Coming to the End of the Voling Season

Droppings tell me there's regular vole traffic on this stretch.

Getting very few sightings now, though a vole came up last night and sniffed my boot. The trail cam shows that the water voles are mainly nocturnal at the moment, which is a usual pattern. One of the video clips shows a bank vole: I include it to show the relative size against the water vole. (Ignore the date stamp, which keeps re-setting itself to the wrong time.)

This blog will, as usual, go into semi-hibernation now, although I'll post if I see anything interesting. Otherwise, see you in the Spring!

Feeding - Prickles Cause No Problem

 

hard-to-spot latrine

It was impressive the way this vole demolished a thistle, apparently unbothered by the sharp prickly leaves. This is all that was left after the vole felled the tall plant, leaving the characteristic 45 degree cuts at the end.

Variation in Droppings, and Bold Voles

 

wood white

peacock

silver-washed fritillary

Fresher droppings are olive green, while older ones are dark brown or even black.

Latrines

 

I've drawn a blue ring around the latrine above as it's hard to spot otherwise.

More Field Signs

Comma butterfly

droppings and feeding

glow worm and Painted Lady

Red Admiral

part-leucistic robin

 

 

young whitethroat

 

two different voles outside a burrow