Field voles (Microtus agrestis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus)

Between April and September every year the CBDC receives a large number of records for field and bank voles. There are currently around 600 records per species many for multiple individuals, with the earliest bank vole record dating back to 1887! These species have very similar appearances and it can be difficult to tell them apart, but there are a few tricks to identifying them with the voles having morphological and behavioural differences that can be spotted.

Bank voles are often more visible and active, commonly seen climbing, with a preferred diet of blackberries and hazelnuts. They can be found in variety of habitats such as woodlands, hedgerows and gardens, they are widespread in the UK though absent from many smaller islands. They can be distinguished from field voles by the size of their tail which is 50% of their body size, as well as, their larger eyes and redder fur colouration.

Field voles are difficult to spot as they stay close to the ground moving quickly through small paths, they are found mainly in grassland, heath and moorland. They are found throughout the UK and are one of the most common mammals in the UK. In terms of their difference in appearance to bank voles field voles have a greyer coloration and smaller eyes with their tail only 30% if their body size.

Both of these species are an important prey item for a number of owl species with field voles alone making up 45% of a barn owls diet! They are also great feed for barn owl young. Dissecting owl pellets can be a great way to identify small mammal species in your area, through skull identification, field and bank voles can be distinguished by their teeth.

For more information on barn owl pellet dissection and identifying mammals follow this link; https://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Science-Pellets.pdf

Below a comparison of field and bank voles, as well as a photo of some barn owl chicks from a recent record.

Taking photos of butterflies can be difficult sometimes, but this could be a new method worth trying out! This is a small tortoiseshell and was recorded on the 23rd of June as part of the Get Cumbria Buzzing project.

Please comment bellow a picture of your non-human recording partner!

For more information on Get Cumbria Buzzing follow this link: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/getcumbriabuzzing

Plus here is a helpful guide from Get Cumbria Buzzing on pollinators in Cumbria: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-06/Introduction%20to%20pollinators%20guide.pdf

Help Get Cumbria Buzzing record as many butterflies as possible TOMORROW (1 july). Take pictures of the different butterflies you see in the garden or when out on a walk, perhaps over the course of an hour or over the whole day, and we will identify them for you!

Then simply upload your pictures onto iNaturalist.
To do this download the iNaturalist app (available via Google Play or App Store) or sign up here https://www.inaturalist.org/
Then, all you need to do is:
1. Create an account
2. Go to Projects, and find ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing’
3. Join ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing project
4. Check out the help videos and information
5. Start taking photos on your phone and upload them onto to iNaturalist. The website will try to identify the images once uploaded.

Get Cumbria Buzzing’s experts will be at hand to verify your recordings between 9.30am-4.30pm, however feel free to upload your photos at any point during the day. The idea is to record as many different butterflies as possible. If you upload images outside this time, don’t worry your records will still count, and we will verify them as soon as we can!
Your records will contribute valuable data to local and national biodiversity record centres. With your help we will be able to create the first Cumbrian Pollinator Atlas and will be able to track insect populations and movements. This valuable information will help inform us on the best ways to support pollinators across the county.

For more information, please email lucyg@cumbriawildifetrust.org.uk

Thanks to the #NationalLotteryPlayer and support from the #NationalLotteryHeritageFund @HeritageFundNOR, #HighwaysEngland @highwaysenglandofficial, @cumbriafoundation #thankyouccf and @Allerdaleborough @tesco @SolwayAONB Rees Jeffreys Road Fund
This activity is part of ‘Get Cumbria Buzzing!’ Project. Head to these webpages for more information:
https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/getcumbriabuzzing
https://www.cbdc.org.uk/…/get-cumbria_recording-the-buzzzi…/

Photo credit: David Longshaw