Wildlife spotting on the canals and rivers
The canals might have been built by humans, to serve the needs of trade and industry, but over the years they have become a haven for nature. All kinds of wildlife lives on the canals, from common sights such as mallards and moorhens, to rarer creatures like otters, kingfishers and water voles.
In a world of increasing urbanisation, canals and rivers provide vital green corridors, linking up areas of habitat. They are alive with plant and insect life, which, in turn, provide food sources for many larger species. The Canal & River Trust's staff and volunteers carry out a lot of conservation work along the waterways to help preserve these unique habitats and the plants and animals that they support.
To help you with your wildlife spotting, the Canal & River Trust's ecologists have provided this handy guide to the species that call our waterways home.
In This Section »
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Barn owl
Barn owls are one of Britain's most reclusive, yet treasured birds. The best time to spot a barn owl is at dusk, when you may catch sight of one hunting for prey along our riverbanks and canal towpaths. -
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. In fact, British bats are entirely harmless and their insect diet makes them more friend than foe of human creepy-crawly haters. -
Kingfisher
The 'King of Fishers' is usually glimpsed as a sudden flash of glistening blue. This colourful bird is a splendid sight, bathing in sunlight on a waterside perch. Even dedicated bird-spotters can fail to catch sight of it until it takes flight. -
Badger
The Eurasian Badger, or Brock, is one of Britain's largest and best-loved wild animals. These striking black and white creatures are nocturnal and shy of human contact - a rare glimpse of a badger is a sight to remember. -
Frog
Frogs are a common sight in garden ponds and woodland streams, and frogspawn and tadpoles are familiar to most of us from childhood. -
Kestrel
Kestrels are expert hoverers and can often be seen suspended in the sky above roads or motorways. You may also spot one perched somewhere high, such as a branch, telephone pole or wire. -
Otter
Over recent years, national affection and dedicated conservation efforts have helped ensure the long-term survival of an animal whose forebears inhabited the earth some 30 million years ago. -
Swan
From the grace of 'Swan Lake' to the charm of 'The Ugly Duckling', the swan is a popular figure in British culture, and is now an integral part of the Canal & River Trust logo. -
Water vole
Best known as 'Ratty' from 'Wind in the Willows', the furry water vole is an endearing waterways character. -
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 -
Butterfly
The UK glories in more than 50 different species of this brightly coloured insect. -
Cormorant
These prehistoric-looking, but highly efficient fishermen, have become an increasingly common sight along inland lakes, reservoirs and rivers in the UK. -
Damselfly
Damselflies are brightly coloured insects who, like dragonflies, are acrobatic masters of the air as they hunt for their prey. -
Dragonfly
Dragonflies are the raptors of the insect world. To us humans, the brightly coloured creatures are an integral part of summer. -
Grass snake
Britain's largest reptile is shy by nature and wary of humans. -
Hornet
The hornet (vespa crabro) belongs to the wasp family Vespidae, and is the largest social wasp in Britain. -
Mallard
Without a doubt the most abundant duck in the world, the wild mallard is a common and pleasing sight on our canals and rivers. -
Stoat
Stoats are very similar to weasels in appearance, although are usually larger and have a prominent black tip at the end of their tail. They grow up to 30cm long and have sandy brown fur on top and white fur underneath during summer, but are completely white during winter, apart from the tip of the tail. -
Polecat
Polecats are dark brown in colour with a pale underbelly and brown 'bandit mask' on their faces. They are weasel-like mammals that prefer to be alone and usually come out at night. They grow between 30cm-40cm in the body and are mostly found in Wales, the Midlands and central southern England. -
Dormouse
Dormice are small rodents (between 6cm-9cm) of which Britain has one native species, the hazel dormouse. Dormice have golden-brown fur, large black eyes, a long tail and hibernate from October to April. They feed on flowers, fruits and nuts and are therefore often found in hedgerows. -
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. As its name suggests, it originates from North America, where there are 11 subspecies. -
Coot
Coots can be found in large numbers, along numerous waterways up and down the country. -
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! -
Heron
Nature's most accomplished fisherman, the grey heron is known for its motionless stance at the water's edge. -
Newt
These miniature dinosaurs are in danger of becoming a rare sight in Britain.
