Choosing to travel by campervan opens up new worlds of opportunity, from stunning mountain and coastal scenery, to wild woodlands and barren moorlands. The UK has incredible natural diversity, and there is always somewhere new to pitch up and explore.

During the lockdowns and travel restrictions of the past twelve months, many of us have developed new interests in the wildlife occupying our gardens, parks and streets. Being confined to our homes apart from local exercise means we can really see the changing seasons, and spot new visitors to birdboxes, hedgehog sanctuaries, and even catching the attention of the neighbourhood dogs and cats!

Looking ahead to more opportunities to travel in 2021, we wanted to share our thoughts on some of the most exciting wildlife you can encounter in the UK. With so much uncertainty around international travel, we recommend doing a bit of pre-trip research prior to your next staycation camping trip and ticking off the awesome creatures from our list!

Birds of Prey

Red Kite

Red kites are fantastic to look out for if you aren’t normally a great bird spotter! With a wingspan approaching two metres, gorgeous reddish-brown body and trademark forked tail, red kites are stunning aerial predators. Shockingly, these majestic birds were once facing extinction in England and Scotland, but a long-running programme to reintroduce them means that there are now around 4,600 breeding pairs in the UK. Because of their distinctive shape and colour, red kites are also great to try to spot with younger members of the family!

Many people still associate red kites with Wales, but they can also be spotted in the Chilterns and in some parts of Scotland. Find out more here.

Peregrine Falcon

Nothing is more exhilarating that witnessing a peregrine falcon diving towards its prey, as the fastest animal in the world these incredible birds can reach speeds of 300kmph (186mph)! Built for speed, peregrine falcons prey on a variety of medium sized birds such as pigeons and small ducks. Their protected status has enabled these awesome animals to expand into new territory around the UK, including urban areas. A great place to spot them during winter months is above the East Coast marshland, where they can be found hunting a range of prey.

Peregrines are among the world’s most common birds of prey, and are present on every continent except Antarctica. In cities, they are even known to make their nests on tall structures such as bridges and skyscrapers! Find out more here. [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/p/peregrine-falcon/]

Golden Eagle

The best thing about traveling with the campervan is being able to access remote and wild places, including the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands, moorlands and mountains. The golden eagle is probably the most famous bird of prey, and many people are surprised to hear they are a common resident in some parts of the UK. Prey ranges from rabbits and foxes to creatures as large as young deer, and golden eagles’ average lifespan is more than twenty years.

Once these beautiful creatures choose a nesting site they can remain there for generations, making tracking them down easier than you might think. With a wingspan of more than two metres, seeing these majestic creatures can give you an elemental feeling of awe and wonder! Learn more about where to see these incredible birds here.

Woodland Creatures

Badger

Some of our favourite campsites are nestled deep in ancient forests and woodland, providing the peace and quiet we love when we get away in the van. Luckily, there are also loads of other creatures sharing this habitat. Badgers are best seen at night, when they come out to eat a diet consisting mostly of worms (they can eat several hundred in a single night!), but sometimes can be spotted foraging during the day. They are unmistakeable creatures, sporting a black, grey and white coat with fluffy tail.

Badgers live in large groups in complex underground burrows called setts, which have multiple entrances and are a common sight in some woodland areas. Find out more about these amazing creatures and where to see them here.

Grass Snakes

We love going for long walks straight from the campsite, and exploring nearby areas with our eyes open for exciting creatures! Many people are surprised to learn that the UK is home to beautiful snakes, such as the grass snake – which can exceed a metre in length when fully grown. Grass snakes are incredibly shy, non-venomous and prey on frogs, toads and newts. The best way to see these spectacular serpents is to visit a possible habitat early in the morning when they are sunbathing to generate warmth!

A difficult animal to spot, every member of the family can get involved in trying to track these elusive creatures. Find out more about where to see grass snakes here.

Wild Boar

With some of the best campsites in the UK to be found in the popular Forest of Dean, it would be impossible to list the best wildlife to look out for without including the famous (or infamous) wild boar! The presence of these hairy pigs was actually the result of unsanctioned releases from farms during the 1990s and 2000s, however some estimates indicate that there are now over 4000 in the UK, with 1200 to be found in the Forest of Dean. These animals can reach 100kg, and with their rich brown fur, adorable piglets and penchant for mischief (they are known to raid flowerbeds!) are a must-see for visitors!

Given the unsanctioned release of this species across the UK, some people argue that wild board populations should be managed through culling and other measures, find out more about these animals here.

Honourable Mention: Sharks

Surfing is perhaps the most iconic sport to go hand in hand with the campervan lifestyle, and what list of UK wildlife would be complete without some discussion of the huge sea creatures that we share the country’s coasts with? A number of sharks, including the Greenland Shark, Smooth Hammerhead Shark and Porbeagle Shark are known to visit the coastal waters of the UK, in some cases a consequence of warming waters due to climate change.

By far the most striking of sharks to be found in the UK is the huge Basking Shark, the second largest fish in the sea and a truly mega aquatic presence! Despite a potentially fearsome appearance due to their size, these relaxed filter-feeders are completely harmless, and were hunted in the past off the coast of Scotland and Ireland. Find out more about these British sharks here.

Enjoying UK wildlife

There is nothing more satisfying than spotting an interesting bird, animal or fish and being able to find out more through internet research or simply asking the locals. Vanlife is all about immersion in the places you visit, and nothing represents this more than getting up close and personal with the local flora and fauna! It’s important to remember that we are the visitors, and all animals deserve respect, consideration and dignity. It has never been easier to share photos and video of the animals you encounter, and this is the perfect way of sharing you discoveries with friends and family!

We can’t wait to get back in the driver’s seat after a year of travel restrictions, and catching up with the incredible wildlife throughout the UK is a great way to start! Stay safe out there, and let us know which amazing animals you and your family encounter on your next adventure.

UK Wildlife to Look out for in 2021!