Water Vole

The water vole is found throughout Britain, though it is less common on higher ground. It is infrequently recorded from parts of northern Scotland and is absent from Ireland , Man, and the outer island groups. It is usually found near open water and dives and swims with great ease.

Water voles occur mainly along well vegetated banks of slow flowing rivers, ditches, dykes and lakes. They are sometimes confused with brown rats which often also live near water courses. Indeed, it is sometimes called "the water rat", which is the origin of the water voles' fame as "Ratty" from Kenneth Grahame's book The Wind in the Willows.

Canon 1D MKIV Canon 500mm 1/320 F5.0 ISO400