|
BIRDS |
ANIMALS & INSECTS |
WILD FLOWERS/PLANTS |
 |
 |
 |
|
GREY HERON: Very
common. Typically seen, fishing, standing on the canal bank.
Usually fly off as boat nears only to land 100 yards further on
(process can be repeated several times). In flight it
looks quite prehistoric.
|
WATER VOLE: This
the 'ratty' of 'Wind in the Willows' fame. The water vole
has been very scarce on the canals, but seems to be cautiously
coming back to some waters. We have personally seen them
on the Ashby near Sutton Cheyney; on the Grand Union (Leics
Sect) near to Kilworth; and on the Llangollen Canal near to
Whitchurch. Looks a bit like a rat, but it's fur seems less
sleek looking (almost tatty) and has
a much shorter tail. |
BLUEBELLS: Seen in
woodland areas just before the leaf canopy hides the light.
Forms stunning blankets of blue on the woodland floor 'flowing'
down to the canal bank. Particularly pretty on parts of
the south Staffs & Worcs canal and the Leek branch of the Caldon
canal. a sign that summer, proper, is just round the
corner. |
 |
 |
 |
|
GREAT CRESTED
GREBE: Commonly seen if nearby meres, lakes, or 'flashes'. In
early summer the adults can be seen training their young to
fish, swimming underwater in tandem. This piggyback
behaviour is common. Nests in marginal reed clumps.
|
OTTER: Now
very rare on inland waterways, but might be seen riverbank
areas near to canals. Possibly some areas of the River
Trent and the Thames. Possibly the River Avon. |
FOXGLOVE:
Typically grows on very steep banks in canal cuttings in
amongst wooded stretches of the canal. |
 |
 |
 |
|
LITTLE GREBE (or
Dabchick): The books say this bird is quite common, but we see
it only occasionally (usually on the Llangollen canal) - perhaps
its just because it hides away so readily. Little diving
bird, with the 'look of a slender brown moorhen'.
|
MINK: Fur
species gone feral, having been released in their thousands by
idiots calling themselves animal rights activists. Decimated our
population of water voles. Some confuse it with the otter,
but mink considerably smaller. Based on our own sightings,
possibly now in a welcome decline compared with a decade ago.
Could this be the reason the we are seeing more water voles? |
YELLOW (FLAG)
IRIS: Long leaved and stemmed plant with yellow flowers which
usually appear about June. Very common on the canals
growing in the 'margins'. It is said that the 'Fleur de
Lys' design of boy scout and French fame was modelled on the
yellow flag iris. |
 |
 |
 |
|
KINGFISHER: These
charming birds are actually quite common on the canals -
but shy, and so quick in flight, that they are difficult to
photograph. Apart from May to mid June (when away nesting) you
are very likely to see at least one during your cruise - if you
keep your eyes open. We spotted this little fellow fishing
on the offside on the Market Harborough Arm. This Photo by
Deborah Lisseman (who was visiting Willow as a friend of our
guests at the time) - one of the best photos of a Kingfisher
that I have seen.
|
GREY SQUIRREL:
An American import disliked by many as it caused the decline of
our native Red Squirrel (by spread of disease rather than
fighting ability). I admit that, in the absence of our
reds, I quite like them. Clearly intelligent - I've seen
them deliberately 'bomb the boat' with food debris as we pass
under their branches . |
WILLOWHERB: Very
much a 'weed' but when in flower can look quite attractive, en
masse. Flowers in July give way to cotton wool like seeds,
which float in the breeze. |
 |
 |
 |
|
COOTS & MOORHENS:
Quite common on most canals, but I do have an affection for both
of these species. People often confuse the two species, so I've
put them together here to show the difference. The coot is the
one with the white beak and forehead (bald as a ...). The
moorhen is the one with red/yellow beak (slightly smaller).
Breeding pairs of both species are very territorial and their
youngest chicks are charming looking like little 'balls of
black fluff'.
|
STOATS & WEASELS:
We see these attractive little hunters from the boat
occasionally. What's the difference? Well, a stoat's small
but a weasel is a lot 'wee'er'. And the stoat always has a
black tip to it's tail and weasels don't. A weasel looks a
bit like a long thin mouse in size. Stoats feed mainly on wild
rabbits, whereas weasels go for smaller mammals. Both are
highly efficient predators capable of killing prey species much
larger than their own body weight. |
YELLOW WATER
LILLY: Flat circular leaves 'float' on the surface supported by
under water stems rooted in the canal shallows. Buttercup
yellow attractive flowers appear in the summer. A very
similar but white flowered species is also seen - but is less
common. |
 |
 |
 |
|
BARN OWL: Rare,
and a huge treat if seen. I've only seen one once
canalside. It flew silently, slowly winging up the towpath -
only about 8ft from the ground. The setting was autumnal
Colemere just before dusk - magical.
|
FOX: Reddish brown
and doglike. Those that we see canalside in urban areas
often seem to be in very poor condition, but when we catch a
glimpse of the rural version, they appear much healthier.
