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WATER
VOLES IN THE RIVER EMS AT EMSWORTH
The Water Vole is the
most highly endangered mammal in Great Britain, their
numbers having declined dramatically over the last 50
years. So, here in Emsworth, we are very fortunate to
have Water Voles living in our town along the banks of
the River Ems. They are delightful animals, and can be
seen, during spring and summer, swimming in the river or
nibbling vegetation on the river banks. They provide
local people with a great deal of pleasure. Their burrows
are also easy to spot just above the water line on both
sides of the river.
http://www.biodiversitysussex.org/watervole.htm
. . External
link for for further information on Water
Voles
WATER
VOLE NEWS AND SIGHTINGS - 2008
Water Vole sightings have
been coming in from four main areas of the river, evenly
spaced out about 100 metres apart:
A - above the north
bridge to the bend,
B - below the gasholder
down to the grey metal fence,
C - opposite the
observation fence near the sluice gate
D - above the south
bridge.
See map below . . .
These could indicate the
territories of four females which are being served
by two or more males whose territories overlap those of
the females. Hence, sightings outside the main female
areas are probably of males. Females usually have only
one mate, but males are polygamous and may have more than
one mate.
Quote from Rob
Strachan's book "Water Voles" (p.32) "The home range
of males is about twice that for females and often
overlaps those of one or two females. Females have only
one mate usually for the whole breeding season, but
individual males exhibit polygamy (ie they have more than
one mate) and share their time between different
territories accordingly. When the population density is
low, males occupy ranges of up to 300 metres and breeding
females up to 150 metres, but when the popualtion density
is high the mean lengh of range is much smaller at around
100 metres for males and 50 metres for
females."
Comment
from Graham Roberts (Water for Wildlife Officer with
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust)
(07.05.08)
"I really must
congratulate you on compiling such a vast amount of data
re water voles and the Brook Meadow site.
I agree with your
thoughts re family set ups and it is very likely that
particularly at the beginning of the breeding season that
the ratios of males to females is what is to be expected.
As the first brood
start to disperse, if the habitat is good and contiguous
then territories become reduced.
This normally balances
back out again at the end of the season and after the
winter natural declines. It is good to hear that there
are good numbers of young voles being observed. This
certainly indicates that there is plenty of the right
type of food available early in the year.
At some marginal sites
it is not unusual for female voles only to have one or
two young first off in the spring so this is very
encouraging.
I would definitely
think that your picture (30 April below) shows a water
shrew. Their droppings are quite distinctive and nearly
always contain the remains of insect Carapaces. They are
much smaller than water vole droppings and usually are
slightly pointed and hold together
better."
2008
REPORTED SIGHTINGS (with
area on river)
(in reverse chronological
order)
. . .
Total
Water Vole Sightings To Date - 21 July
2008
Section A (above north
bridge) - 15 sightings (1 young)
Section B gasholder area)
- 18 sightings (4 young)
Section C (sluice gate
area) - 64 sightings (14 young)
Section D (above south
bridge) - 15 sightings (1 young)
Grand Total - 112
sightings of Water Voles, including a number of
youngsters.
Note: this does not mean
there are this number of Water Voles on the river, since
most of these sightings will have been of the same
animal. Conservatively, we think there are at least 4
females holding territories and probably two or more
males with territories overlapping those of the females.
We are clearly having a
bumper year for sightings in comparison with the previous
two years which have been very poor. Previous years
sightings: 2007 = 27, 2006 = 17, 2005 = 50.
This year's total has
undoubtably been enhanced by the dedicated efforts of
Caroline and Ray French who have found almost half the
total that have been recorded.
.
. .
23
July (10am) - D - One
north of the South bridge - Rob Hill & Frances
Jannaway
21
July (1505) - D - One
swimming above the South bridge - Ray French
21
July (1525) - A - One
swimming above the north bridge - Ray French
20
July (14.35) - C - one
about 10 meters south of the S bend - Caroline French
20
July (14.45) - B - one
by the gas holder - Caroline French
16
July (12:00) - D - one
swimming across the river above the south bridge - Brian
Fellows
15
July (8pm) - D - one
in the river above the south bridge - Caroline French
15
July (8.10pm) - C - one
in the river near the sluice gate - Caroline
French
4 July
(9pm) - D - One
swimming above south bridge - Caroline & Ray French
3 July
(10am) - A - One
seen above the north bridge - Ray French
28
June (17.30) - C - a
vole feeding on the east bank by the sluice gate.
Caroline French
28
June (17.10) - C - young
vole feeding on vegetation in the middle of the Ems. Ray
French
28
June (17.00) - B - Adult
came down to feed on vegetation by gasholder. Caroline
French
16
June (7.30am) - A - One
swimming across the river north of north bridge. Pam
Phillips
16
June (4pm) - D - One
swimming across the river north of south bridge. Pam
Phillips
14
June (10.45) - D - One
swimming across the river north of south bridge. Juliet
Walker
13
June (4.15pm) - A - One
swimming above the north bridge - Mary Grundy
6 June
(8pm) - D - One
large adult (male?) just north of south bridge. Richard
Jannaway
6 June
(9:55am) - C -
Two voles, one adult and one juvenile near the sluice
gate. Ray French
3 June
(7.30pm) - C -
Five voles including young ones north of sluice gate -
Fred Portwin.
1 June
(4.40pm) - A -
Two voles: one adult and one juvenile in the river north
of north bridge - Beryl
1 June
(3.50pm) - B -
Two young Water Voles by the gas holder - Caroline French
Total
Water Vole Sightings to 31 May 2008
Section A (above north
bridge) - 9 sightings
Section B gasholder area)
- 16 sightings (4 young)
Section C (sluice gate
area) - 53 sightings (12 young)
Section D (above south
bridge) - 7 sightings (1 young)
Grand Total - 85
sightings of Water Voles, including a number of
youngsters.
Note: this does not mean
there are this number of Water Voles on the river, since
most of these sightings will have been of the same
animal. Conservatively, we think there are at least 4
females holding territories and probably two or more
males with territories overlapping those of the females.
We are clearly having a
bumper year for sightings in comparison with the previous
two years which have been very poor. Previous years
sightings: 2007 = 27, 2006 = 17, 2005 = 50.
This year's total has
undoubtably been enhanced by the dedicated efforts of
Caroline and Ray French who between them have accounted
for 44 of the 85 Water Vole sightings this year.
31
May (6.00 - 7.30pm)
- Total of 9 sightings - Caroline and French
6pm - Two near the sluice
gate, one acting aggressively - C -
6.30 - One swam across
river above south bridge - D -
6.50 - Two young voles
feeding within a couple of meters of each other on the
west bank near the gas holder - B -
7.10 - Two young voles
near the west bank by the gasholder. As they watched, a
much larger adult swam towards one of the young voles as
it was feeding. The young vole shot into the bankside
vegetation, apparently to avoid the adult which then swam
directly across the Ems to the east bank. B
7.20 - Adult Water Vole
seen on the 'island' of vegetation near the sluice gate.
