Meanwhile along the Ock...

Whilst in North Abingdon, the water vole colonies seem to be doing well, along the Ock it seems to be a different story.
What was once a strong hold for water voles seems to be having another disappointing year. Previously a half hour walk along the river would result in two or three sightings and in some years as many as ten.
But instead of what should be the peak water vole breeding season, there are no swimming, feeding or fighting voles:
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Another key indicator species - moorhens - are also seem to be few and far between:
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And pair of moorhens have tried to establish a nest, but this appears to have been abandoned:

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This and the lack of water vole sightings and field signs - this year and last - could mean something serious may have happened to this once important water vole stronghold.

Although there may be some contrary evidence, this comment from Martin on my previous post:

I really must investigate these ponds! Incidentally I saw my first water vole for a few years last Tuesday, by the bridge that links the playground area of Ock Meadow to the Tescos path
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It appears that on the lower Ock there is still a water vole colony, so things may not be lost.

Meanwhile,  up in Shropshire things seem to be better, where there seems to be a water vole bonanza: http://staggsbrook.blogspot.co.uk/

Abbey Fishponds

Tucked away in-between housing estates in the north of Abingdon is a small nature reserve known as the Abbey Fishponds.
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In medieval times it is believed it once consisted of large ponds used to provide carp and other fish for the nearby Abingdon Abbey.
Now those ponds are have dried out and have been replaced by a well managed nature reserve which has smaller ponds, that are no longer suitable for farming fish, but are ideal for aquatic insects such as damselflies and dragonflies - which will emerge later in the year:  
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As well as the ponds there is a small stream running through the centre of the reserve - which eventually joins the Thames at Barton Fields.

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The shallow water, steep banks and sympathetic management mean it is ideal habitat for water voles and with enough patience and a bit of luck it is possible to see one lurking at the edge of the stream.

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Proving the interconnected waterways, streams and ditches make Abingdon one of the important areas for water voles in county - if not the country.

First Bees of 2014

Another one of the gems of Oxford is the Botanic Gardens (http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/) and on Saturday 1st March seemed it seemed we weren't the only ones to enjoy what was possibly the first warm day of the year.

A honeybee was collecting pollen from some of the snowdrops that were still flowering.

And the early flowering Hellaborus were attracting several bufftailed bumblebees queens who may have just emerged from hibernation

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Snowdrops 2014

In early February, the snowdrops in the garden started to come out and made a welcome sight amongst all the rain.
Most are the common the galanthus nivalis, but there are  a few more unusual varieties donated by friends and family, including this 'curly':
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More impressive displays can be found locally and it is one of the highlights of late winter is a walk through large groups of snowdrops,  such as those found near by at Kingston Bagpuize House (http://www.kingstonbagpuizehouse.com/kingston-bagpuize-gardens.asp):
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As well as some impressive snowdrop woods, it also has some unusual varieties, including this Galanthus elwesii named Marlie Raphael, the former owner.
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Perhaps lacking the varieties, Welford Park (http://www.welfordpark.co.uk/snowdrops.html) near Newbury is probably the most impressive sight  for snowdrops in the area, where the woods consist of millions of snowdrops:
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Return to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

After 14 months the University of Oxford Museum of Natural History has reopened it's doors.  During that time the splendid gothic roof has been repaired and for the first time since it was opened in 1860 it has not leaked.
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As always the cast of the Tyrannosaurus Rex makes an impressive centre piece.
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It takes something special to outclass a dinosaur and on the opening Saturday it was by the opportunity handle some live exhibits, including this Pervian bird eating spider:
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But even this was outclassed by a remarkable Leaf Insect:
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Now it has reopened, there will be many opportunities to enjoy the museum, including an new exhibition on Wytham Woods and what looks like a rearranged Dinosaur collection.

And as there is now a cafe in the top gallery there is no need to leave to get a cup of tea and cake.

The museum now has a twitter account: https://twitter.com/morethanadodo

And a new blog: http://morethanadodo.com/

Seven Days Later

A week after the river was threatening local houses and despite very heavy rain, it has now dropped to more normal levels.
And what once looked like large lakes have been reduced to puddles.
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Although the strong winds have bought down several trees, including this one on the old canal.
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But the inclement weather does not seem to deter the otters with more otter spraints in different locations.
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Elsewhere along the river, it seems rodents have been reduced to gnawing branches. As there aren't usually squirrels at this part of the river it adds to the circumstantial evidence that the water voles have moved away the river for the time being.
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More Rain!!!

On the morning of Saturday 8th Feburary, the seemingly never ending rain had caused the river to once burst it's banks, this time it seems higher than a couple of weeks:
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The Ladgygrove Meadow is also now under water:
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At the moment it looks like some of the water voles may have moved to slightly higher ground:
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As always, there is someone looking to make the most of any displaced creatures.
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