Another sighting

before long the plants growing alongside the stream will make water vole spotting difficult. Yesterday, when meeting up with BC on his way back with George, along Willow Lane, we saw a water vole. It was sitting on the far bank eating leaves, pulling down stems and nibbling away. After a short while it swam a little way off and emerged to start eating again. The sighting was nearer the west end of the stream quite close to the nature reserve. It was a smaller adult. Mid brown.

Another sighting

Yesterday, Friday  I took George for his morning walk along Willow Lane. Towards the Long Lane end I was delighted to see another vole. A large, darker brown vole which swam to the stream edge and emerged to sit and groom. As I watched it, it spotted a large dock leaf which it pulled down and sort of folded up and then its cheeks were a blur of quick nibbling as it devoured the leaf. Having done this it spied a large compound leaf, not sure what it was but it was bigger than the vole. It then began eating this as well. I watched it preen itself some more and then watched as it swam off.

Good sighting

I took George for his morning walk alongside the stream in Willow Lane, passing a song thrush perching on a small ash tree. The sun was shining bright warming the day which started chilly. The reddish brown body and bushy tail of a fox glided off the path into the deep embryonic vivid green vegetation. Everything is bright and crisp, visibility good. Suddenly, I spot a tell tale ripple, it was about thirty yards away. I approach cautiously, quietly, anticipation rising. There is nothing. I am about to abandon the hope of seeing a vole then, on the bank opposite, about 4 yards away I see a water vole. It is preening itself at the edge of the stream. I become a statue, not moving, and watch. It dips it hands into the waters edge and splashes its face. It turns its head and buries it inside a rear leg. It rubs it hands behind his ears. Is it using glands to waterproof it's fur?
I quietly move off smiling and hoping to see it again another day.

Another sighting.

Spotted a beautiful plump, pale brown water vole this morning while giving George an earlyish, 8.15am Easter Monday walk along Willow Lane. I noticed the adjoining field has been turned over again to keep the weeds down as development the land get nearer. It will be sad to think the water voles are threatened.