It was another day of cleaning today and now and then, I just took a break. This time not so much for tea, but to stretch my legs and walk around a bit. I don't have trouble sitting on my knees to work, but it does get tiresome at some point, and then the hinges need to be moved back and forth. Whilst walking about and taking inventory, I heard a crunching sound over by the eastern leg of the canal. I knew there was a brand new coot's nest there...but this was no sound that I had ever heard a coot make. It was more a ...gnawing. As I crept up, I saw a water vole biting lengths of reed in two and then dragging them back out of sight into and under Nelleke's bank. Nelleke had just cut many reeds, as now is the twice yearly time to remove reeds and other plants from the canals. So this enterprizing water vole decided that since the humans had done half it's work, he would just "harvest" the "delivery". His expressive body language sends me a message. His quizical look gave me the idea that he did not want to be disturbed while he was at work. We humans always try and give animals humman attributes, don't we. He was extremely shy and did not give me any good foto opportunities. Nelleke had not finished cutting reeds on her side of the canal, and had to stop because she saw this: These coots had been swimming back and forth up and down the long canal which borders my lottie on the northern side for the past three days. They would make these single sounds (which I cannot describe)and did not seem to be afraid of me at all. I had no idea that they were nesting in Nelleke's "reed bed". What a pleasant surprise--there have been lots of nesting birds to observe this year. I like that very much.
You are soooo lucky to have water voles in the canal Sjoerd. Over here they are becoming very rare. When mink farms were closed down by fur traders many of them were released into the wild where they have thrived - mainly by feeding on water voles. Now measures are in place to trap and kill as many of these mink as possible in the hope that our water vole population begins to increase before it's too late. There's a special programme underway where voles are bred in 'farms' and then taken to canals and rivers where mink have been wiped out. So far, in these places, the numbers have risen and the set- up seems to be working. I hope you manage to get some shots of the young coots when they hatch. They're not the prettiest of baby birds but I think they's so cute. :-D
Thanks for your nice and informative posting. I know of the plight of the water vole there because I watch Springwatch every night, four nights a week. hahaha. I am a hopeless nature-freak. Until seeing the show and reading your posting, I had no idea that their decreasing numbers there were a problem. Here they are a form of pest along our gardens. --No, that doesn';t mean that I shall trapo and kill them. hahaha. I just keep re-filling their holes and tunnels along my plot, because the gardens soil keeps draining into the canal. Sheesh! I was walking (more like creeping) alof behind some plants and my foot (and lower leg) disappeared into the ground--I had stepped on ground that had a tunnel system underground there. Good grief, I thought that I was falling into a quicksand quagmire. hahaha. Most folks here do not know what these lovely animals are and try and kill them thinking they are rats. Sad. As for Moeder'tje Koet--well, I shall be staying away from that nest for awhile as she is just beginning to lay the eggs apparently. I hope to see the small ones fledge. Sadly, the Magpies have already seen the nest and will not just wait to pick-off the chicke, but will steal the eggs when the mother leaves the nest from time to time. Yesterday, they were sitting in the plum tree above the nest making all manner of noise which sounded for the world like laughing and loud talking and bragging of how they were going to plunder and gobble.
Water voles... I had never heard of them until this posting Sjoerd. Interesting...a species that we don't have here in USA. Prompted me to read more about them and their plight in Britain. Your little vole is cute -- looks like a guinea pig. Cute coot too. I hope her babies make it.
Very interesting Sjoerd ... I've never even heard of Water Voles! Are they anything like Beavers? You sure have a lot of nesting birds to observe. That reminds me ... I'd better go out this morning and check on my gardens Kildeer nest!
DAISY--Thanks for the posting. They are cute, that's true...and they eat reeds, so THAT's good. NETTY--No, they are not like beavers and not nearly so large. They are about a hamdfull for me. If I had one in the palm of my hand, I could touch my middle finger and thumb without squashing it. Yes...do check on that Kildee nest (and take your camera!). I hope that the little family are getting on ok there.
uhoh...we don't have 'water' voles here, but we do have voles here...in the gardens and fields! they look very similar to yours sjoerd. ours follow the moles in their tunnels, as they do not make their own. and are very destructive in the garden, chewing lots of veggie plants and such. lovely pics of mom coot and her eggs and nest!
Bunkie--I just hope that I can keep that creature out of my garden. It is cute, but it likes to eat green things, I have noticed. Glad you liked the fotos.
You've got nice wildlife by your lottie, Sjoerd. I think the water vole's very cute. The coots are pretty birds. I've always liked watching them. As far as I know they're not nesting around here, but I've seen them in south-Norway and know they're nesting further north too. Maybe they're just good at hiding when they see me coming.
Thanks Droopy-- I like seeing wildlife on the lotties--it really adds something positive to the gardening experience. There is alwaays something to see whether it be from underground or in the air. I really like the variety. I also quite enjoy observing them when I have the time. The coot is wild, of course--but if I would want, I could feed it bread crumbs from my sandwiches. I do noty do that often though because I do not want them on my garden picking and eating plant leaves. Of course they would hide when the slug-slaughterer comes...they think, "Well, maybe she slaughters coots too"! hahahahaha
Love the pics! You always seem to have the most fun, interesting experiences to share. Good camera work too!
Thank you Kay--You said such nice things. I am glad that you enjoy the postings and fotos...although I do not find these fotos of a very good quality. I appreciate your comments though.
