Identification and spotting guides

There are all sorts of wild and wonderful things in nature – but some stories have little truth behind them

Butterflies are an integral part of spring and summer, but do you know which UK butterfly species is flitting before you?

Take our quiz and find out just how well you know nature's noises

How well do you know your canalside plants? Take our quiz to find out

Our canals are busy with birds foraging for food, finding shelter and performing elaborate courtship displays

Take our quiz and identify the animals obscured by the blurry filter

There’s no better place to listen to birdsong than your local canal

Baby water birds are a joyful sight on canals and rivers in the spring and summer months. Learn how to identify different species

Some animals, like dormice, go into hibernation over the colder months, whilst others, like badgers, enter a state of torpor

Seen something small and furry dart by? Read our easy guide to the rodent species that call our canals and rivers home

From the large bumblebee to the honey bee and different solitary bees, what buzzing bees can you find on our canals?

Have you seen a flash of brown fur and are not sure whether it’s an endangered water vole or the larger brown rat?

These medium-sized water birds might belong to the same family, but they're easy to tell apart when you know what to look for

Cormorants and shags are two very similar and closely related birds – and you’d easily be forgiven for mistaking their identity

Each summer, grasshoppers and crickets fill the countryside with songs as they skip, hop and jump in the warm sun

Brightly coloured and flitting like fairies, there's something mystical about the group of insects that includes dragonflies and damselflies

If you’re by our canals and rivers, you’re most likely to spot the shy grass snake – a pro swimmer and water lover

Despite being from different families and habitats, these cold-blooded animals are regularly confused

Do you know your newts? They’re challenging to spot and hard to tell apart

Darker mornings and earlier evenings offer more chances to spot particular canal creatures

The warmer months tempt a variety of creatures out from their nests and burrows. What will you spot this summer?

If seeing a kingfisher in real life is on your tick-list, we’ve put together some handy tips

Are barn owls a rare sight? Maybe not if you look in the right places. Our expert ecologists have unveiled the best spots

Spring is the perfect time to head out to your local canal to see if you can spot migrant bird species returning to the UK

They may be small, but these creepy crawlies are a vital part of our ecosystem – what can you spot from the towpath?

From the tiny larvae beneath the water to the invertebrates that fly above, there are plenty of species to find

Want to catch a glimpse of a graceful barn owl looming out of the darkness? Read our tips to spot barn owls

Our waterways are home to an abundance of wildlife, including the elusive kingfisher

Winter’s a great time to spot waterway wildlife so wrap up and head down to your nearest canal or river

Canals and rivers are dark corridors, free from surrounding light disruption, with water to drink and diverse insects to eat

Our senior ecologist shares his top sensory tips to spot wildlife in winter

Whether you're out in the country or the centre of a city, you'll have a good chance of spotting bats on a calm evening

The autumnal months encourage a flurry of activity as animals prepare for the cold ahead

The endangered water vole is a special sight along our canals and rivers

Often seen hovering above fields and verges, kestrels are a common bird of prey with the unmatched ability to suspend in mid-air

Whether you're an amateur naturalist or just someone who enjoys wildlife, spotting newts can be a rewarding experience

With enough patience and preparation, you might spot one of Britain’s most recognisable and iconic mammals

We've all seen a heron or two along the canal, but have you ever seen a polecat or an otter? You might be surprised at what you find

The iconic badger is found across the UK. Here are a few places to spot badgers on our canals and rivers

These shy mammals are notoriously hard to spot but worth it when you do. Follow our tips to see an otter in the wild

Find out which birds will be busy building nests and laying eggs near our canal and rivers this spring

Whether you're new to foraging or an enthusiast, our towpaths are packed with edible plants to enjoy

Take a walk along the towpath and keep your eyes peeled for these rare and endangered plant species

We work hard to make sure our urban canals bring the heart of the countryside to some of the country’s most built up areas

September is the perfect time to go foraging for blackberries

The spring and summer months are when most wildflowers thrive along our canals and rivers, what species will you see?

Though often-under-appreciated characters on our canals, the trees that line our towpaths and water banks provide shade and shelter

During autumn you're likely to come across a wide variety of tasty berries on a canalside forage

The sweet, floral taste and impressive health benefits of rose hips make this forgotten fruit a good one to look for on the towpath

Come spring, bluebells are a quintessential sight across the UK - made even more special when spotted along canals and rivers

Whether you’re cooking up a cocktail or grinding some leaves into pesto, there are plenty of edible plants to forage

We're sharing some lesser-known signs of spring so you can enjoy the changing seasons

The days are getting longer and temperatures milder – is spring on the horizon?

Foraging can yield beautiful and festive décor to turn your home into a natural winter wonderland

November and December might seem too late in the year to harvest fruits, but there are plenty of winter foraging opportunities

More than just a Christmas carol, holly and ivy helps those birds who stay behind survive when the temperatures drop

Forage for sloes and use what you pick to make sloe gin