Winter wildlife

Two swans swimming across a frozen lake at sunrise

Peter Cairns/Northshots

Where to see wildlife in winter

Natural winter wonders

Some say winter is lifeless. It’s anything but. Many birds that fought each other off all spring and summer now gather together in enormous numbers, and starlings fill the skies with the incredible patterns of their murmurations. Arctic visitors make the coasts their winter home, while seal colonies haul themselves onto our beaches to noisily stake out their territory. It’s the toughest time of year, but even at this, the darkest, coldest and least promising time of year, life goes on.

Robin in snow

Stewart McDonald

Robins

Explore
Murmuration of Starlings

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Starling murmurations

Explore
Holly

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Winter plantlife

Fieldfare

Richard Steel/2020VISION

Winter migrants

Explore
Red Squirrel by Elliott Neep

Red Squirrel by Elliott Neep

Red squirrels

Explore
A pied wagtail perched on a tree branch in the snow

Pied wagtail by Bob Coyle

Wagtails

Explore
Silhouette of a tufted duck on the lake at Abram Flash at sunset

Waterfowl and waders

Explore
Barn owl by Peter Smith

Barn owl by Peter Smith

Barn owls

Explore
A great crested grebe swimming with two small chicks on its back

Grebes

Explore