Wildlife
You'll find all sorts of wildlife on Britain's waterways - from common sights such as mallards and moorhens, to otters and water voles.
You can help waterway ecologists.
Every year British Waterways runs a national wildlife survey, inviting members of the public to report what they have spotted on Britain's canals and rivers.
Take part in the British Waterways Wildlife Survey 2010
Read the results of the Wildlife Survey 2009
In this section ...
Badger
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The Eurasian Badger, or Brock, is one of Britain's largest and best-loved wild animals. More »
Barn Owl
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The much loved barn owl is most often seen at night in the countryside along riverbanks, towpaths, field hedgerows and roadsides, where it hunts for prey. More »
Bat
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Bram Stoker has a lot to answer for! Bats have suffered a lot of bad press thanks to their fictitious association with vampires and witchcraft. More »
Bumblebee
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Bumblebees are among the most endearing and familiar of our insects. The sight and sound of bees droning methodically from flower to flower is a quintessential part of a summer’s day. Sadly, however, changes to the farmed countryside have not been kind to our bumblebees More »
Butterfly
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The UK glories in more than 50 different species of this brightly coloured insect. Sadly though, a study by the Natural Environment Research Council in 2004 found a species decline of 71% between 1983 and 2003. Several UK species are now listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). More »
Canada Goose
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The Canada Goose is one of the most recognised geese in the UK and is notorious for the loud honking noise that it makes. More »
Coot
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Coots can be found in large numbers, along numerous waterways up and down the country. More »
Cormorant
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These prehistoric-looking fisherman have become an increasingly common sight along inland lakes and waterways in the UK. More »
Damselfly
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Damselflies are brightly coloured insects who, like dragonflies, are acrobatic masters of the air, hunting for their prey which consists mainly of mosquitoes, midges and larger insects. More »
Frog
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Britain's most familiar amphibian will make its home almost anywhere, as long as a suitable breeding site is nearby. More »
Grasshopper
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These all-singing, all-dancing creatures truly are the gymnasts of the insect world, being able to leap distances of up to 20 times the length of their own body! More »
Hare
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Normally a shy animal, the European brown hare morphs into the ‘Mad March Hare’ come spring time. More »
Heron
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Nature's most accomplished fisherman, the grey heron is known for its motionless stance at the water's edge. More »
Hornet
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The hornet (vespa crabro) belongs to the wasp family Vespidae, and is the largest social wasp in Britain. More »
House Sparrow
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The house sparrow is a gregarious bird, happy to live in colonies close to human habitation. More »
Kestrel
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Kestrels are expert hoverers and are often seen in the sky above roads or motorways, or perched on a high spot, such as a branch, telephone pole or wire. More »
Ladybird
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Ladybirds are brightly coloured beetles that range in size from 1 – 10mm long. The 2 spot and larger 7 spot ladybirds are the commonest species, although around 46 different species can be found in Britain alone. More »
Mallard
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Without a doubt the most abundant duck in the world, the wild mallard is as common to our local parks as the children's swings and summer ice-cream van. More »
Mink
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The American mink is now an established (though not universally celebrated) feature of Britain's waterways. More »
Moorhen
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The misleading term 'Moorhen' derives from the more appropriate 'Mirehen' or 'Marshhen' which give a more accurate picture of this bird's true habitat. More »
Pearl mussels
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The luminous pearls which attracted Julius Ceaser to Britain are now dangerously rare. More »
Pond Skater
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Pond skaters are thin, brown or grey insects that float on the surface of ponds and still waters hunting for prey. More »
Rabbit
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Our native rabbit, the European rabbit is both the best-known and the most sociable type of rabbit. More »
Robin
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One of our best loved birds, particularly around Christmas, the robin can be found anywhere in the UK and at all times of year. Its diet often leads it to gardens, hedgerows and parks. More »
Spring wildlife
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March 21st is celebrated as the first day of spring and the end of dreary winter. However, Mother Nature pays no heed to calendars and the first signs of the changing seasons can often be glimpsed as early as January. More »
Starling
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Starlings can be seen throughout the UK and at all times during the year. They like to spend the winter here and many thousands migrate here during the autumn. More »
Stoat
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Stoats are suprisingly multi-talented, they can run, swim, climb trees and even (some say) dance. More »
Summer wildlife
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Summer is a time of abundance, colour and life - an especially busy season for wildlife. More »
Swan
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From the grace of Swan Lake to the charm of The Ugly Duckling, the swan is a popular figure in British and European culture. More »
Terrapin
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Originally native to the UK some 8,000 years ago, the terrapin has made a fateful return to our waterways in the aftermath of 1980s 'turtle mania'. More »
Waterboatman
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These small, brown insects tend to dwell at the bottom of ponds, lakes and slow-moving canals and rivers, only coming to the surface for air. More »
Water vole
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Best known as 'Ratty' from Wind in the Willows, the furry water vole is an endearing waterways character. More »
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