Common Rat

Rattus norvegicus

We got a good view of this creature, rummaging about and gliding in and out of the water seamlessly.

The Common Rat is a fairly recent addition to the fauna of the British Isles, probably brought here from Russia in the 18th century. It has now almost entirely displaced the Black or Ship's Rat which has been here since Roman times and there are only a few small populations of these surviving.

Rats will travel to where the food is and although my mammal book scoffs at the idea of mass movements of rats I have a friend who has seen one. Hundreds of them streaming across the path in front of him. Must have been a sight to behold!