Kennet and Avon Canal
WILDLIFE NOTES
mallard duck
Anas platyrhynchos, 23ins. Male - glossy green head, narrow white collar, purple brown breast. Female - mottled brown. Both have a broad purple speculum between white bars.
mute swan
Cygnus olor, 60ins. Orange bill with black knob, the cob's larger than the pen's.
moorhen
Gallinula gallinula, 13ins. White under tail coverts, red and yellow bill; dull slate breast. Listen for 'kr-r-rk', 'kittick'.
coot
Fulica atra, 15ins. Black, white bill. Listen for 'tewk', 'kt-kowk'.
pheasant
Phasianus colchicus. Listen for the 'korrk-kok' and ruffle of wing feathers.
lapwing
Vanellus vanellus. Listen for 'peese-weet', 'pee-r-weet'.
wren
Troglodytes troglodytes, 3 3/4ins. Tiny, plumb, brown, with upcocked tail. Listen for a long pretty song of trills without the sadness of the robin.
kingfisher
Alcedo atthis, 6 1/2ins. Brilliant blue flash, if you see it you can't mistake it.
INSECTS
banded demoiselle
damselfly, Calopterix splendens. Slim looking version of a dragon fly with dark blue bands on wings.
orange tip
butterfly, Anthocaris cardamines. White with orange wingtips, mostly seen May and June.
small tortoiseshell
butterfly, Aglais urticae. Commonly around thistles and nettles, active through the summer.
brimstone
butterfly, Gonepteryx rhamni. Butter coloured butterfly, common from February to November around buckthorn and alder buckthorn.
SHELLS
which you might find on the bank, especially if there has been recent dredging.
swan mussel
Anodonta cygnea, up to 20cm. Large dull mussel shell.
AND
You wont see small water life from a big smelly boat; walk the towpath, quietly.
