Saturday 19 July 2008

Whixall and the Prees Branch Canal

Young vole sitting just about where NSDC want to install a drainage pipe!

Male banded demoiselle, Pres Branch canal



White legged damselflies, Prees Branch Canal

Female large skipper

Prints on the raft at the marina end of the canal



A little feeding.
Not as much feeding - at at least, not as much visible feeding - at the Prees Branch canal, and also some worrying prints on the raft near the marina. Obviously this needs investigating, so I'm seeking an ID from a friend. Then again, the lady who lives in the cottage at the other end said she saw two water voles this week in the vegetation by her house.

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Lots of insects by the canal; Whixall's a wonderful area for wildlife.
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Came back to Whitchurch and spotted this young water vole by the railway bridge.
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Update: my WAB friend Mark thinks the prints aren't mink because there's too small a gap between toe pads, and "palm" pad, toe pad spread is too small, and there are no claw marks. It might be a cat, which isn't ideal for w-vs, but it's nothing like as disastrous as mink.

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