Water Vole, London Wetland Center

This is nothing more than a record shot. But an image I would not have hoped to get. It was the first time I had seen a Water Vole properly and to my delight it was bang out in the open and unfazed by people. The day started very misty and then the mist cleared for twio hours and the sun came out. Fortunately, the Water Vole chose this time to come out and there was just enough light to take an acceptably sharp picture by steadying the camera against a wooden bridge. The Water Vole was very obliging until a child came running over the bridge and scared it.

Water Voles were introduced to the London Wetland Center and fitted with radio collars so that scientists could study this native British mammal which is in danger of extinction. Its population has plummeted by 90%. This animal did not have a collar and must be the progeny of one of the introduced animals. Most Water voles do not survive two winters. It is the larget of the species of voles found in the UK. It was a little smaller than a Brown Rat. The size surprised me as I had expected them to be smaller. Compared to rats, the face is more blunt and the ears are round and hidden by fur.