Eye spy...

Spotting wildlife helps us to slow down and notice the world around us. Take a photo of this spotter’s guide and see what you can find on the Bath River Line today:

1. Kingfishers eat their bodyweight in fish every day
2. Cormorants’ feathers absorb water for diving deep. Spot them drying their outstretched wings
3. Scarce Chaser Dragonfly females and young males are orange, while mature males are bright blue
4. Otters were nearly extinct in the UK, but can now be spotted along the Bath River Line
5. European Eels hide in rivers, but look for a thick, silvery body as long as your arm
6. Daubenton’s Bats, also called ‘water bats’, fly low over rivers and canals to catch insects
7. Alder Leaf Beetles have returned from near extinction. Spot them on Alder (mainly), Beech, Hazel & Birches
8. Himalayan Balsam spreads quickly and pushes out other flowers, it’s not welcome here!
9. Loddon Pondweed, a rare weed that helps clean the river by soaking up extra nutrients
10. Common May Flies spend up to two years underwater then emerge as adults, often for just a few hours
11. Dock Bugs love dock leaves and blackberries. Can you spot the different life stages?
12. Beavers are nature’s superheroes! They improve water quality and reduce flooding

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