Abington Naturewatch: River Sampling results

Saturday, 27 April 2024

River Sampling results

22nd April 2024 - the Abington NatureWatch Rivercare team met at the river by the ford this week for the first river sampling session of the season. Having captured a 'kick-sample' of the wildlife in the net, and carefully transferred it to a bucket, the task was to count and identify the creatures in the river. This data is then sent to Riverfly for monitoring and analysis.

A good variety of creatures were found, including three fish - two Minnow, nicely coloured ready for the breeding season, and a Stone Loach. Interestingly a Water Hog Louse was also found, something the group had not seen recently.

Minnow - a male starting to show some red colouration

on the fins in preparation for breeding

Minnow

Stone Loach - a bottom-dwelling fish

Stone Loach - note the sensory barbels around the mouth

Mayfly larva - much bigger than most larvae, and very flexible when moving

Mayfly larvae

Caseless Caddis fly larva -

note just two projections at the back of the abdomen

A Caseless Caddis fly larva, showing the

gills underneath the body

A Cased Caddis-fly larva, which makes itself a protective

'shell' of small pieces of gravel

Olive, the larvae of an Upwing Fly - note three projections at the rear.

Also note, below, a larva of a species of fly

Olives

Water Hog Louse

Water Hog Louse

Gammarus - a freshwater shrimp

Sampling point, on the Little Abington side of the ford

Getting set up, ready for the count

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The Aims of Abington Naturewatch

At their meeting on 9 April 2005 the members approved this revised version of the aims of Abington Naturewatch:

To monitor and record the wildlife (fauna & flora) within the borders of the Abingtons;
To encourage protection of our wildlife, maintain its quality and foster its diversity;
To promote awareness of the richness, potential and problems of the natural environment of the Abingtons;
To cooperate in improving access to the local natural environment for the benefit of all Abington villagers.

Pat Daunt, Founder

The organisation is informal and communication is by email if possible; members are notified of events from time to time. Contact details are maintained by a small "project team". There is currently no membership fee as costs are covered by voluntary contributions at events.

Members are encouraged to report notable sightings of flora and fauna within the Abingtons to the appropriate sector coordinator and an illustrated record is published annually.

A map of the area covered, with some features noted, is available here: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=213774935674882866424.00000111dca2be9f06ab8&z=13>

For more information or to join, please contact David Farrant on (01223) 892871.

Contributions to our records should be sent to sector contacts or either of the above. Photographs may also be submitted to Andy Merryweather (amerryweather61@gmail.com)