Water Vole - Bakewell

 I saw a single Water Vole a couple of days ago in Bakewell but of course didn't have the camera. Fortunately I saw 2 today which are my first records for the year.

Let's hope they breed successfully as they have been difficult to find in recent years.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Rowsley

The Water Voles at Caudwell's Mill and adjacent River Wye appear to have had a tough time in recent years. They were fairly widespread there up to late 2014 when they disappeared entirely. I found one dead at that time and with hindsight I wish I had done more to establish the cause.
In 2015 and 2016 I saw very little evidence of their presence although I did here several reports of sightings. At the start of this year I started to see regular signs of droppings but the Water Voles themselves remained elusive although I did manage some brief sightings.
As we have moved in to the summer sightings have become more frequent but they remain very shy, which may not be such a bad thing!

Water Vole

Water Vole - Cromford Canal

I think it's about two years since I have seen a Water Vole on Cromford Canal. Granted I haven't been that regularly but I did spend some time along the full length of the canal at the start of the year.
This evening James and I had a single animal at High Peak Junction but there must have been at least two as another couple had just seen one further down the canal. 
I don't think there is any doubt that the population crashed a couple of years ago and I have heard several theories why this may have occurred, particularly surrounding the use of the barge but I find it hard to believe that this would have had such an effect.
Hopefully they are making a come back.

Water Vole

The Water Vole by Christine Gregory

My copy of local author Christine Gregory's new book, The Water Vole arrived through the letter box this morning. 
It looks superb with 240 pages of text and colour photographs, nearly all taken by Christine, in a similar format to her publication Brown Hares in the Derbyshire Dales.
In addition to covering the lives and ecology of the Water Vole there is a large section entitled Derbyshire's Water Voles with many photographs taken locally. 
Sadly the book also maps the decline of this iconic resident of our waterways, both Nationally and specifically in Derbyshire. I've mentioned previously my own observation on the Water Voles disappearance from many local sites in the last few years and as Chris Packham writes in his foreword to the book;
 'What would life be like without the characteristic 'plop', that little cork-pulling wet plop, which, if we are lucky , we can still hear as we wend along a wilder stream?' 
What indeed!
I'm looking forward to reading the book in the coming weeks, and well done Christine!

Water Vole - Youlgreave

Finally caught up with Water Vole, surprisingly my first for the year. It's not for want of trying, I had concluded that they had gone from Cauldwells Mill until Ken saw one last week but I had seen a stone with vole droppings on it at Youlgreave and after several visits one finally appeared this morning.
My first Chiffchaff of the year singing at Rowsley but otherwise quiet.

Water Vole

Water Vole youngsters

A brood of young Water Vole finally emerged at Rowsley today. There were at least 3, all a similar size, looking about a third of the size of the adults. There was no sign of the adults and the young all appeared to be feeding happily on grass at the edge of the water.

Water Vole - young

Water Vole - up close

Came across a couple of Water Vole this morning and one was fairly obliging.

Water Vole

Water Vole mating

Ken sent me a couple of photographs taken on Friday of a pair of Water Vole mating - not something I have ever witnessed. Ken did well to get the photos. I have never knowingly seen any youngsters either, for that matter, so it will be interesting to see what happens as the Spring progresses.

Water Vole mating (Ken Smith)

Water Vole's becoming more active

As the weather has improved the Water Vole's are becoming more active. I was pleased with the one swimming as they tend to be either parallel to you or swimming away so it was nice to catch one coming in my direction.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Cromford Canal

Just back today from a week in the French Alps, I'll add a few photos to my flickr account when I get chance, consequently I have no local news but James mentioned that the Water Voles had been showing well at Cromford so I headed down there this afternoon.
It has been such a mild winter that this must have favoured mammals like the Water Vole that don't hibernate. They showed well enough to get a couple of photos and I'll return in better light.

Water Vole

Water Vole feeding on Bulrush

Overcast with persistent rain from the middle of the day so rather miserable and it's starting to feel very autumnal. I've still been out and about and spent some time by the river at Rowsley again where I came across this Water Vole feeding on a Bulrush spike.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Rowsley

Haven't seen much today but found an obliging Water Vole by the river at Rowsley.

Water Vole

More photos of Water Vole

The weather was poor yesterday, dull and overcast in the morning with rain most of the afternoon. 
When it was dry I returned to Caudwells Mill and quickly found an obliging Water Vole. The light was poor but shooting at ISO 1600 still produced a decent result with the 5D III which would have been impossible with the 7D. 
I was surprised at just how agile the vole was on the stem of the flowering Hemp Agrimony. It stood in its hind legs at one point to reach across to a neighbouring stem.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Caudwells Mill

Three sightings of Water Vole on the river and around the mill this morning, also a family party of Tufted Duck which is the first I have seen so locally. 
I had over 50 Crossbill over the house a couple of mornings ago so fingers crossed for more in the weeks to come.

Water Vole

More Water Vole

It's been overcast and grey most of the day so I went to Cromford Canal this afternoon for the Water Vole, despite the number of people walking along the canal, or perhaps as a result of,  they provide excellent views. When I first arrived a vole was gathering grass on the banking before diving in to the canal, I presume this material is used to line the nest.
I particularly like the reflection on the photo below these.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Cromford Canal

James got nice views of this Water Vole at Cromford Canal this afternoon. Good to see that the snow and prolonged sub-zero temperatures haven't caused any problems for them.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Bakewell centre

Came across this Water Vole yesterday in the middle of the day happily eating the base of these reeds then periodically diving in to get another, quite oblivious to the walkers passing by a few feet away.

Water Vole

Water Vole - Bakewell

Came across this confiding Water Vole close to Bakewell centre early afternoon.

Water Vole