Winter signs of life

The other day I went to have a look around at the site, to see what I could discover of the wildlife living on The Mound. I found signs in the long grasses of animals having passed through or sheltering there. For example, there was a tunnel of grass leading through the wire fence, which could have been made by a hedgehog or a badger.

There was a little round hole, indicating a tunnel made in the grass by a vole, a pile of snail shells nibbled from the spiral end, which is usually the sign of Bank Voles and a pile of green droppings, characteristic of Field Voles, because their main diet is grass.

Bank and Field Voles are one of the main sources of food for Tawny and Barn Owls.

Our area also provides a home for many insects, some of the more attractive ones having already been pictured on this blog. I found two galls, pictured below - an Oak Marble Gall and a Thistle Stem Gall which provide a nest for the larvae of specific insects (Andricus kollari and Urophora cardui).  Insects feed birds and bats, and some smaller mammals.

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In addition, the tall hollow stems of Common Hogweed have provided protection for the larvae of a fly or wasp, shown by the holes bored to let them out.

So, even in mid-Winter, there are signs of life all around The Mound.