Photographing Water voles

Water voles were a very common species when I was a lad, but now so hard to find.
One local canal still has a few, but this year their numbers seemed lower than before.
I spent several days photographing this very popular mammal.
Mike Lane wildlife photography www.nature-photography.co.uk
Music credited to Bensound.com
www.buteophotogear.com/c-3439...
Equipment I use or are mentioned in the videos I produce for KZbin. These are affiliate links and this channel will receive a small commission at no charge to you.
Olympus Cameras
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1X Camera amzn.to/36ebMR7​
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 MARK II Camera amzn.to/2GljWfO​
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Camera amzn.to/33ZUpRa​
Olympus Lenses
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro Lens amzn.to/2S3PzNm​
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 IS Pro lens amzn.to/3jbt9px​
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14 mm F2.8 PRO Lens amzn.to/343ZeJv​
Olympus M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 amzn.to/3ifEvY6​
Other Lenses
Panasonic LUMIX 100-400 mm LEICA Lens amzn.to/3mYb8gD​
Tripods
Manfrotto 502 Fluid video Head with flat base amzn.to/30j6fFg​
Hides
Photo hide Buteo Mark II One Person amzn.to/2S6H4RF​
Bag throw over hide in leaf amzn.to/30hXYBh​
Bag throw over hide in army dpm amzn.to/34b9Xlc​
Bag throw over hide in waterproof army pattern amzn.to/2G6mcHS​
Camera Bean Bags
Grippa Camera Bean Bag, Prefilled amzn.to/3jcvn7Y​
Grippa Camera Bean Bag , Empty amzn.to/3mYQHjs​
Camera Bean Bag, Prefilled amzn.to/2S9sJE9​
Grappler Camera Bean Bag, Army Prefilled amzn.to/2S83UZe​
Grappler Camera Bean Bag, Leaf Prefilled amzn.to/2Gfbw9y

[@malcolmriley6897]

I think that is one of your best videos. It's so generous of you to share so freely all the skills and knowledge that you've built up over a lifetime.

[@Foxystorm11111]

Probably one of the best youtube channels I've ever come across. Highlight of my day seeing a video pop up on my feed. Thank you.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

One of my favorites! Very interesting info about the voles and very well produced. Thank you.

[@bobbarnes808]

Lovely video Mike, I always watch your videos that come through on a Saturday morning, I am retired now but I remember well sitting on the banks of the River Bourne in Surrey watching the Water Voles a few feet away chewing on reeds, I never thought in those days they would become so rare.

[@kennydoig2454]

Although I follow your channel and thought that I watched all your posts - this one seems to have slipped by unnoticed; until now. What a treat and possibly my favourite to date, with your field craft and superb knowledge showing what can be found and captured photographically close by here in the UK without having to travel to exotic destinations 👌👏

[@przemcio92]

Thank you sir so much for sharing these valuable tips ! I'm literally taking notes and trying to incorporate your knowledge to my wildlife photography here in Poland. I hope that your channel will grow overtime and then you could write a book or series of tutorials for beginners like me. The way you are presenting these guides is phenomennal! You sir, have a gift storytelling and teaching all at once. Keep up the good work !

[@davidrehm9681]

I've just discovered your channel and must say it is becoming one of my favorites. Thank you.

[@hypnoraythompson5824]

That has got to be one of the best videos that I have watched in a long time. Stunning images, and you are so knowledgable . Thank you for sharing . You really do deserve a bigger following Sir.

[@jannikschou4138]

Mike Lane, as always, the best.

[@peterbowler6524]

A life time of knowledge shows Mike. Like all your videos Excellent. In the late 80's and early 90's the Grand Union Canal in Leicestershire was teeming with them! They are easy prey for the Mink!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes very common then

[@jeffbrown4743]

As always great to see you share these little tips and tricks Mike. Thanks for sharing.

[@doubles6508]

Went to a place today near buxton where they are apparently. Saw lots of the burrows along the waterside but no voles. Spoke to a local who said he'd not seen any in a long time. Hope they are still there. Such cute things.

[@ianscott309]

Excellent as usual.👍🏻

[@philipareed]

I really look forward to your videos, Mike.

[@danielmiller5611]

Really great stuff. I quite enjoyed your explanation of the entire process behind creating these wonderful images. Professionals of your caliber seem rarer and rarer these days.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Many thanks!

[@PoulPhotography]

Just love these videos of yours, so much to learn and that great picture only comes from good preparation and dedication. Great job!

[@wildcat1065]

Great shots Mike.

[@ValkoBranislav]

Fantastické zábery...👍👍👍🌳

[@JimNicholls]

Fascinating stuff, Mike. When I lived in England, voles were common and I would see them often. It's sad to know that they've declined so much. Is the reason known?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The Mink gets the blame and loss of habitat.

[@rlrphotography-uk]

Thanks for all the information and passing on the skills involved .I will be on the lookout now when out walking ,just hope the apple dosnt rot away while waiting :) , BTW got a few shots from Bradgate ,thanks for the tips.

