How to see a dipper

If I had to pick a favourite bird, the dipper would be it.

Small and plump, at first glance this demurely-dressed bird looks unremarkable. But spend some time watching and you’ll soon see how surprising this little bird is.

How to see a dipper

Dippers are found in upland areas of northern and western Britain, extending into lower areas in the south-west. A different race occurs in Ireland and north-west Scotland. I saw my first dipper on the branch of river that flows through Glen Tanar in Aberdeenshire.

To see a dipper you’ll need to find the right habitat. Look for swift-flowing upland streams and rivers – dippers stand and bob on rocks before searching the river for food. In south-west England they favour lowland rivers.

They can also be found around the edges of upland lakes, and have been known to follow rivers into built-up areas in winter.

Dippers can be seen in the UK at any time of year.

How to identify a dipper

Dippers are around 18cm long – slightly smaller than a starling. They are dark brown and black with a white throat and belly (the international name for this species is the white-throated dipper).

Dippers can be seen hopping from rock to rock and, well, dipping. When dippers stand still, they plant their feet and make rhythmic little dips. There are many theories as to why they do this, the most popular being either to blend in with the water and thus hide from predators, to help them spot prey beneath the water, or to communicate with other dippers.

What makes dippers special?

Aside from their adorable dipping, what I think makes the dipper special is their incredible ability to feed in water. You’d never expect these fat little birds to be expert swimmers.

Like mini, UK penguins, they walk into the water and also dive and swim ably, grabbing various tasty invertebrates from the river bed.

The first time I glanced a dipper, I thought it looked like a swift had crash landed into the water, so sleek was its shape. When it emerged onto a rock, round and glistening, and proceeded to start bobbing, I realised what I had seen.

I watched it, enraptured, as it dived for more food – not taking my eyes of it until it stuck out its short, stiff wings and shot away up the river and out of sight.

Seeing a dipper was one of my nature things to do before 30. Take a look at the other wildlife experiences I’m trying to achieve this year.

I’ve since seen them twice more, at Snuff Mills in Bristol and again in a small river near Buckie in Scotland.