Sunday 1 September 2013

Hungry vole scrambles to the top of blackberry bush to tuck into the ripest fruit

PUBLISHED: 05:14, 30 August 2013 | UPDATED: 05:14, 30 August 2013

A hungry vole climbs over a blackberry bush searching for the biggest, juiciest berry.

The short-tailed vole, also known as the field vole, had scrambled up almost 10 inches off the ground to tuck in to lunch.

Photographer Tim Withall, 73, a retired chartered engineer, captured the moment at the bottom of his field at home.

Berry tasty: The hungry vole tucks into the juicy ripe fruit

The short-tailed vole climbed up almost 10 inches off the ground to tuck in to the tasty treat

Tim, from Lyndhurst, Hants, said: 'I was clearing out a ditch and saw a movement near my shoulder - the vole was about 2 metres away.

'Fortunately I had my camera because I was also busy snapping dragonflies at the time.

'It knew I was close but when it looked me straight in the eye it ignored me.

Spoiled for choice: The furry animal ponders over which blackberry to eat next

Second helping: Photographer Tim Withall captured the adorable moment at the bottom of his field at home

'It must have very poor eyesight but once it eyed up the blackberry it moved straight in for lunch.

'But after checking the dangling end of a branch further along to the left he just fell off into the long grass and scampered off.'

Field voles are one of Europe's most common mammals. They breed all year round with females producing up to seven litters a year.

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