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Post by shirl100 on May 23, 2015 14:06:54 GMT
Well, I don't know how all the other water vole surveyors are finding things, but certainly my surveys in Derbyshire so far this year are not good. There have been a few water vole sightings but quite spread out and hardly any activity signs are being found in my sites. Best I could manage this morning on a 1500m survey - 2 lots of feeding remains, most likely from water vole. Here is one pic of the feeding remains, a bit of a Flag Iris feast I would say. Next survey is a stretch where there have been a few sightings this year, hopefully there will be some good signs. Shirl  Feast_of_Iris_Aqueduct by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr |
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Post by dogghound on May 26, 2015 14:08:08 GMT
I haven't had the greatest of years so far either. I think the cold spring hasn't helped and that the breeding season has been slightly delayed due to temperature and vegetation taking a bit of time to get established.
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Post by shirl100 on May 26, 2015 16:54:45 GMT
I haven't had the greatest of years so far either. I think the cold spring hasn't helped and that the breeding season has been slightly delayed due to temperature and vegetation taking a bit of time to get established. Good to see you here! Surveyed another section of the canal this morning, same thing - over a 1.8km stretch 9 feeding stations only although well spread out they were in the locations where a few water voles have been seen. More surveys to come this week although I have to say I am getting latrine withdrawal symptoms! Shirl |
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Post by dogghound on May 26, 2015 17:56:26 GMT
Yes good to catch up Shirl. Interesting so what kind of numbers did you get in the same location last year? It's certainly an interesting one, I think they are likely just a bit behind. Certainly don't think it's all doom and gloom yet. Prolonged winters obviously restrict early breeding behaviour. It's a shame as the winter here wasn't that bad, just the very cold spring and constant high winds.
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Post by shirl100 on May 26, 2015 18:28:08 GMT
For the first site mentioned above:-
2014
1 latrine
103 feeding stations
2015 no latrines
14 feeding stations
I have done 11 surveys so far this spring and only one site has had any latrines - and that's a weird site as the canal has been closed off both ends and a bit of water trickles in then disappears under the towpath - a place you really wouldn't expect to find water voles! We have had a few sightings on the canal, but they are usually just individuals and quite spread out. I have 2 more canal ones to do in the next week so fingers crossed - I need a latrine!
Shirl
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Post by dogghound on May 27, 2015 12:48:37 GMT
Interesting, by May you typically expect all females to have set up territory, but even then most of the population will have already set up from March on-wards. Into June would be very unusual for none of them to have yet established a territory (although it has been cold). As latrines directly correlate with population size you can only assume that there has been a local population decline. I have noticed both bank voles and field voles having had an excellent 2014 breeding season both crashed over the winter, more so than would be expected. Although British water voles are nowhere near as cyclic in their population dynamics as the other two species. I have not noticed anything significant with the local water voles here but don't get to study them as much as I would like.
Could you perhaps provide some artificial latrine rafts to help you get a better understanding of what is going on?
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Post by shirl100 on May 27, 2015 15:46:00 GMT
The rafts may be a good idea, I did another survey this morning on the busiest stretch of the canal - this includes a canal boat which is operating at least 3 days a week - and absolutely no activity at all. I am not surprised at that though. What I would like to do is survey the canal where possible by boat so I can get to the other side of the bank, there may be some signs there but I am still concerned that,from what we have so far including actual water vole sightings, the population may not be viable. There may be many factors involved unfortunately but you have to try and do what you can.
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Post by shirl100 on Sept 29, 2015 17:20:38 GMT
Well I have started my autumn water vole surveys, 3 completed so far and only 1 site might show water vole presence but not conclusively - 2 piles of feeding remains (reed and grass stem) could be water vole or field vole. Not a latrine in sight so far. I haven't done any of the canal surveys yet but all the locals who walk along the towpath daily are just not seeing any, in fact the last one I saw was in late Spring. Quite worrying really.
Shirl
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T
Junior Member
Posts: 94 
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Post by T on Oct 4, 2015 15:00:18 GMT
My surveys of 2 sites consisted of finding nothing more than that my trainers let in water very easily.
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Post by shirl100 on Oct 4, 2015 15:14:09 GMT
I am beginning to wonder if this sort of result is common this year, I have done a few more sites since and found many feeding stations most if not all were field vole. Mind you landowners don't help, I did an otter check this morning and saw that a known water vole section had been completely cleared of vegetation, the bank is on private land. If you look at the picture you can see a hole in the stone wall used by water voles - some seriously complaining required I think! This bank attracted droves of photographers in 2014 as there was a regular show put on by a young family of water voles - I doubt they would like bare soil somehow, Shirl  |
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Post by dogghound on Oct 12, 2015 6:35:03 GMT
I think you need to make you local wildlife crime office know about this Shirl. It's completely unacceptable and is a blatant crime. Water Voles are protected from disturbance and their places of shelter are additionally protected. This clearly has destroyed viable Water Vole habitat. Negligence is no longer an accepted excuse!
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Post by shirl100 on Oct 20, 2015 17:46:40 GMT
I think you need to make you local wildlife crime office know about this Shirl. It's completely unacceptable and is a blatant crime. Water Voles are protected from disturbance and their places of shelter are additionally protected. This clearly has destroyed viable Water Vole habitat. Negligence is no longer an accepted excuse! I reported it first to the owners of the canal and they said they would be sending a ranger round to the private landowner. It's quite amazing as they do know they have water voles at the bottom of their garden so I cannot see any reason for clearing that bank at all. It really does get quite depressing, no wonder the water voles are declining even further and my latest surveys certainly seem to suggest that. Best I could manage today were field vole feeding signs and droppings, still got a few more autumn surveys to do so fingers crossed. |
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