- C -
31
May (6.45pm)
- One swimming along western bank below north bridge - A
- Brian Fellows
31
May (5pm)
- One swimming near north bend - A - Carol (phone
call)
29
May (6.45) -
One feeding beneath the observation fence - C - Patrick
Murphy (photo)
29
May (7.30am)
- Two young voles playing near sluice gate - C - Pam
Phillips
27
May (18.45) -
One on bank near sluice gate - C - Caroline French
Ray and I stopped off
briefly at Brook Meadow at 18.45 today. Ray immediately
spotted a Water Vole on the east bank by the sluice gate.
We watched it eating grass for a little while before it
dragged a fairly large piece of dried reed into a burrow,
presumably for nesting material.
25
May (16:30)
- One vole about 7 meters up from the south bridge - D -
Caroline French
25
May (16:45)
- One vole at the sluice gate - C - Caroline French
25
May (17:00)
- One vole near the gasholder - B - Caroline French
25
May (17:45)
- Two voles (one young) at the sluice gate - C - Caroline
French
25
May (10am)
- One vole seen from the south bridge swimming north from
D to C - Brian Fellows et al
During the guided walk on
Brook Meadow this morning we saw a Water Vole from the
south bridge, swimming north for about 20 yards along the
edge of the west bank. Probably another male moving
between territories.
23
May (4pm)
- Possible male swimming up river from C to B - Caroline
French
On Friday afternoon I saw
a water vole on the east bank near the sluice gate at
about 4pm. At about 4.20pm I followed a water vole as it
swam very purposefully from just upstream of the drain
near the gas cylinder all the way up to the until it
disappeared where the willows hang over the stream by the
brick factory building. Possibly a male moving between
territories? On one previous occasion I saw an adult
swimming downstream from the sluice gate, right in the
middle of the river and I wondered then whether that
might be a male moving off to 'D'. It certainly didn't
look like it was looking for food.
23
May (8.15pm)
- Two water voles by the sluice gate. Caroline and Ray
French.
Later that evening at
about 8.15pm, Ray and I saw two water voles by the sluice
gate. One sat on the east bank for a good five minutes
munching on some vegetation and occasionally disappearing
into a burrow. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera.
18
May - 3
Water Voles seen today - Caroline French
1. One adult on the east
bank by the sluice gate at about 5.15pm. - C
2. One adult sitting on
vegetation near the west bank, about four meters up from
the south bridge. D
3. One adult just south
of the gas cylinder. B
18
May - Two
water vole sightings around mid-day - Robin Pottinger
1. One swimming east to
west immediately north of sluice gate. C
2. One feeding in dense
vegetation on east bank by south bridge (my first siting
there this year). D
14
May (4.45
- 5.15) - C - Three sightings. Robin Pottinger
My stroll through the
meadow today brought me three vole sightings.
1. 4.45pm sluice gate -
walking north on the east bank, I turned at the bend to
look back - saw vole swimming west to east, just south of
the batch of rushes, i.e. south of the sluice. Being on
the east bank I couldn't see where he landed.
2. 4.50pm - halfway
between sluice gate and S-bend, where you saw your young
vole - vole on west bank feeding on grass stalks -
watched him for five-plus minutes - he then popped into
one of the burrows, briefly poked his head out of an
adjacent burrow and then popped back inside. I waited a
few minutes, but he did not reappear. Clearly using those
burrows - looks like a permanent domicile.
3. 5.15pm - sluice gate,
viewing from west side - vole feeding on grasses at water
level on east bank, slightly to the north of the sluice.
Watched him for five- plus minutes, till he disappeared
into the vegetation. No way of knowing whether it was the
same one I saw swimming across earlier.
14
May - C -
One young Water Vole near sluice gate. Ray
French
13
May - A -
One seen in the river north of the north bridge Ray
French
9
May
(7.30-8.45pm) - A - C - D - at least five adults and one
juvenile - Caroline & Ray French
Ray and I were at Brook
Meadows from about 7.30-8.45pm and saw at least five
adults and one young Water Vole. We must have had eleven
or twelve sightings altogether. We started at the north
bridge where we saw one adult on the west bank upstream
of the bridge in 'territory A'. The second sighting was
an adult in the northern part of 'territory C', just
upstream of where the willow branches stretch
horizontally across the river. Next we saw three adults
around the sluice gate area. However we think one of
these may have been the one we had seen further upstream
in 'territory C' as it had been moving in a downstream
direction. We therefore counted only two additional
adults. We continued walking down the east bank to the
south bridge from where we saw one adult in 'territory D'
not far up from the bridge. We then walked on up to the
observation point on the west bank where Ray spotted one
young Water Vole in the water. It went into a burrow and
then emerged on the east bank where it sat munching on
some vegetation. We had several more sightings but could
only distinguish five individual adults with any
certainty.
Water
Vole on the River Ems in Brook Meadow (photo by Caroline
French) - 05.08
Water
Vole on the River Ems in Brook Meadow (photo by Caroline
French) - 05.08
8
May
(6.30pm) - C - Two small juveniles seen near the sluice
gate - Caroline French.
6
May (7.30-8.30pm)
- C - One small juvenile north of the Bulrushes. Fred
Portwin & Brian Fellows
6
May
(7.30-8.30pm) - C - One adult swimming into the
Bulrushes. Fred Portwin & Brian Fellows
I did a Water Vole watch
this evening, mainly of the area between the sluice gate
and the S-bend where Fred Portwin saw the family of Water
Voles last night. Fred was there again and I was able to
benefit from his knowledge and sharp eyes. We had two
clear sightings, one of a small Vole and one of a full
grown adult.
Juvenile
Water Vole on the River Ems in Brook Meadow -
06.05.08
The young Water Vole was
first seen swimming against and occasionally drifting
with the fairly strong current in the area north of the
Bulrushes. This animal then climbed out onto the far bank
where it remained for about 30 minutes, preening and
feeding. This is where the following photo was taken,
though the light was, by then, quite poor. The large Vole
was seen swimming across the river from east to west into
the Bulrushes. Our only other sighting was of a Brown Rat
scuttling quickly along the west bank beneath the
observation fence.
6
May (7pm)
- C - Two adults below the observation fence. Caroline
French
Praise
from Graham Roberts
- Water for Wildlife Officer, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust.
"Great news about the water voles! Keep up the great
work. "
5
May
(7.30pm) - C - At least 5 on the river bank below the
sluice gate - Fred Portwin.
Fred thought some were
small ones, probably youngsters. This is the largest
number we have had reported so far this year and probably
represents a successful brood.
5
May
(7.25pm) - C - One swimming east to west south of sluice
gate. Also a brown rat in the rushes. - Caroline &
Ray French
5
May -
(6.30pm) - A or B? - One swimming from east to west,
north of gas holder, opposite white door. Caroline and
Ray French
Standing on the north
bridge ay about 6.30pm, Ray spotted a vole swimming from
the east side to the west side of the Ems, north of the
gas holder and exactly opposite a white door of what
looks like a brick-built factory building. We walked down
the path on the east bank and waited for 10 mins or so in
the hope of seeing it again. Sure enough it did reappear.
