pure luck, this morning I was half lucky… but next time!

That's great Alan. I have had one similar encounter along the path to Leen Pastures where they ran down the path to within a meter of where I stood before seeing me and bounding off into the woodland. Someone on the BCP flickr group reported a similar encounter for last year in the area where you were today. Great that you captured the action

Ben – with an event as rare as this, any picture however poor is always a big bonus and for that reason I’m very pleased with it, but I still curse the fact that it wasn’t better.
On the path almost exactly opposite the “Stoat event” I came across a small caterpillar. What on earth it was doing out on such a cold damp day, goodness only knows. I just hope its chances of survival are better than the Rabbits.

Amazing! Late this afternoon I called past the Ranger Office on my afternoon walk to be told that they'd watched a stoat in the barbecue area catch and kill a rabbit! Perhaps a 'FoBWCP reporter' ought to be dispatched to interview witness Ranger Rob and bring us the ghastly details! We might have our own, local version of the 'Beast of Exmoor' (or perhaps not!). I've not been fortunate to see a stoat in Bestwood CP, though I've seen weasels on several occasions and two escaped ferrets.

Apparently the caterpillar stage is chosen by many UK butterfly and moth species for overwintering, as they are both hardy and mobile. The closest match I can come up with for this caterpillar is that of the White Ermine Moth, which I believe is widespread and occurs in Notts. If that's the case then it's an odd coincidence because Ermine is another name for a Stoat in its white winter fur, and otherwise known as a White Ermine.