Night Badger, Day Fox and Barn Owl

 

Trail Cam Roe Deer Buck is curious and looking after his Doe!

Beautiful Roe Deer in the copse. 

Water Voles!

 Click For Larger Images

Typically, water voles are chestnut-brown in colour, so I’m trying to establish whether these might actually be melanistic voles — a darker form more commonly associated with Scotland than the East of England. I’ll be interested to see what advice comes back to help clarify this.

Either way, water voles are an endangered species, with numbers having declined by around 90% since the 1970s. American mink are a major predator of water voles, while habitat loss has also played a significant role in their decline.

I know I have at least two, as I’ve seen them together at the same time, and I’m hoping there may be more living around my pond. I’ve also spotted one in a nearby drain, which is probably how they “upgraded” their accommodation and moved into the more desirable habitat!

Post No. 4 2025 - Randoms!

Well... I’ve been busy so not found the time to update and post but here are some random updates.

Did not cut the meadow this year and I'm so glad I didn't, because there are lots of butterflies enjoying the long grass and flowers.  Mainly Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Skippers, Peacocks, Commas, Painted lady, large whites etc. Several hummingbird hawk months visiting the pink and white valerian flowers. 

Moorhens have at least 5 chicks on the pond. Kingfisher seen a few times but require a new perch and diving post as the old ones have been taken over by encroachment of Norfolk reed. The reed however is supporting several breeding pairs of Reed warblers which have hatched off young.  Tawny Owls continue to call at night, and the Barn Owl is still hunting over the meadow and pond margins. 

I have put up two hunting posts in the meadow to give them a nice vantage point.  I have seen water voles now on several occasions so am pleased they have found a home at Longbeach Farm. Several grass snakes seen disappearing into the long grass having been disturbed while basking on the cut paths through the meadow.   

The main pond is maturing nicely although the Norfolk reed is a bit of a thug! – The second smaller pond has been re-lined with clay (again…) just filling up now and hopefully this time it will hold water.

Random pics (in no particaulr order) below which reference some of the updates mentioned above!

Main Pond.

Gatekeeper Butterfly.

Small Pond Re-lining with clay.

Swallows stopped by for water in the pond.

Meadown Brown Butterfly.

Norfolk Reed getting rather boisterous!

Parent Reed Warber.

Young Warbler hatched this year.

Uncut Meadow. 

One of the new Raptor posts.

Small pond Pond nearly full... will it hold water...

Hummingbird Hawk months visiting the Valerian.

Moorehen Chick enjoying a day on the fringed lillys.

Does what it says on the tin. Lilly!

Peacock.

Post No. 3 2025 - A Trio of Tufted Duck on the Pond!