A Vole in One

Apologies for the title, but it was very unfortunate for a Field Vole at Coate Water, when a Grey Heron spied it in the undergrowth and made a very quick meal out of it. I guess anything moving about in the long grass is fair game.

Closing in..........

Almost there........

Got it.......

One very unfortunate Field Vole 

And this was the last time it was seen

All a bit gruesome, but that's wildlife for you. A bit further around the lake I came across a Harlequin Ladybird which was scurrying around on fence.

Harlequin Ladybird

Along Broome Manor lane the Ivy flowers were providing food for a lot of wasps, but try as I could I couldn't find a single Hornet. And to think that the last two weekends have seen quite a few along this path. 

At the bottom end of the lake there was quite a lot of wildfowl with Wigeon, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Geese and a few Mute Swans. In amongst them some good numbers of Coot with one or two Moorhens along the banks. A Little Grebe called out but disappeared before I could see it.

Two Wigeon, 3 Gadwall and a Coot

Just before the causeway there was a very friendly Grey Squirrel that seemed quite carefree as I approached it. Eventually it scampered off to waters edge for a drink and then sat there nibbling on some waterside plants.

A Grey Squirrel has his eye on me........

And then turned and started feeding on some green leaves.

At the causeway there was a solitary Tufted Duck, which was incredibly black apart from a slight tinge of white. Not sure why she was on her own!

A very dark looking female Tufted Duck

Above the causeway a pair of Goldfinches were singing away and a little further on 3 Carrion Crows were upsetting the Jackdaws by sitting in their favourite tree.

One of a pair of Goldfinches singing above me

This Carrion Crow was an unwelcome visitor to the local Jackdaws tree.

Along the tree line towards the children's play park a flock of tits flew past with a Chiffchaff and Coal Tit in amongst the Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and Great Tits. And finally in amongst the fallen leaves a moth that I have yet to identify. Not sure what I did wrong but the photo is very poor quality.

Moth sp.

Birds Recorded:Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Jay, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Also seen Field Vole, Wood Mouse, wasps sp., Blue Bottles and a moth sp.