Water Vole for Tony (Gracious)

Photo Information

(11638)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2007-10-20

Categories: Mammals

Camera: Canon 350D / Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro

Exposure: f/7.1, 1/60 seconds

Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2007-10-25 10:43

Viewed: 4751

Favorites: 1 [view]

Points: 54

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

A common subject from me but I never tire of them. I know the DOF is a bit shallow but I had to sacrifice a bit of DOF for shutter speed as he was moving around a lot and was in the shade on a dull day. I still thought he was cute enough to post.
_______________________________________________________
Information from www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

How do I recognise a Water Vole?
smaller, lighter and shorter than a rat, with a body length up to 20 cm

rounded body with thick chestnut-brown fur (a black colour form also occurs, and some show white patches)
blunt snout and round, 'chubby' face with tiny, 'beady' eye, short, rounded ears almost hidden by fur hair-covered tail (about 60% of the head and body length)

Water Voles swim and dive well and when disturbed splash- dive into the water with a loud 'plop'.

Where do Water Voles occur?
Water Voles occur on rivers, streams, canals, ditches, dykes, lakes, ponds and in reedbeds. They appear to favour permanent slow flowing or still freshwaters, with water levels that do not fluctuate greatly. Banks for burrowing into, refuge areas above winter flood levels and year-round availability of food are important factors. Rich bankside and emergent vegetation is extremely important for the provision of food and concealment from predators. Water Voles avoid excessively shaded sites with overhanging trees and shrubs, as these usually lack appropriate tall, dense vegetation.

Water Voles burrow into banks where they create extensive tunnel systems. These contain nest chambers above the water table and usually have underwater entrances as secure routes for escape if danger threatens. Where water levels fluctuate, Water Voles prefer a high, steep or stepped bank profile with good vegetation cover that they can use as a temporary refuge during periods of high water. At sites where banks are absent and the water table permanently high, Water Voles may weave nests above ground within tall vegetation, such as in sedges and rushes.

What do Water Voles eat?
Water Voles are herbivores - they eat a wide variety of aquatic and marginal plants (227 plant species have been identified in their diet). In winter, Water Voles store food underground and will eat roots and tubers when surface vegetation has died down.

How do I know if Water Voles are present - what are the best signs?

Burrows
Water Voles excavate narrow burrows (5 - 8 cm wide) at or just above the water line, with others up to 3 metres from the water's edge. Rat burrows are slightly larger and are not always at the water's edge. Often there is a heap of excavated earth at the entrance. Rats produce heavily trampled runs forming a network connecting the burrows

Feeding stations
Neat piles of chewed lengths of vegetation, each up to about 10 cm long, are a good sign indicating the presence of Water Voles.

nglen, joey, pablominto, gracious, lise, vanderschelden, Patleboss, grimmel, cicindela, jaycee, jrobertop, Jamesp, fartash, jesst, uleko, rdfoto, Debz has marked this note useful
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Discussions
Thread	Thread Starter	Messages	Updated
To gracious: Just for you! check out the new title	hester	1	10-25 11:02
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Critiques [Translate]

nglen (36145)
[2007-10-25 10:47]

Hi Karen. What a fine close up of this cute little Water vole. You have captured it with fine detail and good natural colours. you have used the light so well in the eyes. a nice POV. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick,,
Had a good day last sunday in london.

joey (24909)
[2007-10-25 10:47]

Hello Karan,
this is a beautiful shot of this Vole.
I never tire of seeing your Vole shots either :)
+++ Great POV that has great eye-contact. The pose is a classic! Perfectly composed. The DOF is quite shallow but works quite well.
Sharp with good details in the fur. Nice colours.
--- Nothing :)
Well done,
Joe

pablominto (14563)
[2007-10-25 10:48]

Hello Karan,
Seems like this little fellow is getting used to you, I can read trust in his eyes!
A well composed presentation, a fine portrait with sharp details...
Interesting full frontal point of view, exciting composition!
Greetings,
Pablo -

gracious (13068)
[2007-10-25 10:58]
[+]

My friend Karan,
My favorite Vole for me today!
this is a very good close up taken with perfect sharpness, vivid colour and so much details in the shot!
very well done and well pleased
cheers
Tony

lise (2877)
[2007-10-25 11:25]

Hi Karan,
Lovely water vole! I've never seen one in its natural environment so thanks for sharing this one. Very sharp, great colours.
Bravo!
Lise

mariki (9477)
[2007-10-25 11:34]

Hello Karan,

Nice picture of this cute water vole. Focus is very good.
Cheers,

Mariki

PaulH (13882)
[2007-10-25 11:40]

