For some weeks now I have been patrolling the South Winterbourne in the evenings in search of signs of Water Voles, once a common resident of the stream, After a many barren evenings it was a delight to see two evenings ago a juvenile Water Vole in the stream by Shepherd's Cottage, contentedly nibbling away at thin stems of Hemlock Water Dropwort, and it was there again tonight. This plant, reputably the most poisonous in the British Isles and having caused fatalities to both humans and dogs, doesn't seem to affect the Voles. I remember seeing them eating it some years ago further upstream. The count, which will continue until mid July, is part of a national survey, and I will now, after three years of zero counts will at last be able to enter a definite 'one'.
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