I wonder whose territory this is?
My reply - Your sighting
by the white door is where we used to have sightings in
previous years, but is the first this year. As for which
territory. Well, could be A or B. Or maybe that of a male
with territory that overlaps those of the females. Who
knows.
4
May -
(9am) - C - One swimming in river opposite the
observation fence. Norma Page
3
May -
(6pm) - C - One swimming north of the sluice gate towards
the Bulrushes. Brian Fellows
2 May
- (4pm) -
A - One feeding on vegetation north of the north bridge
Caroline French & Brian Fellows
2
May -
(3pm) - C - Pair of Water Voles on the west bank just
below the sluice gate - Caroline French
2
May -
(3pm) - D - One on the west bank just north of the south
bridge - Caroline French
1 May
- (11am) -
B - One swimming in new area of river - Jennifer Rye and
Brian Fellows
At about 11am I was
summoned by Jennifer Rye who had seen a Water Vole swim
across the river at a spot south of the gasholder, where
we had not seen one before this year. I was also able to
get a view (and a photo) of the Vole swimming from the
east to west banks.
Returning later in the
afternoon at about 5pm I saw what was probably the same
Water Vole swimming in the river in the vicinity of the
drain. As well as swimming from one bank to the other, it
also swam downstream about 20 metres along the west bank.
Unfortunately, the sun was glinting off the river and I
could not get a photo.
Water
Vole swimming in the river on Brook Meadow -
01.05.08
1
May -
(11am) - C - Water Vole swimming near the sluice gate -
David Minns
30
April -
(4.30pm) - Water Shrew on Brook
Meadow with photo - Patrick Murphy
Walking through Brook
Meadow this afternoon at about 4:30 I found this little
fellow on the path. The attached photos are not
particularly good - I was on my own and it wouldn't stay
still, and then to top it all my camera batteries ran
out!. Not being well up on small mammals I checked when I
returned home and am wondering if it is a Water Shrew -
which may explain it's bedraggled appearance.
Water
Shrew on Brook Meadow (photo by Patrick Murphy) -
30.04.08
My reply: "This was
really interesting. I agree this certainly looks like a
Water Shrew. Not brilliant photos, but the black coat and
long snout are very distinctive. This would be the first
clear sighting of a Water Shrew on Brook Meadow. Some of
our earlier Water Vole surveys have found signs of Water
Shrew but we have not had a sighting before. What is also
interesting is that we had a couple of recent sightings
of a small Water Vole like creature in the river which I
have previously thought could be young Water Voles. But
your sighting suggests they could be Water Shrews.
Patrick subsequently
confirmed that the Shrew was on the path near the sluice
gate. The animal was in some distress (as is apparent
from the photo), probably having been nearly drowned in
the river which was exceptionally fast and high
yesterday, and allowed a passer-by to pick it up and
place it in the vegetation on the river bank.
26
April - C
- Small Water Vole - possible youngster by sluice gate.
Caroline French
I had a look at your
website and noticed that Francis had reported seeing a
very small Water Vole or perhaps a shrew at Brook Meadow
recently. After I left you on Saturday I stayed at Brook
Meadow a while and I also saw a rodent that I thought
seemed very small for an adult Water Vole, although what
I saw looked more like 4-5". It also appeared to move
more quickly than a Water Vole. It was in the usual
'Water Vole area' opposite the observation point and I
only had a fleeting look as it moved between burrows so I
can't be absolutely sure it wasn't a WV. I definitely
queried it at the time though and when I saw Francis'
report I thought maybe it had been something
else.
26
April - C
- One swimming and on river bank near sluice gate.
Caroline French and Brian Fellows.
Caroline French and I
noticed some movement in the vegetation on the river bank
beneath the observation fence and after a little while
Caroline spotted a Water Vole sitting quitely on the bank
in amongst the reeds. We both took a few photos before
the Vole disappeared and then next we saw of it, it was
swimming across the river to the east bank where it
disappeared into a burrow hole.
22
April - D
- Possible young Water Vole in river near south bridge -
Frances Jannaway
I saw what I thought was
a very small water vole near the south bridge. It was
very small - no more than 3" long swimming along the
eastern riverbank north of the south bridge. It looked as
if it had some nesting material in its mouth. Could it
have been a young Water Vole or another sort of
Vole?
Comment: There seem to be
two possibilities. One it was a young Water Vole carrying
nesting material, ie playing at nest building. The other
was it could have been a Water Shrew which one survey
detected signs of, though that animal would have had a
sharp face, unlike a Water Vole.
22
April - C
- One swimming near the sluice gate. Caroline French
Ray any I have just been
down to Brook Meadow again. Good sighting of one very
active vole around the sluice gate area, but moving in
and out of burrows both up and downstream of there,
crossing the river several times. A less welcome sight
was a fairly large brown rat on the lower part of the
riverbank on the 'S' bend.
22
April (4pm)
- A - One swimming beneath the east bank north of north
bridge. Brian Fellows
I had another good
sighting of a Water Vole swimming beneath the east bank
of the river north of the Seagull Lane bridge, about half
way to the bend.
21
April (11.30am)
- A - One north of the north bridge. Brian Fellows
I spotted a Water Vole
swimming beneath the eastern river bank just north of the
Seagull Lane bridge on Brook Meadow at about 11.30am.
This is probably one of those seen by Kate Kerridge on
April 16 and provides further evidence for the presence
of a pair of Water Voles in this area, in addition to
those further down the river.
20
April - A
- Two swimming in the river below the sluice gate.
Caroline French
Ray and I saw what we're
pretty sure were two different voles at Brook Meadow this
morning. We saw the first one from the southern bridge
looking upstream. It was about halfway upstream towards
the Palmer's Road viewing point and it swam across from
the west side to the east side of the river and
disappeared into a burrow just below a tree. We walked
upstream on the west side, looking out for it all the
time. When we reached the Palmer's Road viewing point,
there was another vole which swam across to the east side
with some vegetation, which looked like a stick, in its
mouth. It entered a burrow only to emerge again after a
few seconds
16
April (6pm)
- A - Pair apparently mating above the north bridge just
before the bend - Kate Kerridge
This is the first
sighting from the river above the north bridge this year.
It could mean we have a third pair of Water Voles on the
river, in addition to those near the sluice gate and
beneath the gasholder.
10
April (12:15)
- C - One swimming across river near sluice gate.
Caroline French
I saw a Water Vole at
Brook Meadow at 12.15 today. A couple who were there when
I arrived had also seen it shortly before I got there. It
was in the usual area by the sluice, just a bit further
downstream. It swam across from the east bank to the
west, too quickly for me to get a picture unfortunately.
I looked further up the river by the gas cylinder but no
luck. You and the rest of the Brook Meadow team have
certainly managed to generate a lot of local interest in
the little animals! There always seems to be someone
there looking out for them.
7
April -
(10:00) - B - One swimming along west bank beneath the
gasholder. Lesley Harris
Keith and I briefly saw a
Water Vole swimming along the west bank close to the
gasholder . He or she dived into a hole in the riverbed.
