The water vole (Arvicola terrestris) is the largest and most famous of the British voles. 'Ratty' in Kenneth Grahame'sWind in the Willows was not a rat, but a water vole; water rat is a local name for the species. Water voles have a short hair-covered tail, a blunt, rounded nose, and a small chubby face with small ears. They have a rich chestnut-brown coat, but individuals in Scotland often have black fur. The fur traps air that provides thermal insulation when swimming, and they also possess flaps of skin in the ear that prevent water from entering.
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Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 for Canon. For sale. £100
The Black-headed Duck is a small, teal-sized duck found in temperate South America. This species is unique among ducks in that it is an obligate brood parasite. In its interactions with its host species, Black-headed Ducks procure the services of incubation from the host; as a precocial species, parental care provided newly-hatched ducklings is minimal since Black-headed Duck young soon leave host broods.
Photographed in Slimbridge WWT
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Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 1:1 for Canon. For sale. £100