Water Voles!

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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!

First Post of 2025!

Two Muntjac drinking by the pond and eating the emerging marginal plants!

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I got myself a ghillie suit this week... It was 100% down to the suit that enabled me to just sit next to a large sedge clump by the pond and wait for the deer to show up.  They certainly looked in my direction, but could not quite work out what I was,  they seemed to be settled with me being there - the wind was in my favour, and I managed to get these shots.  The pair of little Grebes on the pond were not so easily fooled and refused to come out to play all afternoon!

As a double bonus, two days ago I just happened to be walking around the pond before sunset and I spotted this little fella - a Water Vole! It was eating the vegitation at the side of the pond; when I disturbed it, it plopped into the water (as they do) and dissapered from site. - It was too dark to get a good picture so I have put the camera trap out in the hope that I can get some footage of "ratty" from wind in the willows.