[@chrisprintall1408]

Mike, absolutely superb. Ratty (Wind in the Willows) would be proud of you too. Gives me a huge mountain of ambition to climb. 😃

[@darekpro6117]

as always - a great video. Thanks for all your efforts and generosity.

[@rlgenge]

Wonderful, and thank you for sharing your memories!

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

I've just come across your video. Very well put together I must say. I've been observing and photographying water vole on my local water way for over 10 ten years now. You mentioned about not seeing so many water vole latern (droppings) I've actually witnessed water vole eating therm so that may be one of the reason. I've had a short film made about what I do with water vole conservation.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Mammals eating their own droppings is frequest behaviour, but I do not think anyone knows why for certain.

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

@@MikeLaneFRPS maybe to cover there tracks from preditors.

[@SuperFucdat]

I can never tell the difference between a water vole & a rat especially when they move so quickly. Great video.

[@onzlobucket]

Excellent thank you for sharing your knowledge & field craft.

[@mel_weber_photography]

Very nice video! We have some voles in our garden, but not sure if those are the same like "your" water voles. I'm gonna try if they like apple as well ;-)

[@Ayniadk]

That is so cool! ☺ Something I definitely have to try. 👍

[@esoxchris]

Inspired once again Mike thank you

[@davidosborn3356]

Very enjoyable. As always!

[@DTAnglesey]

Brilliant video as always Mike, thank you for the tips!

[@joebrennan1272]

Absolutely brilliant video Mike, tons of information as usual.

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Great stuff Mike! Thanks!

[@timgreen5235]

Inspirational. Many thanks.

[@paultripp1377]

I really enjoy your videos Mike, thank you so much for sharing.

[@Derbyshire_bird_tours]

Some brilliant tips there Mike, Thank you.

[@nsbhagwat]

Beautiful.

[@BadgerBotherer1]

Great tips and some wonderful photos at the end. Always enjoy your films.

[@andrewinpompey]

So much good information here, thanks

[@cerealkiller4248]

Beautiful vole pics, and the slo-mo heron was fabulous too 😁

[@janetturner7489]

Oh I have never seen a vole. This is fantastic, informative footage. Thanks for sharing.

[@adrianmoore4690]

great video and great shots

[@millerswoodnature8736]

Excellent, great informative video 😊

[@dereklane5316]

Superb video Mike

[@sue.Hoo123]

Excellent tips there, thank you. My favourite photo is the backlit flash, really works well.

[@oliverwilkinson5773]

Great tips

[@CamillaI]

Only photographed my first one during Lockdown in Salisbury not at all common around my neck of the woods ! Great tips and video thanks Mike ! 👍😍

[@Kjell_H]

Awesome video. Well made and well done. Interesting camera angles by the way. Thumbs up immediately and greetings from one of your subscribers in Norway 🇳🇴

[@mondujar279]

I am enjoying watching your videos Mike, I haven’t seen a vole since I used to play truant and hide all day by a local stream. I remember watching one frequently going about it’s work. I am about to go truant permanently soon ( retirement) so perhaps I can see another one and get some pictures

[@lucieni]

I saw water voles on a regular basis on the waterways around Amsterdam whenever I visited from the U.K. Never saw them in the U.K. though.

[@tiitushanf5726]

One time I sat next to a pond with my backpack and a water vole almost jumped in my back pack and almost gave me a heart attack

[@aamassy]

Water Vole is like....is this a TrrAAAAPPPPPP????

[@malcolmdodds2850]

Mike Many thanks - what are the tripod and video head you are using here? Are they lighter weight than the combination you used last week? Malcolm

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Its a Benri S8n head on an old velbon tripod. Much lighter when you have a long walk in and for the voles I am shooting at shorter focul lengths so do not need the heavier head.

[@klackon1]

Cunning stuff: cracking images.

[@Thultmark]

Thanks Mike for sharing your detailed knowledge of techniques and of animal behaviour. I’d love to know how long it took for the voles in this video to get used to the logs etc, was it a day, a week, a month? Also, would you ever use Photoshop or similar, eg removing apples or adding a barge? Thanks again.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

You can change the log for a different one and they will climb on it immediately. They are not nervous of logs. If there are a lot of voles they will find the apples quickly too. But with so few voles on the canal these days I had to wait a few hours sometimes.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I might remove a bit of apple in photoshop but prefer to get it right in camera. Adding a barge i would find more difficult. Not much experience of that.

[@alanryder]

Incredible! Thank you ever so much Mike for making this video - I'll be off walking along my local canal as soon as I can now. Once you have spotted the water vole hole and placed the apple for the first time, how long did you sit and wait for it to come along? Was it half an hour, and hour?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It will vary from two minutes to no show at all. Where water voles are common and numerous one will pick up the smell of apples quickly, but there are very few individuals at my site now.

[@robertlawrence7958]

Such a shame they have declined so much. There were always plenty on the moats around Caerphilly castle when i was a lad.