It is difficult especially when you know there are both voles and rats. Usually, the entrance holes are larger, and quite often there is excavated earth around it. In this location there are rat runs from every hole too, well trampled. Easy one for me that day as there were loads of rats popping in and out! Always a bit more difficult by the waters edge although again rat burrows tend to be larger and higher up , often a bit further away from the water itself. At least rat and water vole droppings are easy to tell, got a load of rat droppings yet again in the loft - little sods!
Hi, Shirl! In your pic of a rat burrow on the Signs and Tracks thread, how do you know it's rat and not water vole? I find it really really hard to tell the difference between them.
Kate
Hi Rob
Hope you find them at Petworth. Whilst we were renovating our current house we rented a little cottage and these dark deer (our landlord said they were New Zealand Black so I assume he meant Norwegian) used to come into the garden. So I know where to start looking - that is if it ever stops raining.
That would be good Shirl Id love to see one of those, I think the nearest black to us is at Petworth house, I may try to get up there after the rut and try to get a pic of one whilst they are still in good condition. (keep up the good VW work).
Regards
Rob
She really was gorgeous Rob, you were so lucky to see her. I have to sneak about and I usually have the springers with me so I don't very often catch sight of a deer I am afraid. Will have to leave the dogs at home! We do have herds of dark fallow deer (possibly Norwegian Black) so I will make an effort to go and photograph them.
Thank you Shirl for the comments on the fallow doe, we were laying up against a tree having a cup of coffee she stared, lifted her head up and down, gave us a couple of barks then walked off.
Regards
Rob