Wildlife on the River Great Ouse

The River Great Ouse meanders through leafy countryside and our canoe trails offer our guests the opportunity to witness the wide range of wildlife and birds in their natural environment. 

Along the trail, you typically see Herons, Kingfishers, ducks, geese amongst others.  

In addition, we also see deer drinking from the river, rabbits, and hares scampering and the other smaller mammals on the river bank.  Particular favourites are the shy and darting electric blue of the Kingfishers which fly over the water hunting insects.  Herons stand guard in convenient fishing spots watching us intently.  We have also seen a lot of grass snakes swimming in the river this year. The canoe trail is flanked by changing scenery with meadows, drooping willows, and a wide range of flora and fauna. Canoes and kayaks offer the element of stealth and allow us to get close to nature. 

Spotted on the River include:

• Kingfishers usually at least one per trip
• Herons
• Grass snakes
• Otters (good)
• Mink (bad)
• Cormorants, often sunning themselves and drying their wings
• Moor Hens (red beak)
• Coots (white beak)
• Black Swan (Australian!)
• Swans (the normal ones)
• Mandarin Ducks
• Canadian Geese
• Barn owls
• Muntjac Deer
• Turtles
• Buzzards
• Egrets
• Kestrels
• Short Eared Owl
• Other Owls
• In 2008 we also had a seal that had made its way up from the Wash.