Wildlife on the Midland Canals

Wildlife Up The Cut

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Above:Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Moorhens are about 13 inches (33 cm) long with the sexes just about indistinguishable. They are in the same family as coots, and their nervous behaviour has led them to being called 'Skitty Coots' in some areas. They are not 'moor' birds, the name being a corruption of 'merehen'.

Left: Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella). This is a very common specie throughout the British Isles except the northern half of Scotland. Adults can be seen between May and August according to locality.

We have started a wildlife page where we are putting together some of the photographs of wildlife we have come accross along the cut. If you wish to contribute and help expand the site and have the technology to send us information or photographs please email terry@upthecut.co.uk. I have been a Lepedopterist for over 20 years and have bred many species of British and european butterflies and moths and can assist in identifying most adult insects and larva.

Cute nesting

Above:A Coot on the Dudley No.2 canal.

Thistle

Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) Famous as an emblem of Scottish Kings, this attractive and vigorous weed of waste areas is a downy biennial with winged spiny stems. this weed grows upto 35cm. To see more flowers which are found "up the cut" click here

 ATTENTION ALL WILDLIFE ENTHUSIASTS, BIRD WATCHERS,
 "TWITCHERS" ETC!!!

The editor of this site is pleased to report that Kingfishers have been
clearly observed whilst walking the locked sectionof the Titford canal.
The Kingfishers were seen both perched on the beam of lock 3, and
flying accross the sidepond between locks three and four into the trees
and bushes on the north side of the canal. If you have any sightings of
rare or unusual wildlife on or near the canals/waterways, and would like
to share the experience with others via the pages of this site, do not
hesitate to contact us via E-Mail.

 MORE KINGFISHERS!

The editor is pleased to report that yet another Kingfisher 
(Alcedo atthis) has been observed on the canal network of the Black
Country.
On this occasion the bird was clearly seen flying and perched in the
bushes at the side of the Dudley number 1 canal, opposite the
"Tenth Lock" public house, near to the bottom of the Delph lock flight.
This took place on Sunday 30th December 2001, at 2 o'clock in the 
afternoon.
Pictures of snow covered scenes and (hopefully) the bird itself taken 
on the day to follow soon.

King Fisher

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)