January Vole

A water vole tonight by the main town car park. We must make sure we don't dismiss sites covered in litter or in the centre of urban areas as valueless for wildlife. This brook supports a really thriving meta-population of voles from one side of town right across to the other.

First Water Vole Photos of 2020

First Water Vole of 2020

No photos as I didn't have my camera, but there was a good-condition water vole under the bridge at White Lion Meadow car park today eating leaves and shoots.

In the decade and a half I've been monitoring this colony, I've never had a sighting in January.

Happy 2020

Taken today at the Ponderosa café, Llangollen.

Christmas Eve Water Vole!

 Cormorant

 Fieldfare

 Kestrel

 Blue tit

 Chaffinch

 Greater Spotted woodpecker

 Lapwing

 Nuthatch

 Snipe

 Field vole

I was amazed to see this water vole in the brook near Tesco's on Christmas Eve. I know that although water voles spend most of their winter underground, they do come up regularly for a spot of greenery. I've never seen one, though!

December Starlings

I don't normally post over the winter, but it's been such a joy to watch this murmuration of starlings over Whixall Moss.

So Long Till Spring

It's unlikely I'll see any more water voles till February/March time. They'll be underground, feeding on roots, till the warmer weather. So I shan't be posting much till then.

Have a safe autumn and winter and I'll see you in the spring. x