Non-spotty Variety

Same place, different (adult) vole.

Genetic Interaction and Why Wildlife Corridors are Crucial

This is exciting, and has implications for local planners and ecologists. This water vole is a mile away from the other spotty voles, which shows the importance of wildlife corridors. Without interaction between colonies, a local water vole population will die out. This cannot be stressed enough, and when developments are proposed, it needs to be taken into account by planners, landowners and ecologists every time.

It's All Go at Black Park Road

  It's very overgrown on this stretch, but that's great for the voles - more food and cover.

 Comma butterfly

 A single water vole dropping laid on top of a feeding station.

Below, three feeding stations and a vole-cut piece of sedge.

  Latrines.

The voles at Black Park Road are pretty shy, but there's clearly a thriving population on that stretch. In the tiny section I looked at by the public footpath there are lots of field signs, and I could hear several chomping away.

Dropping and some feeding at Moss Field, behind Saddler's Walk estate.

Below, the excellent habitat that is Railwayman's Cottage.

I've left it too late this year to do a good survey of Moss Field or the Railwayman's Cottage, but at the former there were a few signs I managed to see among the incredibly dense vegetation, showing that the voles are still there. Then I popped up to the cottage and was thrilled to meet the new owners who are entirely pro-vole and wanted to know what they could do to improve habitat. It's such a relief to know that colony is in safe hands. Next spring I'll get in sooner, before the coverage gets too thick to move around in.

Worrying Times - Development and Water Voles

 A site entrance has gone in at both ends of the field ready for earth movers etc.

I know all of you who follow this blog will be as concerned as me that there are signs the field where the Edgeley Road voles live might be developed. It's a spectacular habitat, not just for water voles but for otters, both of which are protected species, and barn owls, water shrews, weasels and kestrels, to name but a few of the wild animals who use this site.

However, I know the landowner is on board with the voles, and fully aware of the law regarding water voles and their habitat, and will make sure full mitigation measures are followed.

A Surprise from Tiny Spot!

A non-spotted juvenile. Or does it in fact have a tiny tuft of white hair on its forehead? I can't decide.

The female I've named 'Grey-scruffy'.

The dark female. Her territory adjoins Grey-scruffy's.

One of the spotted voles on the near bank, and the Dark Vole opposite.

And the surprise is - there's more than one very young spotted water vole on the patch! I counted at least three. So this has to be genetics. It will be interesting to see if any of them make it through the winter and appear next year.

Some Studies of Tiny Spot