The Fatness of Water Voles

 

Bee fly, and pied flycatcher.

Water voles are well-rounded and plump - they eat 70% of their body weight every day, from a range of at least 227 different species of plants. This one is eating catkins covered in protein-rich pollen.

Sightings Are Irregular

 ....and I'm still having difficulty walking, so all but the town colony are off-limits to me at the moment. But every few evenings, I get a sighting.

Disabled-access Voles

 

The summer before I began this blog, back in 2006, I remember driving my mum onto the main town car park, helping her into her wheelchair and pushing her onto the little bridge. From there she could easily see several water voles and we had a lovely half hour. This colony is very accessible and not as shy as non-town water voles, which means that even though I'm on crutches, I can hobble across to look at them and even get photos.

 

A Short Pause

 

Mating toads.

Female stonechat and pied wagtail. 

Common lizard.

Kestrel and young peregrine falcon.

The voles are shy and late this year. I know they're around in all the usual spots but they're not showing themselves just yet. Next week I'll be in hospital for a bit, so shan't be able to get out to check on them. However, as soon as I'm up and running I'll be back with fresh updates. 

Meanwhile, here's the wildlife I've seen this week.

Voles at White Lion Meadow still very shy. But there are feeding signs and burrows appearing.

Stonechats, a kestrel, and boxing hares.

 

First Water Vole of 2021

 

The first water vole of the year seen at the Timber Yard today.

Crouching hare. 

Probably water vole feeding.

Female reed bunting.

Feeding, latrine and burrows in the field off Edgeley Road.

The first frog spawn of the year also appeared in our pond today.

Various Birds

 

Watchful kestrel.

Lapwings, golden plovers and below, an oystercatcher.

Little Egret.