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