ON THE WILD SIDE Fly me a river
RIVERS and streams in the UK are bursting with wildlife, from frogs to dragonflies and fish to bats. At any time of day you can be sure there is something worthwhile – even if it is just the relaxing sound of running water.
If you find yourself relaxing by a quiet riverside, you might catch sight of some interesting birds. We’ve already talked about the kingfisher. So today I want to look at the water’s edge, at a few birds who prefer to sit quietly as close to the water as possible. If you are in Scotland or Wales, you might see a dipper. And if not you are likely to see grey wagtails instead. Dippers are jolly little fat birds who prefer quiet mountain streams. They are fairly similar in appearance to a dumpy blackbird, which gave them the nickname “Water Ouzel” – ouzel being an old English word for blackbird.
Dippers have one incredible talent. Even in fast-flowing streams they can run underwater, picking insect larvae from rocks as they go.
They use their surprisingly strong little feet and claws to hang on and they hold their wings in such a way that the water flows over them.
They can also swim surprisingly well for a chubby blackbird without webbed toes!
Not quite as exciting – but more beautiful – the grey wagtail is much more yellow than it’s name suggests.
But since we already have a yellow wagtail who visits us in the summer, we have to differentiate somehow!
Named for their habit of wagging their long tails up and down, these pretty birds fly in a wobbly up-anddown arc low over water, catching insects. They will also take easy prey off the surface, such as insect larvae or little tadpoles.
Like many of our waterbirds, they don’t handle the cold very well. So now that the weather is starting to get colder you may see them moving closer to towns and cities. LAURA LEXX