5 bird species to spot at the canal this spring

Canal towpaths come alive with the sights and sounds of Britain's birds returning home for the warmer months.

Kick-start your bird-spotting this spring with these five warblers.

1. Chiffchaff

Phylloscopus collybita

Appearance: Chiffchaffs are small, brown and hard to spot. They are also very similar to other warblers, which makes them difficult for beginners to tell apart by sight alone. The easiest way to identify Chiffchaff is to listen for the distinctive song that gives the bird its name – a loud, repeated ‘chiff-chaff chiff-chaff chiff chiff-chaff’.

Behaviour: Using their small, pointed beaks, they search for insects on branches, between leaves and in small crevices. Chiffchaffs are active birds, and always on the move. Look out for its distinctive tail-wagging movement as it finds its way through foliage to know that you've got the right species.

When to see: From late February.

Where to see: Across the UK in scrubby woodland, reedbeds and sometimes gardens.

2. Sand Martin

Riparia riparia

Appearance: This species is similar to the House Martin, and they may even be seen together. Sand Martins are brown with pale underparts, and have a short, forked tail. They lack the tell-tale white rump patch of the House Martin, which is a key visual difference. Their wings are also narrower.

Behaviour: These birds hunt insects low down on the surface of water. Sand Martin nest in colonies along riverbanks and other steep waterside edges where burrows can be dug – typically in sandy or earthy areas.

When to see: From March.

Where to see: Found in watery habitats (including canals and rivers) across the UK.

3. Blackcap 

Sylvia atricapilla

Appearance: Males are named for their distinctive black cap, which is brown in females. Blackcaps are most easily spotted by first listening for their loud, bubbly song from within dense vegetation, then quietly scoping the area.

Behaviour: Blackcaps have a varied diet, which tends to consist of insects, worms, snails, nectar and pollen. They are increasingly spending the winter in the UK (particularly in the south of England), and will live off fruit and berries during these colder months. However, most mainly still migrate here in spring from the Mediterranean.

When to see: From late March.

Where to see: They nest and defend territories in scrubby habitat, such as bramble patches and hedgerows along towpaths. You can also find them amongst new woodland growth.

4. Sedge Warbler

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Appearance: The Sedge Warbler is small and plump. It has a bold, pale eyestripe and a streaky brown appearance. Listen for its fast, jerky-sounding song of whistles and trills coming from deep within reedbeds or scrubby vegetation.

Behaviour: This species spends its time in marshy, swampy and scrubby areas, and nests in dense vegetation. The male Sedge Warbler never sings the same song twice, and the more varied his repertoire, the more appealing he is to females. They primarily eat invertebrates such as moths, beetles and worms.

When to see: From mid-April.

Where to see: Across the UK wherever there is wet and scrubby habitat, such as willows along waterways or reedbeds on standing water.

5.Reed warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Appearance: The Reed Warbler has plain, brown plumage with a lighter underside and throat. They blend into reeds (their favoured habitat) so can be tricky to spot. You're more likely to hear them before you see them, although their song is similar to the Sedge Warbler. The main difference is a slightly slower pace and more repetition of notes.

Behaviour: In spring, reedbeds come alive with the music of reed warblers defending breeding territories. They cleverly weave their nests between two or three reed stems, which can take over a week to build. Reed Warblers are partial to a diet of insects and berries.

When to see: From mid-April.

Where to see: Reedbeds and scrubby vegetation near water across England and Wales.

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