Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Tips for photographing Water Voles

Tips for photographing Water Voles – I often get asked about tips for photographing Water Voles, so here goes! First off its worth identifying that they are about in the first place – I take most of my water vole pictures in London (at the London Wetland Centre) or at various parts of the South Downs National Park – Arundel being one such place. Although water voles don’t strictly hibernate they do tend to stay in their burrow in the winter, but they will emerge from time to time especially to defecate! The ideal time to snap them is in my opinion from March to end May as reeds and other bank foliage hasn’t yet fully grown back.



Perhaps the best way of establishing if voles are around is that the reeds have been broken about 6-8” off from the water line (these seem to be snipped at 45 degree angles) Water voles will flatten reeds to make a platform which they use as latrines these are fairly obvious once you know what to look out for. They are also happy to use planks in a pond or edge of riverbank. I have often stalked a latrine waiting for a vole to show up. Water vole stools are easily identifiable – they look exactly like dark grey tic-tacs. The male stools will all be separate whilst the female will flatten hers down probably to attract a mate with the scent. I actually locate most of my water voles by sound – not the plop as they jump into a river but the sound of them munching on reeds – it’s just something my ears are attuned to now. Also they are creatures of habit - if you see a water vole jump in the water and disappear, hang around as they often return to the reed they were gnawing or collecting the foliage for their burrows. You can also bait water voles by leaving out carrots or apples on a bank or at edge of a suitable pond or stream. Camera wise the only thing I would suggest is setting a fairly fast shutter speed (1/500 sec) these things do motor especially when travelling across a stream and are difficult to keep in focus. Even when they are static they can twitch esp. if munching a reed and this slight movement can affect the focus. And finally apart from the above a lot of patience and a modicum of good luck won’t go amiss!

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