Lesley Harris
6
April - (11:00)
- C - One in the river by the sluice gate - Juliet
Walker
Shortly after meeting you
on the bridge this morning, I walked back along the east
bank of the Ems. In the distance I saw two men pointing
excitedly. They told me they'd seen a water vole swimming
across the river, to the west bank, just north of the
sluice and the warning sign. It had disappeared into a
clump of reeds. I stayed watching with one of the men and
was rewarded with the sight of the vole scampering along
the bank, in the snow, then disappearing into another
clump of reeds, immediately below the viewing place.
Unfortunately I did not have my camera ready. I stayed
for a while longer, with camera poised, but saw nothing.
This has given me great encouragement. A pity I didn't
get the snow shot though - that would have been quite
something!
4
April
(12:00) - B - One peeping from its burrow beneath the
gasholder - Brian Fellows
As I walked back along
the main river path towards home I was delighted to spot
another Water Vole peeping out of its borrow in the west
bank of the river just beneath the gasholder. This is
very good news and indicates the "gasholder pair" are
probably still alive and active, despite the lack of
sightings since late February.
4
April
(10:00) - C - One swimming near the sluice gate - Brian
Fellows
At about 10am I spotted a
Water Vole swimming across the river in Palmer's Road
Copse, just south of the sluice gate. This was almost
certainly one of the "sluice gate pair" that have been
seen on a number of occasions in this area. As I was
walking back through Brook Meadow a couple of hours later
I saw Tony Wootton and another person watching with their
cameras at the ready from the new fence in Palmer's Road
Copse. I gather one of them had seen the Water Vole pair
swimming acorss the river.
2
April (11:30)
- C - One near sluice gate - Granville
Griffiths
At 11.30 this morning,
Wed April 2nd, while strolling through Brook Meadow, I
had a brief but clear view of a water vole, swimming
first into then out of the obvious hole in the western
bank of the river just about level with the bench seat.
Only about ten seconds, but quite a thrill, my first
sighting. I do so enjoy your regular bulletins, for which
many thanks.
31
March (19:30)
- C - One near sluice gate - Brian Fellows
Evening watch - I spent
about an hour this evening from 7pm to 8pm looking for
Water Voles along the River Ems in Brook Meadow. The only
Water Vole I saw during this time was in the regular
place near the sluice gate. I watched this Vole for about
15 minutes as it swam along the edge of the east bank,
occasionally disappearing into burrow holes. It then swam
across the river a couple of times to the south of the
sluice gate before scrambling onto the eastern bank.
Finally I watched it swim along the edge of the river
past the sluice gate to disappear into a burrow hole.
I watched other parts of the river where Water Voles have
been seen in the past, ie below the south bridge, south
of the S-bend, beneath the gasholder and north of the
north bridge, without seeing any sign of activity. This
confirms my growing opinion that there is only one active
pair of Water Voles on the Ems this year, at least so
far.
Helen
Perkins (the Water Vole co-ordinator for the Wildlife
Trusts) made an interesting point in her article on Water
Voles in the current Natural World Magazine (Spring 2008,
p.24) that "Water Voles need neighbours. They must be
able to disperse and interchange with other colonies . .
." This is clearly a problem for the Voles on Brook
Meadow, they do not have any close neighbours and on such
an enclosed site dispersion and interchange cannot be
easy. Helen also indicated that the Hampshire Wildlife
Trust is hosting the National Water Vole Database and
Mapping Project for 2008.
It was
also good to see a Water Vole as the picture on the new
HWT Membership Card for 2008.
30
March (13:00)
- C - One on the bank near the sluice gate - Caroline
French
Caroline and Ray spotted
a Water Vole at about 1pm near the sluice gate. It was
moving among the nettles and after a while it emerged
further down the bank and disappeared into a burrow, only
to reappear a little later from an adjacent
hole.
29
March (12:00)
- C - One swimming near the sluice gate. Brian Fellows
I met Robin Pottinger
near the observation fence in Palmer's Road Copse where
we got a brief but clear view of a Water Vole swimming
along the edge of the far river bank from one burrow hole
to another.
25
March
(12:00) - C - A pair on the River Ems near the sluice
gate. Brian Fellows
I had an excellent view
of what was clearly a pair of highly active Water Voles
on the river just south of the sluice gate on Brook
Meadow at about 12 noon. I watched the pair for about 30
minutes as they swam in the river, ran in and out of
burrows, frolicked and possibly attempted mating. I
managed to get some nice photos of the Voles using my
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ5 camera.
Water
Vole peeping out of its burrow on the river bank in Brook
Meadow - 25.03.08
Water
Vole swimming across the river near the sluice gate in
Brook Meadow - 25.03.08
Water
Vole on the river bank inear the sluice gate on Brook
Meadow - 25.03.08
Pair
of Water Voles in the River Ems on Brook Meadow -
25.03.08
This is the area where
all recent sightings of the voles have been. As there
have been no Vole sightings in the area further up the
river beneath the gasholder since Feb 21 this suggests
there may be only one pair of Voles which has moved down
river.
24
March
6.20pm - C - On River Ems by the Bulrushes - Caroline
French
Ray and I have just got
back from a walk down to Brook Meadows where we at last
spotted a Water Vole - a first for both of us. Hurrah! It
was on the bank opposite the information sign near the
entrance by the bottle bank in Tesco's car park. It was
only a brief sighting as it swam/ran half-submerged
alongside the riverbank and into one of its burrows. This
was at about 6.20pm today.
21
March (7.30am)
- C - One on River Ems by the Bulrushes - Pam Phillips
4
March -
One in Lumley Stream - Tony Wootton
Definite Water Vole in
the Lumley stream by where we 'normally' see the Rail.
(Poor picture held if wanted)
2
March
(5pm) - C - One swam across river near the sluice gate -
Roger Mills
21
Feb - B -
One in hole beneath gasholder - Jennifer Rye
11
Feb - B -
One in river beneath gasholder in same place as yesterday
- Brian Fellows
Following Frances's
report of Water Voles in the river yesterday I waited on
the main river path immediately opposite the gasholder
near the prominent Bay tree for about 15 minutes from
11am before I was rewarded with the sighting of a Water
Vole swimming in the river and disappearing into a burrow
on the west bank. It went too quickly for me to get a
photo. I waited a bit longer but it did not emerge. Will
try again.
10
Feb - B -
Two in river beneath gasholder. 1st sightings of the
year. Frances Jannaway
Frances e-mailed to say
she saw 2 Water Voles at about 12.45pm, just below the
gas holder near the prominent Bay Tree, one small Water
Vole was enjoying what looked like a Nettle leaf,
completely oblivious to passers by. A second one swam
towards the riverbank and disappeared into the
undergrowth.
WATER
VOLE NEWS AND SIGHTINGS - 2007
In reverse chronological
order. N = 25
4
November 10am - 1
in river beneath the gasholder - Brian Fellows
25
October 5.30pm -
1 on the western riverbank just below the gasholder
Frances Jannaway
19
October 2007 - WATER VOLE
SURVEY
- Report and photos by Frances Jannaway
Link to Andy Rothwell's
report . .
