Lock-down Adventure No 4 - Our Resident Field Vole

4th April 2020

Another bright sunny morning and I am drawn like a magnet to the pond. Sadly no frogs this year and still too early for the first damselflies, but there is a good show of Water Hyacinth and Marsh Marigold. Also the pond water was obviously starting to warm up as the goldfish were cruising around on the surface.

As I was counting the fish I saw a small movement out of the corner of my eye. There on the far side of the pond was what I initially assumed was a Wood Mouse looking for seeds amongst the marginal vegetation. It them scurried down a small hole under the rigid pond liner. This was too good an opportunity to miss.

I threw a few sunflower hearts outside the hole, set up my camera and macro lens on the tripod just three feet away and waited. It wasn't too long before a pair of beady eyes peered out from the hole but more importantly revealed a very blunt nose indicating that this was in fact a vole.

It eventually gathered up courage to venture out but was not clearly not confident in leaving its hole completely. However, over the next half an hour I did manage to get a few shots.

Actually, judging by that very short tail, it looks as though it is a Field Vole.

I have seen voles under the feeders during the winter months, but this was the first time that I realised that they were in fact resident in the garden. Looks like I have another mouth to feed.