HI Karen,
i never tire of seeing your shots of them either! I don't find the DOF does your fine shot any harm at all, in fact it only serves to highlight the main focus of the image - his furry little face. Great sharp detail and nice natural colour.
tfs
Paul

vanderschelden (30441)
[2007-10-25 11:42]

Hello karan,
Well composed one...
Very good content...
About the DOF matter; you can't get it it all sometimes:-)
TFS
Annick

Patleboss (5950)
[2007-10-25 11:42]

Hi Karan,
This photograph is very nice, I like much the pose of the rodent.
Excellent focus and lighting, wonderfull natural colors and splendid compositio,
cheer
friendly,
Pat

Silvio2006 (102073)
[2007-10-25 12:07]

Hi Karan, lovely little creature in great pose, wonderful details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

grimmel (415)
[2007-10-25 12:32]

hi karan,
and i never saw a water vole that close, accept their tunnels. this one is very cute ! a typical lovely pose.
a nice catchlight and great and clear eye-contact.
like the POV and framing, and i think the DOF give the picture a pecular charm.
well done !
TFS carole

spalaxtr (5868)
[2007-10-25 12:33]

Hi Karan,
Wonderfull photograph with no faults to find. I liked especially natural and warm colors in the photo. Sharpness and details also very good. TFS.
Mustafa

warnzy (20)
[2007-10-25 13:04]

Hi Karen,

I love this. You have the eyes in shap focus which has to be the aim, and you have done well to get him such sharp at 1/60. You have also captured him in a great post. I really don't think you could have done any better given the conditions. Well done.

Kind regards,

Mke

jaycee (25460)
[2007-10-25 16:39]

Hi Karan,

Another of your adorable little Voles in a cute pose. Nice textures and details. Wonderful natural colors.

Jane

Evelynn (14454)
[2007-10-25 16:43]

He is definitely cute enough for a post. The eyes are in perfect focus. Nice quick work.

TFS
Evelynn : )

captainsgirl (4088)
[2007-10-25 18:25]

Hi Karen,
Hes Way cute enough to post, I love his little beedie eyes!
Nice shot showing his hair standing up on end!! TFS
Donna:o)

Jamesp (18906)
[2007-10-26 0:03]

Hi Karan

Wonderful capture and excellent POV. The detail is spot-on.

TFS

James

cicindela (9226)
[2007-10-26 0:46]

Hello Karen!
Great to see another mammal species from you - this time a Water Vole. Nice capture with fine sharpness and very nice DOF and details. Bravo for showing this species in its natural habitat, and during its typical "work" :)
Best withes from Poland,
Radomir

fartash (5161)
[2007-10-26 2:42]

Hello Karan
Very intersting spiece to shoot,
Great focusing,use of flash and compo,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

jrobertop (544)
[2007-10-26 4:31]

Hi Karan.
Excellent instant! Beautiful animal!
Very good perspective and composition!
Nice colors and details.
Well done!
Thanks for sharing!
Best regards,
Jos� Roberto

jesst (2441)
[2007-10-26 5:12]

Wonderful animal! It looks like some of my pets at home. Sharp eyes, anima's hands are great

uleko (10940)
[2007-10-26 8:13]

Hello Karan.
This is really lovely!! How do you manage to get so close to these little shy creatures? It's brilliant and I love its pose here looking at you while munching away at something. Impressive sharpness, nice light and lovely colours. I like the natural background too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Mana (18598)
[2007-10-26 19:32]

Hi Karan,
Just acknowledging this wonderful shot. Will come back with a proper critique in a while.
Regards.
Sumon

arfer (0)
[2007-10-26 19:42]

Hello Karan

Another wonderful shot.
The focus is excellent with super details.The eyes are amazing.Nicely composed on his little mossy perch.The lighting and colours are natural.Well done.TFS

Rob

rdfoto (3295)
[2007-10-26 22:33]

Bonjour Karan
Tr�s belle prise, excellente mise au point et gestion de l'exposition, tr�s beau sujet et tr�s bonnes notes.
Amicalement Robi

Debz (3307)
[2007-10-29 6:22]

Hi Karen, he is indeed a cutie and deserves his place here on TN. Perfect focus and sharpness showing great detail. DOF is not a problem, the Vole takes centre stage and is nicely offset to the right of the frame. Top marks all round.
tfs
debz

PeterZ (49139)
[2007-11-01 9:45]

Hello Karan,
A beautiful photo of this Vole. Perfect focus and details. Great POV and good composition.
Regards,
Peter

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Water Vole for Tony (Gracious)

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