Whitethroats, Purple Hairstreaks, Lizards and Water Voles

 

 

young whitethroat

 

two different voles outside a burrow

Young and Old

 

There's a difference in body shape, fur texture and colour between this youngster above and this large (possibly pregnant?) water vole.

Marsh and Pyramidal Orchids

Features of a Water Vole

 

Here on the flanks you can see the gap in the fur where the water vole's scent glands are located. There is another gap in the fur behind the ears, just like guinea pigs have.

The tail is long and brown, and covered in fur.

The muzzle usually has white fur underneath. The teeth are orange.

This young vole has slightly fluffier fur than an adult, and it's darker brown too. Water voles' fur is water-repellent, so it dries quickly with a good shake when the vole gets out of the water. Voles swimming underwater look silver because of the air trapped in the fur.

Tree Pipit

one of the Skippers

Red Admiral

Peacock caterpillars

Meadow Brown

latrines

6-spot Burnet moth