Water Voles 2010

[shirl]

Well I thought it was time to pop to the canal for a quick look around, I was really lucky to see 4 water voles, one almost certainly a lovely large adult male. All were feeding close to the waters edge, no sign of any nesting activity at this particlular location today. There were increased signs of bankside grazing and new burrow holes / tunnels presumably as a result of the canal still being frozen in places. No really good photos today, but here are a couple anyway. One is a very soggy water vole - they don't make good photos!





I can't wait to start surveying in a few weeks time, weather permitting more water vole checks next week especially to our regular stronghold population.

Shirl

[Ukwildlifeo]

Had a look for some myself today: the first sight the river was as high as Ive seen it and no voles present and a sighting up by the lake turned out to be a brown rat!

At RSPB Rainham something brown moved under the boardwalk before I got a good look. Been a year nearly since I saw one properly, I shall have to try again!

[vole-woman]

Wow, Shirl! I never see any voles or vole evidence till late Feb at the earliest.

Thanks for starting the thread! Let's hope it's a busy year.

[shirl]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

Been a year nearly since I saw one properly, I shall have to try again!

Now I really would get withdrawal symptoms!

And fingers crossed it will be a good year for them, I suspect the normal winter snow will be on it's way soon, that may put things back a little.

Shirl

[bugly's]

i hope our voles will be ok after the freeze, we have a large colony near us. The local trust stopped all the boats from mooring after we found them, caused great problems for the boat show. Do they over winter well? or do the population fluctuate like other small mammals? Love your pictures, i never have the camera when ours are willing to 'sit' must try harder this year to get some shots.

[shirl]

I will look forward to seeing your pics. Water voles like many other species are particularly vulnerable in winter months, mortality rates can be as high as 70%, so it's always fingers crossed they had a good body weight and have managed to get food throughout the bad weather. Our canal was completely frozen in places but I have seen them swim the full width under ice to get to grass banks.

I can't wait for the surveys to start.

Shirl

[rlchew]

This reminds me that another trip to the Cromford Canal is well overdue.

Hopefully these small mammals which are already struggling with habitat destruction and mink predation have not suffered too much with the big freeze.

I have been very fortunate with Water Vole photography at this site in the past.

Water Voles

Richard

[Dogghound]

The sites here on the edge of the North Yorkmoors are still occupied despite the harsh winter still large amounts of snow on high and sheltered areas but the voles are still there. . One of the sites has a HUGE population too.

[vole-woman]

That's good news.

Stunning photos, richew!

[shirl]

Probably see you by Cromford Canal Richard, love the photos.

Great news Dogghound, always good to hear of sizeable populations.

Shirl