Enterprising Bank Vole

[Trev B]

Recently had a Mole tunnelling under my bird feeders, leaving numerous mole hills.
This bank Vole has made good use of the tunnelling system by being able to come out directly under the feeders from the hedgerow.
I do now and again put a handful of seed down the hole - Home Delivery sort of thing during 'Lockdown'

1038 - Bank Vole 1038210620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

1039 - Bank Vole 1039210620 by Trev Bartlett MBE, on Flickr

[Bill53]

Great shots Trev.

[antoeknee]

Great shots. Only ones I see are the ones the kestrels catch. Estimated to make up 80%+ of their diet.

[Brian Sugden]

Very cute Trev. Does your 'home delivery service' classify you as a voleunteer?

[CasaRova]

Nice to help the needy. good shots.

[leeperry]

Two super shots Trev

[Daisy M]

Sharp shots of a clever little animal, what is the difference between field & bank voles, as what I have called field voles look identical?

[ST-EOS]

Well trained and taken Trev

[Colin W]

Two great photos Trev, well done.

[pelliott1954]

Well done Trev, the only time I ever see these is when they are on their first and last flight courtesy of a Barn Owl

Paul

[Trev B]

Thanks everyone for all your recent comments. Small rodents are a real challenge, there one moment gone the next.

[Trev B]

Sharp shots of a clever little animal, what is the difference between field & bank voles, as what I have called field voles look identical?

David, sorry forgot your question. Bank voles tend to have more prominent ears than the Field vole and appear to be more reddish brown and with a slightly longer tail. The Field vole is more yellow-brown in colouring, but they are extremely difficult to distinguish when they flash pass you. Dead ones are easy, they can be identified by their dentition. I helped in a survey where we were collecting pellets from Barn Owl nest sites and analysing their prey items by dissecting the contents.