More Stuff on the Severn

Been an odd day in some ways, I went for the walk more to, just do it, and "get it out of the way" and yet I saw more stuff that I did not expect of would have looked for. I suppose that's the way it goes. so I suppose I should start at the beginning. There I walked down towards the English Bridge on the town side bank and in the shallows I saw a 6" long fish and it stayed in the same place long enough for me to get quite a decent picture of it. I have no idea of the species and will have to a bit more than the cursory bit of research that has so far left me none the wiser. I will report back any conclusions I come to.

As a I wandered under the English Bridge heading down stream I caught a group of goosander chicks without parent / adults, foraging. There were five of them keeping together. This was probably the best picture I got of them. I would normally blame operator error, and don't see any good reason not to continue with that.

So continuing downstream I kept my eye on the river, especially on the floating debris that I have taken a fancy to. In doing this by chance I came across a good size Pike sunning itself in the shallows. It seemed totally oblivious to me standing above. I did manage to get this picture.

I know that you will have to look closely and it is blurry, but I am happy with it ad I suppose that is what counts.

Some years ago I did some research with Anne Magurran into the alarm responses of minnows. To be honest she had most of the ideas I think she gave me some of the credit for which I am grateful.

It was as I was trying to get my picture of the Pike that I heard a racket on the river and glanced up to see one of the stretch's Mute swans getting in to the air with some effort. I was quite pleased with myself for this snap shot.

On top of this today was probably the warmest day we have had this year so far. so it was a good day especially in that I got to see so much more than I expected.

OK bed time again

Back soon