Britain's official guide to canals, rivers and lakes

Saturday 4th July 2009

Wildlife

The UK's canals and rivers are full of 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 tell us what species they have spotted on Britain's canals and rivers.

Tell us what you've seen. Take part in the British Waterways Wildlife Survey 2009

In this section ...

Bumblebee, courtesy of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust Bumblebee »
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 »
Badger »
The Eurasian Badger, or Brock, is one of Britain's largest and best-loved wild animals. More »
Barn Owl Barn Owl »
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 »
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 »
Buzzard, courtesy of Vic Parsons - avico.co.uk Buzzard »
Buzzards have suffered from a severe decline in the UK. More »
Canada Goose, courtesy of Paul Keene - avico.co.uk Canada Goose »
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 »
Common toad »
Our common toad is the largest toad found in Europe. More »
Coot »
Coots can be found in large numbers, along numerous waterways up and down the country. More »
Cormorant »
These prehistoric-looking fisherman have become an increasingly common sight along inland lakes and waterways in the UK. More »
Crayfish »
Crayfish populations are thriving in Britain's waterways. More »
Look out for damselflies on the UK's canals and rivers Damselfly »
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 »
Dragonfly »
Dragonflies are the raptors of the insect world. More »
Fox »
We are all familiar with the red fox. More »
Frog »
Britain's most familiar amphibian will make its home almost anywhere, as long as a suitable breeding site is nearby. More »
Grasshopper, courtesy of Jason Gallier - avico.co.uk Grasshopper »
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 »
Grass snake »
Britain's largest reptile is shy by nature and wary of humans. More »
Grey Squirrel, courtesy of Crispin Swan Grey Squirrel »
Sighted throughout the year, the grey squirrel is at its busiest in Autumn. More »
Brown Hare, courtesy of Paul Keene - avico.co.uk Hare »
Normally a shy animal, the European brown hare morphs into the ‘Mad March Hare’ come spring time. More »
Hedgehog, courtesy of Dave Bevan - avico.co.uk Hedgehog »
This small spiny mammal has changed little over the last 15 million years. More »
Heron »
Nature's most accomplished fisherman, the grey heron is known for its motionless stance at the water's edge. More »
Hornet, courtesy of Paul Keene - avico.co.uk Hornet »
The hornet (vespa crabro) belongs to the wasp family Vespidae, and is the largest social wasp in Britain. More »
House Sparrow, courtesy of Paul Keene - avico.co.uk House Sparrow »
The house sparrow is a gregarious bird, happy to live in colonies close to human habitation. More »
Kestrel, courtesy of the RSPB Kestrel »
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 »
Kingfisher »
The 'King of Fishers' is usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue. More »
Ladybrid, courtesy of Stuart Shore Ladybird »
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 »
Lapwing, courtesy of Colin Smith - avico.co.uk Lapwing »
The lapwing is also known as the green plover. More »
Mallard »
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 »
The American mink is now an established (though not universally celebrated) feature of Britain's waterways. More »
Moorhen »
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 »
Newt »
These miniature dinosaurs are in danger of becoming a rare sight in Britain. More »
Osprey »
This rare bird of prey is making a gradual comeback to the UK. More »
Otter »
The otter is one of Britain's best-loved mammals. More »
Pearl mussels »
The luminous pearls which attracted Julius Ceaser to Britain are now dangerously rare. More »
Pondskater, courtesy of Paul Keene - avico.co.uk Pond Skater »
Pond skaters are thin, brown or grey insects that float on the surface of ponds and still waters hunting for prey. More »
Rabbit, courtesy of Jeremy Porter Rabbit »
Our native rabbit, the European rabbit is both the best-known and the most sociable type of rabbit. More »
Robin, courtesy of Keven Law Robin »
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 »
Seal »
These endearing marine mammals are making a splash on the Thames. More »
Feeding ducks on the Grand Union Canal in Watford Spring wildlife »
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, courtesy of Dave Bevan - avico.co.uk Starling »
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, courtesy of Andy Sands - avico.co.uk Stoat »
Stoats are suprisingly multi-talented, they can run, swim, climb trees and even (some say) dance. More »
Autumn on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal Summer wildlife »
Summer is a time of abundance, colour and life - an especially busy season for wildlife. More »
Swan »
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 »
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, courtesy of Ray Kellett Waterboatman »
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 »
Best known as 'Ratty' from Wind in the Willows, the furry water vole is an endearing waterways character. More »

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