Not often seen in the countryside (but that's merely shyness - not
a rarity). Often
heard after dark, with a shriek-like bark. |
RED CAMPION:
Attractive, albeit small, red wild flower, often seen growing
out of the 'metal piling' on the towpath edges (The parts they
haven't mowed). |
 |
 |
 |
|
TAWNY OWL: Common
canalside. Mind you, you probably won't see it - just hear it as
you drift off to sleep. This is the owl that makes the
classic 'Tewit Tewhoo' call. I love the sound - a reminder
that our rural canal lifestyle is so much more preferable to
'city living'.
|
BADGER: Not often
seen in the flesh because these are shy nocturnal beasts. But
they are very much present canalside. We will often pass
badger setts, and they do cause British Waterways (the canal authority)
some headache as their digging can seriously undermine canal embankments. |
SPEEDWELL: attractive blue wild flower that 'hides' from the
mowing machines on grassy towpaths in a similar way to Red
Campion. |
 |
 |
 |
|
BUZZARD: We
occasionally see these perched thus... but often seen soaring
overhead (often in family groups up to 5 birds). Usually
we hear their cry first (a very typical bird of prey 'cry').
About 10yrs ago we only used to see them in the Welsh Borders
(and yes, OK, many in Scotland), but they have now spread
outwards from Wales. In recent years we've seen them near Stoke
& Brum!!
|
PIPISTRELLE BAT: A
common small bat seen in quantities over the canals after dusk
on summer evenings. Their jerky flight and swooping
behaviour is merely their accurate and efficient hunting flight for
small insects - they're totally harmless, unless you happen to
be a flying insect. Sorry just a drawing rather than a
photo. |
PRIMROSE: In the
Spring, in profusion in their clumps, these wild flowers look
just as good as any nursery grown primulas - when seen growing
wild. We've tried in the past to transplant them into
planters for the roof of the boat. But they never look the
same - so we now just appreciate them where they are naturally.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
KESTREL: Small
bird of prey, typically seen in a fluttering hover over
grassland areas, adjacent to the canal, ready to swoop down on
some small rodent. Shape is similar to a sparrowhawk but
the kestrel is a pronounced reddish brown colour. |
GRASS SNAKE: You
might be surprised at this inclusion, but I spot one of these
usually about once or twice a year during the warm summer
months. Not coiled on the bank - but swimming like this across the canal.
When I've seen them they've had the head held clear out
of the water by 2 or 3 inches as they swim. Apparently their favourite
diet is frogs, tadpoles, and small fish. |
WILD GARLIC: not
really a 'wild flower' in the normal sense, but worth mentioning
for a particular reason. The smell of wild garlic as we
boat through wooded canal cuttings. It's not over
powering, but it does remind us of how close nature is to our
lifestyle. |
 |
 |
 |
|
SPARROW HAWK:
Similar size to a Kestrel, but the prey of a sparrowhawk are
other birds in flight - so they don't hover over grasslands like
a kestrel. Unlike the reddish plumage of the Kestrel, the
sparrowhawk appears predominately grey. |
BROWN HAWKER
DRAGONFLY: Large dragonfly seen hovering above the canal during
the summer months on rural stretches, typically where there are
bank side reeds. They seem inquisitive, keeping pace with
the boat, as if hovering to look in through hatchways. |
DOG ROSE:
Sprawling plants intertwine themselves in hedgerows beside the
canal. Then there's natures own natural rose. |
 |
 |
 |
|
JAY: A shy
colourful member of the crow family seen in wooded areas of the
canal system. It has a white flash on it's back, blue wing
bars, and a pinkish brown chest. Has a loud screeching cry of an
alarm call, traditionally used by woodland poachers to warn of
the gamekeepers approach. |
DEMOISELLE
DAMSELFLY: Very common in the summer months, fluttering
around, just above the canal surface. They look to me like a 'cross' between a butterfly and a
damselfly. Very pretty insects, the males are blue and the
females green. Often seen coupled mating in flight. |
GREAT REEDMACE:
Typically seen bordering flashes (lakes) at the canalside.
There are a good number of differing types of reeds that we see
on the canals. As 'just a boatmen' I don't have the
botanical knowledge to identify the varying species - they're
just nice looking reeds to me. |
