Wild by the water

admin
, 24 June 2022
Wild by the water
Emperor Dragonfly © Andrew Holloway

Lakes, rivers, ponds and streams are brimming with wildlife to discover.

Wherever you live there is likely to be water close by, whether it’s a river cutting through town, a brook babbling away in a secluded wood, or a local lake, pond or reservoir. These can be wonderful places for a walk, and even better for getting close to nature – for where there’s water, there’s wildlife!

The first creatures you catch sight of are likely to be birds. Swans sailing serenely across the surface, a Mallard herding a row of fluffy ducklings, or a Grey Heron stalking the shallows, poised to pluck an unsuspecting fish from the water. If you’re lucky, you might see a flash of colour in the form of a Kingfisher or a Grey Wagtail.

Kingfishers are one of the nation’s favourite birds, probably because they’re also one of our most colourful! They’re often seen as a flash of electric blue low over the water’s surface, but when they perch they reveal a blazing orange breast. They tilt and bob their head, spotting fish and calculating the perfect angle of attack, before plunging into the water to grab one.

Grey Wagtails have a deceptively dull name, as males are a bright, sunshine yellow from their breast to their undertail. They like stretches of flowing freshwater, from urban canals to rocky upland streams. They’ll perch on the bank or on objects poking up from the water, furiously wagging their tail, before zipping out to snatch insects from the air.

Burton Pond nature reserve

If you look closely, you might spy some smaller creatures flitting above the water. Damselflies dance around waterside plants, often settling for a moment and affording the opportunity for a better look. Many of them are blue and black and can be tricky to tell apart – a clue to two of our more common species lies in the shape of the black mark at the top of the slender abdomen, just behind the wing base. A club-shaped mark is a Common Blue Damselfly, whilst a U-shaped mark is an Azure Damselfly.

Dragonflies are more energetic, living up to their mythical name. They race back and forth as they patrol their territory or hunt for food. The names of individual species also match their active nature: there are hawkers, chasers, skimmers, and darters. Look out for the imperious Emperor Dragonfly, with an apple green body narrowing to a bright blue abdomen, which hovers and darts above large ponds, lakes, and canals.

The water itself is likely to hold even more wild treasures, though they can be harder to spot. Our waterways are home to a host of freshwater fish, which can sometimes be glimpsed from the bank. Look out for the long, thin shadow of a Pike lurking in sheltered stretches of rivers and larger pools, ready to ambush passing prey. Shallower waters could be home to Sticklebacks, with males defending the eggs that females lay in their purpose-built nest.

Wherever you live, there are always wild wonders to be discovered when water is present – let us know what you find!

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