Waterway wildlife in summer

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

Summer birds

Coots, herons, and the much-loved mallard will grace canals and rivers more frequently in the warmer months.

Between April and August, a pair of kingfishers may have to catch at least 100 small fish every day to feed their hungry young, meaning more time on waterway banks is required for this particular species.

Sun-seeking mammals

Playful otters and curious badgers may be seen along canal banks when the sun is shining.

Milder days may even entice the shy water vole out from its complicated system of underground tunnels and nesting chambers, which have entrances above and below the water's surface, away from predators.

Eye-catching insects

Offering up bursts of colour, dragonflies and damselflies will be more prominent as they dip and dive around waterway banks and hedgerows.

Our canals and rivers also attract a variety of butterflies. There are over 59 native species of this brightly coloured insect, so your chances of seeing a few on a sunny day will be pretty high.

Basking amphibians

When the sun is shining, toads, frogs, and even harmless grass snakes can be seen in or along the water's edge.

In well-vegetated canals, you may even catch a glimpse of the increasingly rare great-crested newt. This particular amphibian has been around for 40 million years, but is now classified as a protected species threatened by habitat loss.

Dusk-loving bats

Britain is home to 18 different species of bat, and on warm summer evenings, many are regular visitors to our canals.

Our waterways provide important passages, bringing nature into our towns, cities and intensively farmed landscapes. These corridors allow bats to bypass the perils of roads and provide safe links in an increasingly fragmented countryside.