Your Guide to Wildlife in the UK

If you're curious about wildlife in the UK, this hub pulls together my favourite encounters, identification tips, and photo stories from the East of England and beyond.

Most of what you’ll find here comes from everyday walks – along rivers, across the fens, through small pockets of woodland and village greens. These are the sorts of places many of us have close to home, which is why I love them.

The guides and stories on this page are rooted in the East, but the species and skills you’ll meet here will help you wherever you are in the UK.

Whether you’re just starting to notice the birds in your garden, or heading out with binoculars and a camera, my aim is to help you see a little more each time you step outside.

Use the links below to dive into identification guides, browse photo-led trip reports, or simply enjoy a few nature stories at your own pace.

Think of this page as your starting point for exploring everything else I’ve written about Britain’s wild side.

Bird Identification & Guides

Birds are often the easiest way to begin getting to know UK wildlife. They’re noisy, visible, and happy to share our gardens, parks and towpaths.

If you’ve ever thought “I wish I knew what that was”, these guides are a great place to start. From simple ID methods to ducks, beaks and feather patterns, each one will help you notice new clues and build your confidence.

Bird and question mark icon - link to 'What Bird Is This?' guide.

What Bird Is This?

Identify common British garden birds by sight and sound.

Birdwatching binoculars and field guide icon - link to How to Identify Wild Birds.

Identify Wild Birds

Bird identification techniques help you add new species to your list.

Mallard duck illustration - link to Guide to Ducks in the UK.

Ducks in the UK

Learn about common duck species found across the UK throughout the seasons.


Look Closer at Bird Features

Use these guides to learn how beaks and feathers help with identification

Bird beak icon - link to guide on how to read bird beak types.

Bird Beak Types

Learn how different beak shapes reveal how a bird feeds and lives.

Patterned bird feather icon - link to guide on Understanding Bird Feather Patterns.

Bird Feather Patterns

Learn about the different types of feathers, their patterns and colours.

Bird Species Spotlights

Once you’ve met a few familiar species, it’s fun to go a little deeper. These spotlights each focus on a single bird, told through one of my own encounters.

You’ll find a mix of behaviour notes, ID tips and plenty of photos – from tiny warblers to impressive reintroduction success stories. Dip into whichever bird catches your eye:

Common Chiffchaff perched on a lichen-covered branch - link to species guide.

Common Chiffchaff

Listen for the distinctive 'chiff-chaff' song and learn key ID features to spot this common warbler

Common Cranes displaying in a wetland habitat at Nene Washes - link to comeback story.

Common Crane

The inspiring story of their return to the Cambridgeshire Fens, after 400 years.

Great Crested Grebe swimming with a chick riding on its back - link to breeding diary.

Great Crested Grebe

Follow their fascinating breeding season in this photo diary from Barnwell, Northamptonshire.

Mute Swan gliding on water with reflection - link to species page.

Mute Swan

Learn all about this beautiful bird and how to photograph it. But beware, it may not be as serene as you think.

Osprey in flight against a blue sky - link to Rutland Water page.

Osprey

Rutland Water's successful reintroduction of this fish eating bird of prey is told while cruising the reservoir.

Butterflies, Dragonflies & Photo Guides

Wildlife watching isn’t only about birds.

Once you start looking closely at hedgerows, meadows and ponds, a whole world of wings appears – butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, each with their own character.

This section mixes trip reports with practical photography advice, so you can both enjoy the stories and learn how to photograph these fast-moving, easily-spooked subjects yourself:

Purple Emperor butterfly resting on the ground with wings open - link to Fermyn Woods page.

Purple Emperor Butterfly

Seeking this elusive woodland species at Fermyn Woods.

Swallowtail butterfly feeding on a white flower - link to species page.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Adventures searching for this rare beauty in the Norfolk Broads.

Close-up of a Ruddy Darter dragonfly perched on vegetation - link to Dragonfly & Damselfly Photos page.

Dragonfly & Damselfly Photos

A gallery and tips for photographing these aerial acrobats.

Close-up photo of a Brown Argus butterfly with wings open - link to Butterfly Photography Guide.

Butterfly Photography Guide

Techniques and advice for capturing stunning butterfly images.

Beyond Birds: Mammals and Other Wildlife

Although birds (and the insects that share their spaces) feature heavily on this site, they’re only part of the story.

Over time I’ll be adding more guides and trip notes about the mammals and other creatures we share the UK with.

They range from the fallow deer I photographed at RSPB Fowlmere, to roe deer racing along the water's edge on a winter sunrise walk, and even the brazen fox that joined us by the lighthouse on Spurn Point. 

As those pages appear, you’ll find them gathered here so you can explore the full cast of characters you might meet on your walks.

The UK's wildlife offers endless opportunities for discovery, even on short local walks. I hope exploring these guides and reading about my encounters gives you ideas for your own adventures, and a little extra confidence to step off the main path and look more closely.

Whenever you’re ready to go deeper, come back to this page, pick another link, and let’s see what else we can find together.

Photo of Carol

About the Author

For me, it’s never been just about bird names or camera settings, but the thrill of seeing a distant speck turn into a hunting kestrel.

After years of learning how to notice and photograph those moments, my camera has become the tool - and this site the field notebook - where I share what I’ve discovered.

If you’re ready to look a little closer, you’ll find the trips, lessons, and small wins that can help you see and photograph the wildlife right on your doorstep.

Read more about me

Step Behind the Wild Lens

If you've enjoyed your time here, the journey doesn't have to end.

I send out the Wild Lens newsletter on an occasional basis. It's where I share my latest field notes, the stories behind my favourite photos, and practical tips that don't always make it onto the site. It's your dose of quiet magic, delivered right to your inbox.

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