Mammal of the day

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by shirl

I might have been to the canal this morning! Pics of a couple of the juvenile water voles, the last pic was so funny - it was definitely hiding!







Shirl

aww lovely shots

[shei111]

excellent shots shirl and mark. shei

[Tracey.A]

Decided yesterday that I'd had enough of not being able to get out because of the weather, so I went of to Lochleven (not the Lochleven beside Seamusglen, but the one in Perth & Kinross). My mission, spurred on by Shirls lovely photos of water voles, was to find some of my own. I failed - again! I did however see a stoat, that showed itself for about ten minutes, it was just beautiful and I was chuffed to bits The birds in the shrubs close by were not so chuffed and were shouting out alarm calls with fury!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

Decided yesterday that I'd had enough of not being able to get out because of the weather, so I went of to Lochleven (not the Lochleven beside Seamusglen, but the one in Perth & Kinross). My mission, spurred on by Shirls lovely photos of water voles, was to find some of my own. I failed - again! I did however see a stoat, that showed itself for about ten minutes, it was just beautiful and I was chuffed to bits The birds in the shrubs close by were not so chuffed and were shouting out alarm calls with fury!

Sorry to hear you didnt find any Water Voles Tracey, but to watch a Stoat for so long is quite a result - usually when I see them it`s only for a few seconds

Mark H

[shirl]

How wonderful Tracey, pity you didn't see any water voles there too, but that would have put you on edge as stoats do eat water voles. Better that you saw the stoat alone!

Shirl

[Tracey.A]

Thanks Mark, thanks Shirl,

The problem with the areas that I was searching for water voles is that they are so over grown it is just impossible, an elephant could hide in the under growth and not be seen! I did get excited for about half a second when I heard a plop sound coming from the water, but then noticed my nine year son old sniggering I have now decided that I will try an area I used to see water voles in when I was a teenager, back then there was a healthy population, so you never know Still jealous of the photography skills that you two both have I tried my hand at photography a few nights ago up at Vane Farm looking for moths and took 81 photos, but when I downloaded them only about three were okay (ish) and the rest were deleted I've snooped in on the posts about photography, but I haven't got a clue what they are talking about, sounds like a foreign language to my ears! Och well, at least I can look at other peoples photos and enjoy them Tracey

[ron1863]

Get a camera Tracey and leave your boy at home, or tie his hands together

[shirl]

Tracey - it is a difficult time of year for water vole - ing as you say the vegetation is so dense. If I have to survey this late in the year I am sure to miss lots of signs, however try and look for "holes" and tunnels in the vegetation, might give you an idea that they are at least there. Here is a typical run emerging out of dense vegetation, you can just see that the grass is flattened in the centre of the pic. Good luck and I am sure we will be taking lots more water vole pics.

Shirl

[Tracey.A]

Thanks Shirl, I appreciate the photo. Earlier this year we found lots of signs that there were small populations around Loch Leven. It was so interesting, I can identify the holes, the feeding stations and their poo, but didn't see any actual water voles The photo of the run emerging from thick vegetation and the flattened grass in the middle of the run is something I will look out for It's certainly addictive searching for tracks and signs and hopefully finding the owner of them

Thanks again Shirl

Tracey

[Tracey.A]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Get a camera Tracey and leave your boy at home, or tie his hands together

You're not wrong Ron I could probably do with a better camera and a few (lot of) lessons as well! A friend of mine has tried to tell me about the technical stuff re cameras in the past, but I just glaze over. Must try harder to pay attention!!

I am tempted to leave hyperactive son at home sometimes! When out and about I become so absorbed in what I'm doing that hours seem to go by in a flash. When said child is with me all I hear is 'Mum, are we going soon? I'm hungry/thirsty/bored/need the toilet...............' Or worse, because he knows I'm scared of adders he'll shout out 'mind the adder mum', which then has me on red alert! Daft, as I've never seen one in my life! Yep, he's a darling little boy

Tracey