Page 75 - 2021 Almanac

One of the most relaxing things you can do on a sunny day in May
is to get out in a boat! There are many places all over Britain where you can hire kayaks, canoes, rowing boats or paddle boards. It is the best way to see river wildlife as you are usually moving slowly and quietly and you are at the same level as many of the animals, birds and insects. If you spot something up ahead, stop paddling and float slowly and quietly towards what you want to observe. It’s a good idea to bring binoculars with you. If you are worried about
dropping things in the water, you can hire or buy waterproof
bags which float!
This is a perfect time of year for spotting brown trout which rise to the surface to eat the hatching mayflies. There will
also be lots of little ducklings, cygnets, goslings and chicks around. Moorhen chicks have extremely fluffy black bodies with incredibly long legs and huge feet! You should also look out for kingfishers which will be hunting a lot at this time of year, catching fish, of course, but also tadpoles and damselflies.
73