. Water
Vole Survey 2007
Andy Rothwell, a Water
Vole and Otter consultant who works all over the SE of
England, carried out a survey of both the River Ems and
Lumley Stream to determine the state of the Water Vole
population in Brook Meadow and the surrounding area. Andy
found a lot of signs of Water Vole activity, such as
recent burrows, latrines and larders. He located two hot
spots. One on either side of the channel where the Lumley
Stream flows into Peter Pond and the other one near the
dry sluice and amongst the bulrushes and reeds on the
River Ems. The signs of Water Vole activity Andy found
were more numerous on the River Ems. The larders showed
that the Water Voles on the River Ems are eating
vegetation such as Soft Rush and Reed Canary Grass
whereas on Peter Pond their diet consisted of Phragmites
(Common Reed).
On the River Ems, the area where Water Vole activity is
the highest is between the two WV notices, which is where
most sightings have been. There were few signs either
south of the sluice or north of the North bridge. Andy
said that it would be better to open up more of the
riverbank to let more light in and also reduce the amount
of Nettles on the riverbank and encourage grasses and
herbs such as Comfrey to grow. He also recorded at least
two pairs of Kingfishers one on the Lumley Stream and one
on the River Ems chasing each other up and downstream.
Andy will write a report of his findings and we will get
a copy which will be put on our website. Many thanks to
Graham Roberts of HWT for organising and funding this
survey.
Photo:
Water Vole Survey -
19.10.07
. . . Photo:
Water Vole Survey -
19.10.07
. . . Photo:
Wale Survey - 19.10.07
24
August - 1 by the
outflow on the north bend - Frances Jannaway
5
August - 2 north
of south bridge - Wally Osborne
8
June - One Water
Vole seen swimming up river from near the south bridge -
Penny Aylett
2 June
- Water Vole Survey
Jonathan Benge
Lecturer in Ecology and Wildlife at Sparsholt College
(and who has a PhD on Water Voles!) conducted a Water
Vole survey on the river in Brook Meadow with 6
volunteers. They found quite a few burrows, latrines and
feeding stations, mainly in the area where the voles have
been seen this year. None were found near the south
bridge, which has been a good place for Voles in the
past, and few north of the S-bend. Jonathan thought the
overgrown river banks could be a problem as Water Voles
prefer an open habitat.
23
May - I had a
good sighting of a Water Vole on May 23 from the new
fence, actively rushing around with bits of vegetation,
popping in and out of burrow holes. It was almost
certainly feeding youngsters, though I did not see any.
The best photo was of an eye peeping at me through the
vegetation! - Brian Fellows.
Water
Vole peeping through the vegetation on the bank of the
River Ems on Brook Meadow - 23.05.07
22
May - 1 on the
river near the south bridge - Rosemary Jupp
07
May - 1 munching
vegetation on river bank north of Elder. Rob Foord.
07
May - 1 swimming
in river beneath the south bridge (only the 2nd sighting
here) - Samantha McArthur
??
May - 5 with 2
adults and 3 babies behind the AD Williams building -
Reported by Juliet Walker 2nd hand. I am not sure of the
authenticity of this sighting.
02
May 17:30 - 1 on
west bank south of S-bend - Jennifer Rye
??
April - 1 adult
with 4 babies east bank near sluice - Mrs Rogers via
Frances Jannaway
29
April 11:00 - 1
on west bank south of S-bend - Pam Phillips
22
April 07:30 - 1
swimming in river south of S-bend - Pam Phillips
11
April 18:00 - 1
on east riverbank near sluice - Frances Jannaway
10
April 18:30 - 1
on river near sluice - Reported to Brian Fellows
27
March - Tony
Wootton had some good luck at Arundel WWT today where a
large number of Water Voles have been introduced. He sent
me two splendid photos of Water Voles that he took on the
reserve.
Water
Vole at Arundel WWT (photo by Tony Wootton) -
27.03.07
Water
Vole at Arundel WWT (photo by Tony Wootton) -
27.03.07
26
March 10:30 - One
swimming across river near fence. Brian Fellows
Note: all the sightings
this spring, with the exception of the first one on 24
Feb have been from this small area just north of the
sluice gate. It is worrying that there have been no
sightings elsewhere along the river.
16
March 17:00 - 1
in river opposite new wooden fence - Brian Fellows Photo.
Water
Vole on River Ems in Brook Meadow -
16.03.07
13
March 15:30 - 1
swim across river near sluice - Reported to Brian Fellows
10
March 12:00 - 2
on river between sluice and S bend. Frances Jannaway
Photo.
Water
Vole on the River Ems on Brook Meadow (photo by Frances
Jannaway) - 10-03.07
08
March 07:30 - 2
voles south of S bend on River Ems - Pam
Phillips
06
March 13:30
- 2 voles about 6 yards apart south of S bend on
River Ems - Pam Phillips
03
March 08:15 - One
eating Winter Heliotrope near the sluice gate. Pam
Phillips.
24
February am -
From the south bridge one swam across the river from one
submerged bank to the other. Jim and Mary Colbourne.
. . . . The first Water Vole of the year and very early,
the earliest since 2004 when I saw a pair swimming in the
river on February 11th, also from the south bridge. Let's
hope this promises a better year than 2006 when sightings
were very scarce.
WATER
VOLE NEWS AND SIGHTINGS - 2006
In
reverse chronological order. N = 17
21 July 18:00 - One
(youngster?) swimming to and fro below south bridge.
Robin Pottinger
Robin's
observation: I had an interesting sighting on Friday
evening (21 July), about 6 o,clock. I was walking back
from Emsworth and saw a chap on the south bridge with
camera focussed towards where I'd seen the water vole(s)
mentioned in my e-mail of June 1st. Sure enough there was
a vole going to and fro, apparently collecting nesting
material (it certainly didn't eat anything, and the stuff
it was gathering was not at all green - it had a good old
tug-of-war with one stalk that went on for some time,but
it eventually won ). It was obviously taking the material
to the nest entrance, which was obscured by vegetation.
The speed with which it came back for the next bit (it
must have made about ten trips while I was watching)
suggested that it could only have been taking the
material to the entrance without going right into the
nest. I wondered if there was another vole taking it from
the entrance on into the nest, but,as I say, the entrance
was obscured by vegetation. The other interesting thing,
and it struck me straightaway, was that this vole was
only about two-thirds the size of any of the other voles
I have seen. Could this have been one of this year's
youngsters on the way to maturity ? Or are females
significantly smaller than males ? Any comments ?
Comments from Graham Roberts
Thanks for passing on this interesting observation.
With regard to the size of the water vole it certainly
could be one of this year's progeny.Young can be born as
early as March and become independent after about 6-8
weeks. Female voles can breed in their first year but
they normally have to be at least about 6 months old so
this would be a bit early. Another thought is that it
could be a female vole that has already had perhaps two
litters this year and is unusually small as she is rather
run down. Females like this often will not survive the
next winter. Whatever I am really pleased that water
voles continue to thrive at Emsworth and hope to get down
there later this summer.
