Survey Work

We did a routine survey of the Greenfields nature reserve, Whitchurch Country Park, and found stacks of water vole burrows, plenty of feeding especially on nettles, plenty of droppings and tracks. It looks as thought the population there continues strong and healthy.

Meanwhile the water voles down Edgeley Road are active. I saw three last night, two of whom had a bit of a spat over possession of a burrow.

Feeding and "Lawns"

 A water vole "lawn" - grazed grass outside a tunnel.

Feeding left by a latrine.

Cut glyceria leaves at Edgeley Road.

The characteristic 45 degree cut used by water voles.

Droppings at the wood yard.

A Marsh Tit!

Water vole starry paw prints in Greenfields

 A latrine in Greenfields, the Country Park

Swimming vole, White Lion Meadow.

Whixall and Greenfields

In the Country Park (Greenfields Nature Reserve). The ripples half way up the stream are probably caused by a water vole.

Water vole droppings in the Country Park

Above, an Edgeley Road vole. Below, one at White Lion Meadow.

Water vole droppings on Whixall Moss.

Whitethroat

Common red damselflies

Raft spider

Further Afield

 Yellowhammer, on Prees Heath

 Burrows along Edward German Drive

 Great crested newts, Brown Moss

 Water vole burrows and a vole "lawn" at Greenfields (Whitchurch Country Park)

 The brook as it passes through Greenfields nature reserve

 Mossfields, the back of Saddler's Walk, and one of many many feeding stations there

White Lion Meadow vole from this evening

A reminder that water voles leave piled of chopped-up vegetation, cut slantwise at both ends (see 7th pic down). Field voles also do this, but on a much daintier scale and using smaller leaves, eg juncus and blades of grass. Field voles are also more likely to poo on their feeding stations.

Further Afield

Timber yard vole

Above: feeding at Railwayman's Cottage. Below: feeding at the back of Wayland's Road

White Lion Meadow vole that's blind in one eye.

What look like water vole burrows at the edge of Wem Moss.

You can follow the Staggsbrook along from the timber yard behind Tesco, through White Lion Meadow car park and down Edward German Drive, then into Wayland Road and to Railwayman's Cottage (the bridge by Homebase), and see water vole signs all the way along. Mostly it's feeding and burrows - I'm not seeing many latrines so far this year - but there is clear activity right through. 

Meanwhile the Whitchurch Water Vole Group has surveyed the stretch of brook as it comes out on the other side of town, along Greenfields and into the nature reserve. Again, there were plenty of signs and even a sighting. So it's looking like a decent start to the year.

The burrows at the edge of Wem Moss were a surprise, though. I know there are plenty of colonies around Whixall, but this stream's black, acid and peaty and just doesn't look very inviting. It goes to show, water voles keep you on your toes!