Thanks to RevIvel for an informative tour of the Ivel Springs this week.
One key takeaway: It's vital that excessive water abstraction from chalk stream source aquifers is reduced, to restore natural waterflow.
Healthy, flowing watercourses are critical for our wildlife, and indeed for ourselves.
Did you know the study of environmental DNA (eDNA) of microbes could transform how we understand and protect freshwater ecosystems?
Dr Amy Thorpe, a molecular ecologist at UKCEH, shares insights from the first national survey of microbial eDNA in English rivers 🦠🔬
Beautiful light this morning. Frost squeezing the water out of exposed chalk lumps and causing them to crumble. #northherts
Blue river through the branches.
Seen my first trout in the River Oughton. Bet it's warmer in the water than it is out here...
A lovely early winter dog walk in North Herts this morning. @northessexnotes.bsky.social @bbcweather.bsky.social
The winner must respond within 30 days of the notification, providing an address for the prize delivery.
CHRISTMAS QUIZ GIVEAWAY
Today's Question: Complete the name of this species of stonefly, found only in Britain, named after the month in which they usually emerge: ‘Northern ……………. Red’.
Drawing of an Arctic charr
Hi #freshwater folks 👋 The Freshwater Biological Association have announced a new initiative to assess one of our rarest fish, the Arctic charr, in Windermere.
There is a crowd funder, too, to support the work ☺️
(And here's a bit of #SciArt from me!)
🧪💦
www.fba.org.uk/lake-distric...
A month ago, we had the immense privilege of not only taking over the Patagonia shop window (which is still there!) but also hosting a fantastic evening to talk about our campaign. Once again, we had the honour of sharing the stage with the formidable @jamie-woodward.bsky.social
Did you know...
1️⃣Stoneflies belong to the order Plecoptera, which means ‘braided wings’
2️⃣Over 3,500 species belong to this family worldwide.
3️⃣The endemic species 'Northern February Red' is named so as they begin to emerge in February
Pretty new on here and wanted to share some film of the Sea Trout building Redds & spawning in Norfolk’s rare Chalk streams. Sadly I can only show 60 seconds of film so you’ll have to watch on Twitter
This plan is so ridiculous I can't believe I'm about to write these words - water companies want to build pipelines to divert sewage away from protected rivers to... other rivers & lakes with fewer legal protections...& they want to raise our bills to pay for it...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
This juvenile Calanoida copepod sashayed with style across my slide.
🦑
So sad to see the water run off from roads and fields polluting the Vale Brook which flows into the River Chess in Chesham. Yes, that clear water above is what a chalk stream looks like, the rest is pollution.
#riverpollution #chalkstreams #riverchess
🌊 NEW 🌊
Now the Supreme Court has removed barriers that stopped people taking on polluting water companies, Jo Bateman is expanding her case.
https://buff.ly/49aMrGf
Group of happy whale watchers having just seen John Coe and Aquarius West Coast community Orcas from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry
Side profile of the Orca John Coe showing the huge notch missing from his dorsal fin
John Coe heading straight for the ferry with the huge bend in his dorsal fin
Close up of John Coe
My most memorable Orca encounter ever was this sighting of the West Coast community Orcas John Coe and Aquarius from the Ullapool to Stornoway Ferry.
Sadly these 2 males are the only members of the pod left and given their age (60 years +) will not be with us too much longer
#Orca #MarineLife!🦑
Welcome!
I had a chat with NHBS about Marsh Tits, Willow Tits, woodlands, a bit of #rewilding and my new #book in the Poyser series, coming out in 2 weeks:
Author interview with Richard Broughton: The Marsh Tit and the Willow Tit
www.nhbs.com/blog/author-...
#ornithology #ukbirding #forestecology #nature
Here is a mid-week Mayfly to remind us of warmer months...🥶
One of the inspirations behind the Save Windermere campaign.
This is just one of the iconic animals we’re striving to protect by demanding an end to sewage pollution in Windermere.
Sign up to help ⬇️
www.savewindermere.com
One of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken.
Copyright: Save Windermere
Common dolphin breaching out of the water, photo taken by Finlay Pringle from the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Loch Seaforth between Stornoway and Ullapool
Common dolphin breaching out of the water, photo taken by Finlay Pringle from the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Loch Seaforth between Stornoway and Ullapool
Fin whale spotted from the ferry just North of Priest Island as we returned to Ullapool
A few pictures from latest trip on the CalMac Ferries Ullapool - Stornoway crossing.
In total we had 13 separate sightings of cetaceans & saw 4 different species, Common dolphins, porpoise, Minke and Fin whale.
Also a distant sighting of a White Tailed Sea Eagle sitting on Priest Island
#cetaceans
An appropriate location given the appalling performance of the local water company.
A lump of chalk on a frosty morning demonstrating its ability to store water. Unfortunately Affinity Water currently take 53% of all available water from the upper Ivel catchment, up to 14 million litres per day! @beneath-b-waters.bsky.social @stormwater-jo.bsky.social @welshriversunion.bsky.social
Highway runoff causes horrific pollution of rivers every time it rains. This outfall in Lancashire discharges toxic, hazardous substances into the River Lostock, causing it to fail to meet env. standards. These substances are toxic to the invertebrates living in the river. #StormwaterPollution
Good to see he has a firm understanding of upland ecosystems and grouse shooting. Cover crops???
A great starter pack full of freshwater scientists.
What an inspiring rewilding success story. It took only two months for salmon to reach ancestral spawning grounds that had been cut off for more than a century!
www.latimes.com/environment/...