02 July 20:00 - One swam
across the river above the south bridge. BF
18 June - One in river
near gasholder. Pat Walsgrove.
01 June - One on the east
bank beneath south bridge. Robin Pottinger.
01 June - One swimming in
river north of the south bridge - Frances
Jannaway
25 May 10:00 - One on the
east bank beneath south bridge. Pat & Graham
Walsgrove. BF.
Photo . . .
Water
Vole feeding on river bank - 25.05.06
20 May - One in water
near gasholder - Frances Jannaway
04 May 11:00 - One
swimming north of S-bend . Robin Pottinger. BF
28 April 11:15 - One
north of the north bridge near the bend. Robin
Pottinger
27 April 17:00 - One
swimming in Palmer's Road Copse. Anon.
26 April 10:00 - Two
carrying nesting material across river behind Artec
factory - BF
25 April 08:30 - Two in
the river behind the Artec factory - Pam
Phillips
24 April 20:15 - One
feeding on the west bank north of the S-bend. Fred
Portwin and BF
19 April 20:05 - One
swimming at the rear of Artec Factory. Roger
Mills
19 April 08:30 - One
swimming in river opposite the Bulrushes. BF
05 April 20:15 - One on
west bank near Artec factory. Fred Portwin
05 April 16:00 - One
swimming in river in Palmers Rd Copse Fred
Portwin
WATER
VOLE NEWS AND SIGHTINGS - 2005
The sightings were from 4
main areas along the 400 metre stretch of river,
suggesting the presence of at least 4 breeding
territories:
1. between the south bridge and the sluice gate,
2. north of the sluice gate opposite the new fence,
3. in the area in front of the gasholder
4. upstream from the north bridge.
Log of 50
reported sightings for 2005 (in reverse chronological
order)
30 June 10:00 - One on
the west bank in front of the gasholder. St James Primary
School
29 June 12:00 - One on the west bank beneath the new
fence BF
27 June 15:00 - One swimming across the river north of
the south bridge. Amanda Clarke & BF
20 June 07:30 - one swimming lazily just north of the
south bridge - David Bridge
10 June 12:00 - 1 swimming downstream to the south
bridge. BF
5 June - 1 swimming in river near the fence. Graham
Ault
29 May 16:00 - 1 in river near gasholder - John
Vickers
22 May 18:00 - 1 feeding on west bank north of the fence
for 30 minutes. Ian Julian.
17 May 20:30 - 1 swimming beneath the new fence. BF
7 May 16:30 - One on east bank opposite fence. BF
5 May 21:00 - One on west bank north of new fence. Roger
Mills
3 May 14:00 - One swimming near north bend. Frances
Jannaway
3 May 11:00 - One on the east bank of the river opposite
the new fence. BF
1 May 10:00 - Two on the west bank in front of the
gasholder. Jean Fellows
30 April 12.40 - One near the new fence. David Bridge
26 April 16:00 - One washing itself on the west bank in
front of the gasholder. Peter Fellows
21 April 14:00 - 2 on the west bank north of the
gasholder. Emsworth Primary School
20 April 15:00 - 1 swimming in river near fence. Emsworth
Primary School.
20 April 16:30 - 1 swimming in river near fence. Paul
Jackman
18 April 11:00 - 1 swimming in river . City of Portsmouth
Boys School
17 April 11:00 - 1 swimming in the river near the new
fence. Visitors
17 April 16:00 - 2 swimming near the new fence Rob
Foord
16 April 20:00 - 1 swimming near the east bank opposite
the new fence. BF
13 April 08:30 - 1 swimming in river opposite new fence.
BF
12 April 11:30 - 1 swimming and feeding on Winter-cress
by the north bend. Robin Pottinger
10 April 16:30 - 1 swimming 20 yards towards the south
bridge. BF
10 April 15:00 - 1 on river bank near gasholder - David
Rudkin
9 April 17:00 - 2 in river, 1 by south bridge and 1 by
fence. Jean Fellows
8 April 18:30 - 1 swimming in river and onto river bank
opposite new fence. BF
7 April 11:00 - 1 in river near gasholder - first of the
year in this spot. Richard Jannaway
7 April 14:00 - 1 in river near gasholder. Graham
Walsgrove
7 April 16:30 - 2 in river near gasholder. BF Photo and
video.
7 April 17:00 - 1 in river south of the new fence. BF
5 April 10:00 - 1 swimming across river upstream from
north bridge. First here. BF
1 April 19:00 - 2 swimming beneath the south bridge.
Juliet Walker.
31 March 17:30 - 2 swimming near the new fence. Mary
Colbourne. Photos
30 March 17:00 - 2 swimming in the river in front of the
new fence. BF. Photo.
26 March 17:00 - 3 in river near the south bridge. Mary
Colbourne.
26 March - 1 feeding swimming upstream from south bridge.
Pat Walsgrove
25 March 15:30 - 1 swimming near bank opposite the fence.
BF
23 March - 2 swimming near the fence. Rosemary's
husband.
22 March 15:00 - 1 swimming near the east bank opposite
the new fence. BF
19 March - 1 swimming in the river above the sluice gate
- David Search.
19 March 11:00 - 1 swimming along the east bank just
above the south bridge - BF Photo.
12 March 17:30 - 1 on east bank below the sluice. BF
Digiscoped.
10 March 12:00 - 1 on east bank below the sluice gate -
BF Photos
2 March - 1 on east bank beneath the south bridge -
Rosemary Jupp
BF = Brian
Fellows
WATER
VOLE PHOTOS - 2005
Water
Vole swimming up stream in the River Ems opposite the new
fence in Brook Meadow - 01.04.05
Water
Vole feeding on the east bank of the river opposite the
new fence in Brook Meadow - 01.04.05
Water
Vole on river bank opposite the new fence on Brook Meadow
(photo by Mary Colbourne) - 31.03.05
Water
Vole swimming in river by the new fence on Brook Meadow
(photo by Mary Colbourne) 31.03.05
Water
Vole: one of two on the river bank in front of the new
fence in Brook Meadow - 30.03.05
Water
Vole: on the River Ems in Brook Meadow (digiscoped) -
12.03.05
Water
Vole: looking at me across the River Ems in Brook Meadow
- 10.03.05
Water
Vole: burrow holes on the banks of the River Ems in Brook
Meadow - 10.03.05
Water
Vole News from Brook Meadow for 2005
As far as we can judge
Water Voles have been active on the River Ems in Brook
Meadow, Emsworth, over the past year. A total of 50
sightings were logged from the beginning of March to the
end of June, mostly of one or two voles (see list below).
As in previous years, the sightings were from 4 main
areas along the 400 metre stretch of river, suggesting
the presence of at least 4 breeding
territories?
To protect the Water Vole
habitat the conservation group have erected fences and
dead hedge barriers to prevent people getting down onto
the river bank where the burrows are close to the
surface. There are still a few 'dog runs ' down to the
river, but from what Graham Roberts says, this may not be
such a bad thing in keeping the dreaded Mink away. No
sign of any of them so far.
