Mammal of the day

[vole-woman]

Do you know, I thought it looked a bit voley but I didn't like to say.

[tufftie]

Ahhh, very cute They're lovely photos

[shirl]

Originally Posted by Rob T

I

Now then, water voles and shrews do they share the same habitat if I went looking for one could I possibly stumble on the other. We have several rivers locally and some are more chalky and faster flowing than others could someone give me a bit of a clue as to who likes what. Ive never seen them on the same river.


Regards
Rob

Hi Rob

Generally water voles generally prefer slow moving /static water, with banks which are steepish and soft, easy to burrow into and with good vegetation close by for cover /nesting material and food. I have found them by canals, streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. When visiting a new site, I always look for possible burrow holes first as that might be an indication that they have been or are there.

Water shrews generally prefer fast flowing rivers and streams but they have been found in drainage ditches and ponds (including garden ponds) and of course I have seen them in my local canal which is definitely not fast flowing! Water shrews eat invertebrates which they acquire by diving under water, the ones by the canal stir up sediment when they are foraging so look for murky patches in otherwise clear water. Water voles are mainly herbivorous and can often be seen in the entrance to their burrows munching reeds etc or even grazing on top of a grass bank.

Let me know if you locate some.

Shirl

[Rob T]

Shirl,
Thanks for your help and time, thats very helpfull the sort of info that will get me looking in the right place. If I get any luck Ill be straight back here with any results. I now have renewed enthusiasm.

I tend to look at deer every other week end and pick some other form of wildlife in between so water courses will be a couple of weeks away yet but fingers crossed.
Thank you once again.

Regards

Rob

[shirl]

Originally Posted by Rob T

Shirl,
Thanks for your help and time, thats very helpfull the sort of info that will get me looking in the right place. If I get any luck Ill be straight back here with any results. I now have renewed enthusiasm.

I tend to look at deer every other week end and pick some other form of wildlife in between so water courses will be a couple of weeks away yet but fingers crossed.
Thank you once again.

Regards

Rob

Will look forward to your pics, hope you won't be disappointed, they are such gorgeous mammals.

Shirl

[tufftie]

Was having fun watching a grey squirrel mating chase earlier on today...twas very silly!!! They were all confused chasing each other in smaller circles while all heading in the same direction as the female. They travel at some speed through those trees too!!

[shirl]

My mammal of today is a sneaky little water shrew, almost got a brilliant pic, not there yet though so not Gallery standard I am afraid. It was so active , foraging and diving around and the distances it covered in a few minutes you just would not believe! Will keep trying for that perfect shot



Shirl

[Rob T]

My mammals of the day are these two Magpies.






Oh ! and these two Fallows.

Regards

Rob

[vole-woman]

Ha ha! Great shot, Rob.

Shirl, keep 'em coming.

[tigger]

My mammal of the day is a "fox". In fact two foxes, both in my garden, both regular visitors. I've just set up a WebCam if anyone would like to have a look at them today (in right hand column of my Nature Diary below). The female looks very pregnant, and I'm hoping she will use the den under my shed (used previous years). Any time now by the looks of her.... she's pretty tubby! Then the male will have his work cut out feeding her for a couple of months...