Although Kestrels are one of our most common raptors, it is always a delight to see them hovering with their heads held stationary into the wind. They are a common sight along woodland edges and field boundaries but are perhaps best known as the only falcon readily seen along road margins and motorway verges. They will occasionally take small birds and mammals, but they are predominantly predators on voles. They most often hunt by hovering until prey is spotted (at a distance of up to 50m) and then dropping rapidly onto the prey. Spectacular eyesight, including ultra-violet sensitivity, help them to pick out prey amongst the vegetation. UV vision is thought to enable them to detect the urine trails left by the voles. Females are all brown, whereas males have a grey-blue head and deep chestnut back, as shown here.

Field Voles are probably the UK’s most numerous mammal with a population of around 75 million. They are commonly well hidden amongst the vegetation of grassland, heath and moorland. The very similar Bank Vole is also very common but is equally shy and retiring. Together, these two species form the bulk of the diets of many species of predator including Kestrels, Barn Owls and Foxes. Voles differ from mice as they have a shorter, rounded snout, small ears and eyes and a much shorter tail. All of our mice species have larger ears and eyes and longer tails. All voles eat roots, fungi, fruits and nuts, along with occasional small insects. In spite of their abundance, they are rarely seen as they travel through tunnels in the vegetation. The one shown here made a brief excursion onto the path around Thornton Reservoir.

The third species of vole found in this country is the Water Vole. This is much larger than the other species and is always found in or around various waterways. They prefer rivers and lakes, but in Leicestershire the best place to find them is along the Ashby Canal, close to Market Bosworth. They were almost completely wiped out locally by American Mink, which were brought here for fur farming but following their escape they soon decimated the Water Vole population. Water Voles eat grass, sedges and rushes near to the water, but also eat fruit, twigs, bulbs, buds and roots on occasion. The only species they could be mistaken for are Rats, but Water Voles have rounder noses, deep brown fur, fatter faces and short round ears. Most water voles live in burrows that they dig in the banks of canals, rivers, ponds or ditches. It is common to hear them diving with a pronounced ‘plop’ when disturbed, as described in Tales of the Riverbank in which they were misnamed as Ratty.

Voles are an essential part of many of our local ecosystems, mainly as prey for our avian and mammalian predators. Given that there are so many voles in our fields and woodlands, it is surprising that so few are ever seen. I have seen more water voles, largely because of the time they spend swimming in open water. It is always worth looking out for a quick brown flash of movement and then waiting quietly to see if it comes back again.