The Environment Agency
have been very cooperative with their annual clearance of
the river which is now conducted after consulting the
conservation group. They are very careful not to cut too
much and to leave in channel vegetation for the voles. In
fact, this year we even had to ask them to come back and
clear a bit more!
We have also been active
on the PR front to raise the awareness of people to the
presence of this highly endangered creature in our local
river and how lucky we are to have it living here. From
the smiles on people's faces when they tell us they have
just seen a Water Vole swimming in the river, we must be
winning. We are also keen to emphasise the distinction
between the Water Vole and the Brown Rat. We had a recent
exhibition in Emsworth Museum in which the Water Voles
featured highly. We also have a permanent information
signcase devoted to information and news about the
voles.
Our major concern is with
the viability of what is a very small population of Water
Voles. With Brook Meadow so boxed in by roads and the
railway there seems to be little obvious opportunity for
a fresh input from other area, not that there are any
others in the local area anyway.
Population
fragmentation (Extract from Action Plan for Sussex
web site - see link above)
"Survival of water vole populations, especially following
local declines, often depends upon the movement and
exchange of individuals between neighbouring colonies and
habitats. Many of the above can result in the separation
of remnant populations into isolated 'islands'. Due to
the variable reproductive capacity of water voles,
together with the high mortality rates over winter, this
leaves them more vulnerable to unpredictable stochastic
events and extreme environmental conditions.
Opportunistic mink predation of fragmented populations
can subsequently result in local population
extinctions."
Water
Voles at Bosham 2005
During a visit to Bosham
in December 2005 I saw a notice near the church entitled
"Water Voles at Bosham" with my Water Vole photo on it!
(Anne de Potier had asked permission to use it on their
signs). The Bosham Mill Stream supports a good population
of these delightful creatures and details given about the
work taking place to repair the banks of the millstream
which were starting to collapse. The photo shows bundles
of Hazel (called faggots) attached to the church bank.
These will help to prevent the bank from erosion, so silt
will be trapped and plants grow. All this should provide
a good habitat for Water Voles.
Water
Vole notice at Bosham Millstream -
22.12.05
Bank
repairs to the Bosham Millstream -
22.12.05
WATER
VOLE SURVEY ON THE RIVER EMS - MONDAY APRIL 18
2005
As previously arranged
with Bob Collins, approximately 25 boys and 3 staff from
the City of Portsmouth Boys School visited Brook Meadow
for educational work. Bob had organised numerous projects
for the boys to carry out, including river depth/width
profiles at several places, invertebrate survey,
distribution of water vole burrows along the bank,
quadrat work at several places, lichen distribution on
trees, soil pH, mole hill survey and rates of flow in
stream.
Bob Collins sent me the
graphical results of the survey of Water Vole burrows.
The survey covered the area from the north bridge to the
south bridge and the graph plotted the number of burrows
observed against the number of metres from the north
bridge. Although the burrows are well distributed along
the whole stretch of the river, they tend to cluster in
theareas where most of the Water Vole sightings are made,
ie around the gasholder and by the new fence.
WATER
VOLE PHOTOS 2003-2004
Water
Vole with Lesser Celandine on the banks of the River Ems
in Brook Meadow - 01.04.03
Water
Vole burrows in the banks of the River Ems at Brook
Meadow - 20.3.03
Water
Vole on the bank of the River Ems in Brook Meadow
(digiscoped x40 with CP775) - 16.03.04
Water
Vole peeping out of its burrow on the bank of the River
Ems (digiscoped x40 with CP775) - 16.03.04
Water
Vole sniffing the air on the banks of the River Ems on
Brook Meadow (digiscoped x40) - 16.03.04
Water
Vole on the river bank above the north bridge on Brook
Meadow - 15.03.04
Water
Vole having lunch on the banks of the River Ems at Brook
Meadow (digiscoped x40) - 23.02.04
WATER
VOLE SURVEY 2004
Chris
Giles fom the Hampshire Wildlife Trust came to Brook
Meadow on Wednesday 19th May to investigate the Water
Vole situation. The news was good. He found plenty of
signs of activity all along the river and he concluded we
had a strong and healthy Water Vole population. Chris
also found no signs of Mink which could have a
devastating effect on Water Voles. Chris identified a
couple of problems to tackle. One concerned the luxuriant
growth of Nettles along the river banks which should be
controlled by regular cutting. This is something to
discuss with the Environment Agency before their annual
clearance of the river. The other problem was the
emerging foot path along the low west bank behind the
industrial units. This is one of the best areas for Water
Voles and the burrows are being damaged by walkers. One
solution would be to erect a fence to prevent people
walking in this sentitive area and this will be discussed
with David Sawyer of Havant Borough Council.
WATER
VOLE SURVEY -
SUNDAY
20 JUNE 2004
Debi
and David conducting a Water Vole Survey in the River Ems
at Brook Meadow - 20.06.04
Debi
and David looking for signs of Water Vole activity on
Brook Meadow - 20.06.04
Water
Vole Survey - Clare and Frances in the river -
22.5.02
Water
Vole droppings on the banks of the River Ems at Brook
Meadow - 22.5.02
Water
Vole food remains on the banks of the River Ems at Brook
Meadow - 22.5.02
Water
Vole Survey - Clare Bishop and others inspecting burrows
on River Ems - 10.9.02
WATER
VOLE SURVEYs 2002
In 2002
the Brook Meadow Conservation Group took part in two
Water Vole surveys organised by Clare Bishop of the
Hampshire Wildlife Trust. Each time we discovered many
signs of their presence all along the River Ems as it
passes through Brook Meadow. We also have also had many
sightings of them in the river.
Preliminary
Water Vole Survey -
22nd
May 2002
Frances
Brettell and Brian Fellows joined Clare Bishop of the
Hampshire Wildlife Trust to conduct a preliminary Water
Vole survey along the River Ems and the Lumley Stream in
Brook Meadow. While Frances and Clare donned waders and
walked up the the river looking for signs on the banks,
Brian walked up the banks recording their observations.
There was plenty of evidence of Water Vole activity along
the River Ems, but none along the Lumley Stream. There
were 4 main areas of activity along the Ems with short
gaps between them. In all, 55 burrow holes, 6 latrines
and 5 larders were recorded. Clare found some very small
droppings of no more than 5mm in length that could be
from a Water Shrew. If so, this would be a good addition
to the mammal population of Brook Meadow.
Clare and Graham Roberts came to Emsworth in late July
2002 to give a talk about Water Voles. This was followed
by another Water Vole survey involving more group members
and other interested parties. The survey was extended
along the River Ems and related waterways as far as north
Westbourne.
Water
Vole Surveys - 12th and 16th of September
On Tues 10th September 2002 about 20 people met up with
Clare Bishop of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust in Brook
Meadow for a training session in the identification of
Water Vole signs, ie, burrows, latrine sites and feeding
remains. After the session the group were divided into
sub-groups of 3 or 4 people and allocated different
sections of the River Ems to survey in the next week or
so.
