Chalk streams support a huge range of wildlife, including some
of our rarest species. Here are just a few of the plants and
animals that you may see in Chiltern streams.
This is just one of a number
of damselflies and dragonflies found in our chalk streams.
The male banded demoiselle has distinctive dark blue bands
on its wings, while the female is a beautiful shiny green.
This attractive species is relatively common in the Chilterns.
Look out for it in the summer months.
Brown
Rat
Brown rats often live near
rivers and streams and are quite good swimmers. They are
sometimes confused with water voles, but can be distinguished
by their pointed noses, large ears and long bald tails.
Brown
Trout
The brown trout is one
of a number of fish species found in chalk streams in
the Chilterns.
Brown trout can only survive in clean unpolluted water
with good habitat. Trout spawn (lay their eggs) in the
winter, burying them in the gravel riverbed.
Heron
The grey heron is a large
distinctive bird, often seen standing very still at the
water’s edge while hunting for fish, frogs and small
mammals.
Kingfisher
The kingfisher is one of
our most exotic looking birds. They are experts at plunge
diving for fish, using their long bills.
Where small fish are abundant, adult kingfishers are successful
in four dives out of five. They can handle fish up to
8cm long – half their own body size.
Little
Egret
This attractive white heron
has only recently established itself as a breeding species
in the UK. They feed on fish, insects and frogs.
Little egrets are occasionally seen in the Chiltern valleys.
Little
Grebe or Dabchick
This is the smallest grebe,
often mistaken for a duckling. It has a distinctive ‘powder-puff’
rear end and its cheeks and fore-neck are a bright chestnut
brown.
Dabchicks feed on small fish, shrimps and many types of
aquatic insects. They nest amongst the vegetation at the
water’s edge.
Mallard
Duck
The mallard is the most
common duck species, often seen along our chalk streams.
The male is more colourful than the female, with a metallic
green head with white collar and purplish-brown breast
feathers.
Mallards feed on seeds, plants and invertebrates. The
chicks are active and capable of swimming straight from
hatching and are quickly escorted to the water by the
mother.
Mink
Mink are an introduced
species brought to Britain from America for fur farming.
They have become established in the British countryside
and are seen along some Chiltern streams.
In some areas they can be confused with otters, but the
mink is much smaller (about 2 feet long, including tail)
and usually darker in colour, looking almost black when
wet. Otters are mid-brown with a creamy white chest.
Mink are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on small mammals,
birds, fish, amphibians and crayfish. They represent a
major threat to the rare water vole.
Moorhen
Moorhens are common birds,
often seen near vegetation at the water’s edge.
They feed on water weeds, seeds, fruit, grasses, worms
and larvae.
When it comes to getting about, moorhens are much more
likely to run than fly, unless they are crossing a stream
or pond in panic.
Watercress
Watercress is a common
species in chalk streams, becoming abundant in the summer.
It is an excellent plant for salads and cooking and is
grown commercially in cress beds.
A hundred years ago, watercress growing was a thriving
industry in the Chilterns. Only one commercial cress bed
still operates in the area, on the River Chess.
Wild watercress should not be picked and eaten as it may
contain harmful liver flukes.
Water
Crowfoot
Water crowfoot is one of
the plants most heavily associated with chalk streams.
It likes to grow where there is a good current and provides
important habitat for many invertebrates and fish.
It has attractive white flowers in the summer months.
Water
Rail
The water rail is a shy
and secretive bird that hides in dense vegetation along
the edge of the water.
It mostly feeds on insects, berries and seeds but will
sometimes take larger prey such as fish, small mammals
and eggs.
The water rail is becoming increasingly rare, with a 25-50%
decline in the breeding population over the last 25 years.
Water
Vole
The water vole is Britain’s
fastest declining mammal, having disappeared from over
90% of its former sites. They are still found in the Chilterns,
particularly on the River Chess.
Water voles can often be mistaken for brown rats, which
also live along riverbanks. The vole can be distinguished
from the rat by its rounded face, blunt nose and small
lightly furred tail.
Water voles need earth banks to burrow in and lots of
dense vegetation for food and cover from predators.
Yellow
Flag iris
The flag iris is a tall
attractive plant that grows at he edge of rivers, streams
and ponds.
wildlife
images
To view a particular wildlife image, please click the associated
"view image" button.
