Water Vole

Yes, when I enlarged the pic Cal. We saw one once at a water park in north London, where a little water vole walked across a big pond on weed behind a heron on a pole looking the other way! Cute as you say.

Thank you both.
I did try to enlarge it even more as it was so far away but the image started to distort lol.
Oh wow, I’ve never seen a heron in the wild bet that was lovely for you :)

Yes, they’re amazing birds … stand so still sometimes, you wonder if they’re real.

You did well to capture the little vole 🙂.

:) thank you Shelia.

You must be very observant, Cal. Interesting little creatures.

Lol you would think Ange not usually but saying that I have seen 2 blue jays, a Nuthatch, a Stoat, a small deer in the distance, there is a perigrine falcon that use to belong to somebody that hovers over a small woodland all on the same walk before but not managed to capture a photo so I’m always looking out for them.
I make a note of what wildlife I’ve seen within that area and it’s amazing how quick the list grows.

Are you out in the countryside, Cal, or are these all near your canal? You obviously have a keen interest in the wildlife around you. Do you try and make your own garden more wildlife friendly?

I live in a small town but I’m only a stones throwish from fields, a few parks, canals and brooks. If I had my way though I’d be living in the middle of the woods in a cabin lol.
I think I’ve hit a point in life where you realise what it is that truly matters in life, and I think getting to know more about the planet we live on and the wildlife we share it with and putting your money into experiences with loved ones and giving nature that helping hand is better than making the rich man richer. My fella calls me a hippie lol.
I have bug houses and shallow dishes of water and put food out for the birds and they have a bath. I’d like to do something for the hedgehogs and put a bat box up as we get bats flying about and I have 2 bird boxes but nothing has nested in them yet.

That all sounds brilliant Cal. Blackbirds, dunnocks and robins entertain us every day, using the bird bath for a good shower … their enthusiastic fluttering always makes us smile 🙂.

Thank you Shelia. I’ve never seen a Dunnock before, they are very interesting to watch :)

I agree with you about the important things. At least in our own gardens we can try to make a difference. I remember decades ago discovering Chris Baines book on wildlife gardening and I recently acquired the Butterfly Bros. book which is full of great ideas. We have kept our new gate high off the ground as we have regular evening visits from the hedgehog(s) and keep scrapes under the fences for them to come and go, too. The cat is a bit bemused when she meets them!

I will definitely have to have a look at them books, thank you Ange. I’d have to do something in the front garden for the hedgehogs as I have 2 Small dogs that would be gone if I did that lol. I bet she is too I can imagine she’s thinking I can’t play with it, I can’t eat it so what can I do with it :)

Oh, yes.

Aw, very cute little fellow! Nicely spotted, Cal!

Thank you :)