Brian Fellows joined Andrew Shaw an HWT volunteer, Peter
and Heather Archer and Liz Heath to survey the stretch of
the Ems from the A259 in the south to the A27 in the
north. As expected, they found a great deal of evidence
of Water Vole activity in the section of the Ems that
passes through Brook Meadow. They also discovered two new
areas of Water Vole activity. One was in the short
section of the river south of the A259 just before it
disappears into the culvert that takes it beneath the Old
Flour Mill and into Dolphin Lake. The other area of water
vole activity was in the section of the Ems north of
Constant Springs where it runs through the currently
neglected tree plantation. Brian Fellows subsequently saw
a Water Vole swimming under the Lumley bridge between
Constant Springs to Lumley Mill.
WATER
VOLES IN EMSWORTH 2002 - article by Clare
Bishop
In the
last issue of Wildlife, we reported that local people
from Emsworth had taken part in a successful water vole
survey last autumn along the River Ems. In this update,
Clare Bishop, Trust Conservation Officer, shows how local
action and partnership working have already yielded
results.
Water voles have suffered the most dramatic decline of
any British mammal in the last century. lost from 94% of
sites since the 1970s! Protected under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 (Schedule 5 Section 9) this has
still not halted their decline. It is a priority species
in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and as the South East
is the national stronghold, and Hampshire may contain the
highest populations within the region, it is of extreme
importance in the Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan.
Although water voles can still be found on all of the
main river catchments in the county, the distribution of
water voles on the smaller rivers and tributaries in
Hampshire is largely unrecorded, and this led to last
autumn's survey involving the community, along the River
Ems. The River Ems flows from near Walderton in West
Sussex, through Westbourne and into Emsworth; it then
flows out into Chichester Harbour. As only part of the
river is in Hampshire, the Trust formed a partnership
with the Environment Agency and the Otter and Rivers
Project at Sussex Wildlife Trust.
This partnership project was kick-started by sightings of
water voles at Brook Meadow SINC (Site of Importance for
Nature Conservation) in Emsworth, which has the River Ems
along its western boundary.
Local people including volunteers from the Brook Meadow
Conservation Group surveyed each section, sending their
results into the Wildlife Trust's new database.
In Hampshire, the only positive records came from the
southernmost sections of the River Ems. Below Brook
Meadows the Ems soon becomes brackish, emptying into Mill
Pond before Chichester Harbour, and water voles rarely
tolerate this habitat.
Results show that at Brook Meadows over 90 water vole
burrows were found. However much better active indicators
are latrines (piles of fresh droppings) and larders (neat
piles of chopped vegetation with chewed ends), at burrow
entrances or on prominent stones or logs. Eleven of these
active signs were recorded on one visit. The habitat here
is reasonably good for water voles, their main threat
being disturbance by people and, particularly, dogs, on
the well used footpaths.
Unfortunately no active signs of water voles were found
on any other sections in Hampshire. There are a number of
reasons for this: very shallow banks, trampling by cows,
banks reinforced with sandbags and brick walls, heavy
shading by trees and, in places, too little vegetation to
provide cover. Much of the river has rather stony banks
and this of course makes burrowing almost impossible.
In Sussex, just one isolated population was discovered,
in an area of dense reeds, east of Westbourne. Sadly, it
would appear that the Brook Meadow population and the
Sussex population are rather fragmented and isolated. If
they are to survive here we need to look at both
protecting the existing colonies, and if possible
encouraging their spread outwards, with careful habitat
management.
This year we will be approaching neighbouring landowners
to see if we can give appropriate advice on river bank
management to encourage water voles and other
wildlife.
We are delighted to report that almost immediately
following our survey, protection of the existing colony
of Emsworth voles started. In recognition of this
priority species, the Environment Agency at Worthing has
put in place a new range of bank cutting regimes, to
reflect both the risk of flooding and the conservation
value of each site. For the first time, as a direct
result of the River Ems survey, only one bank at Brook
Meadow was cut last autumn, leaving the other side
completely untouched, to allow ample refuge for water
voles. In addition small islands of vegetation were left
in the channel to provide further cover from the myriad
of predators facing water voles.
Thanks are due to the Environment Agency at Worthing, the
Brook Meadow Conservation Group and all the volunteers
who have made a difference to the plight of the water
vole in this part of the county.
Published
in "Wildlife" (Summer/Autumn 2003)
SOME
FACTS ABOUT WATER VOLES
1. The
Water Vole is the most highly endangered mammal in Great
Britain
Numbers of Water Voles in
Great Britain have gone down dramatically over the last
50 years. We are very fortunate indeed to have them
living so close to our town. A national survey in 1998
found that Water Voles were absent from 90% of sites
occupied by them 60 years ago. If this trend continues
Water Voles will be extinct in 2003. The Water Vole is
one of only 9 mammals listed on the UK Biodiversity
Action Plan.
2. The
Water Vole is protected by law
It is an offence under
Schedule 5 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000
to interfere with Water Voles or their habitat. In a
court case in November 2002 a Wiltshire farmer who
destroyed a Water Vole burrow was fined £750 and
ordered to pay £150 costs.
3.
Water Voles are not Rats
Water Voles and Brown
Rats may look alike, but are very different in their
habits. Rats will eat virtually anything, often live in
sewers and drains and can spread diseases. Water Voles,
in contrast, are clean and totally harmless creatures.
They are vegetarians, feeding only on bankside
vegetation, and spend their whole lives in and around the
river. So far as we know there are no Brown Rats on the
River Ems, so any small animal seen swimming in the river
is very likely to be a Water Vole. However, there
certainly are Rats on Peter Pond near the seat and around
the waste disposal and recycling areas in Palmer's Road
Car Park.
4.
Water Voles are present all along the River
Ems
In 2002, under the
guidance of Clare Bishop of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust,
the Brook Meadow Conservation Group conducted a formal
Water Vole survey and found plenty of evidence for their
presence all along the banks of the River Ems, as it
passes through Brook Meadow (see below). There was also
some evidence for them on the River Ems north of the
railway line as far as Lumley Mill and downstream from
the A259. There was also some evidence for Water Voles in
the Lumley Stream and in Peter Pond - information from
Fran Southgate, the Sussex Otters and Rivers Partnership
Officer.
No formal survey was conducted in 2003, but there were
lots of sightings of Water Voles and their burrows were
numerous. Casual walkers often reported having seen one
swimming in the river or eating vegetation on the banks.
Their burrows are very easy to spot just above the water
line on both sides of the river.
5.
What we can do to protect our Water Voles
Clearly, we all have a
duty to do what we can to protect these very vunerable
animals. Although Water Voles are good swimmers they are
not fast and can easily be caught by a determined dog.
So, dog owners need to take particular care not to allow
their pets into the river where there are Water Voles and
to prevent them from digging into the river banks where
there are burrows.
Other
less-known facts (thanks to Graham
Roberts)
Water Voles go grey as
they age. They usually survive only 2 winters.
Brown Rats will kill young Water Voles. They also
transfer diseases to them.
There are no Water Voles in Ireland.
Water Voles are not fussy about water quality. They can
live in mucky streams.
Water Voles are found in saline habitats, but they need
to return to fresh water at least once a day to clean off
