Key species factfiles

Extraordinary stories from iconic species in beautiful habitats.

Many of our wetland species are well known, whilst others are rarely seen. Find out more about the species that call our wetlands home, the threats they face and what we're doing to help.

Common crane

Once extinct in the UK, this tall, graceful bird is making a comeback. There’s now a small breeding population in Norfolk and a growing population in the south west.

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Common tern

This graceful summer visitor can be found breeding around our coasts and inland at gravel pits, reservoirs and lakes where it nests in noisy colonies.

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Eurasian curlew

The UK's largest wading bird and poet's muse, the eurasian curlew, is instantly recognisable by its long legs and distinctive down curved bill.

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European eel

With an extraordinary life cycle, the European eel makes one of the most astonishing animal migrations observed in nature.

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Reed warbler

This little brown bird is easier to hear than it is to see. It spends the summers hiding out and singing its long, melodic warbling song from within the reedbeds of the UK’s lowland wetlands.

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Water vole

Discover the water vole: an adorable, furry engineer creating intricate burrow systems along our riverbanks!

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