Fairham Fishes

I decided to go down my local patch for a look at some of the smaller fish living in the river which often get over looked by people in favour of the larger ones such as pike or chub. They are a integral part of the ecosystem and feed many species of wildlife such as kingfishers who gladly gulp down thee minnows!

This is a bullhead or millers thumb (so called as its resemblance to a millers thumb) they are bottom dwelling fish looking a bit like a goby. They spend all their lives under rocks and come out at night to feed and can be quite aggressive predators takings anything that fits into its mouth! Despite this they are caring parents and guard the eggs until they hatch.

One of my favourite fish the humble gudgeon, like miniature barbel they filter the riverbed looking for food and like all small fish are a good indicator of clean water. Some fisheries have started stocking gudgeon as they have the habit of feeding on parasites of larger fish like leeches and lice.

It may look like a cross between the previous two fish but the stone loach is a stunning addition to any river system, like the bullhead they often hide in the day under rocks and come out at night. Females can lay up to 10,000 eggs in spring and prefer fast cleaning flowing rivers while its rare cousin the spined loach likes muddier slow flowing rivers.

I did manage to film a slightly bigger fish also while down at the river.

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Puffins Filmed Underwater

Well i certainly live a varied life it was sea lamprey this time last week in Hampshire (see previous blog) and puffins underwater in the Farnes this week! I've been planning this shoot for a while as I'm interested in all things wild not just the scaly variety and rather then getting images and footage of puffins on the Farnes like thousands before me have i wanted to do something a little different.

To do this i went with fellow underwater photographer Rob Cuss and underwater Film Maker Ben Burville and we set out on a ribb to find the best spots to get up close to these amazing birds. The Farnes are about 4 miles of Seahouses and home to a large seabird colony puffins being one of the main attractions to visitors.

I'll freely admit I'm not a confident diver so i was slightly nervous about getting in the water but i soon got into it and saw my first puffin swim by. They are incredibly graceful underwater and inquisitive coming quite close to see what i was rather then catching sandeels though plenty of little pollock soon swam away!

As well as puffins plenty of guillemots were swimming around and it being the Farnes we got some grey seal action in also. Guillemots are also members of the auk family and slightly larger they seemed a bit more bold getting much closer then the puffins.

This seal pup came up to me in less then a metre of water while i snorkeled up to it and kept swimming away and coming back almost playing a game with me.

See the footage below

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Sea Lamprey of the Chalk Streams

I've been a bit behind on the blog front having been filming for a new TV series for the past few weeks and when i got home i received a phone call from a river keeper on the Hampshire test about a species I've been wanting to photograph for years, the sea lamprey.

Not technically a fish but still classed under chordata, these primitive vertebrates spend most of there lives out at sea feeding off the blood of sharks, big fish and even cetaceans. They are the largest of the three species we have in the UK, Brook Lamprey being the smallest at 6in, River Lamprey the middle one around 10in - 16in (I'm still yet to photograph one of these) and the leviathan from the deeps the sea lamprey reaching a whooping 47in.

Despite its blood thirsty feeding habits they are surprisingly caring lovers with the male moving his mouth up the females back to encourage her to release eggs. I noticed other fish would wait behind the redd looking for dislodged inverts and lamprey eggs such as grayling, mullet and chub.

They don't stick around for long so as soon as i got the phone call i was there the next day in the water, they prefer quit fast moving water so wouldn't recommend going after these guys alone as one slip and i would of been floating down stream for a while!

This is a spent lamprey which is a bit battered and bruised after spawning and will most likely die much like pacific salmon do after spawning. These might not be the most beautiful fish species but i think that are absolutely incredible.

I also shot quite a bit of video of them spawning which I'm saving for something else but here's a exclusive sneak peak at it.

Sea Lamprey Sneak Peak

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Pond Sucess

So very happy with my wildlife pond less then a year since i made it larger and planted the wild flowers behind and its really taking shape. I've put lots of native pond plants in the pond like water crow foot, iris and bush rushes with Lillie's and water cress in there to.

A great find for me was a damselfly i don't often get any dragonflies or damsels in the pond as until recently had little vegetation suitable for them to climb out onto and lay eggs. I'm unsure on the species so feel free to let me know.

In all the weeds a toad was also sunning himself a bit unusual as normally hidden in the log pile behind.

TIP - if your pond is looking a bit green its because of excess algae which can be harmful to some wildlife in large amounts (pets and children also should watch out for blue green algae). 

You can but chemicals to sort it but i prefer to do it naturally and one way is to put a bag of barley straw into the pond which breaks down the algae. Lots of pond plants and Daphnia will also help keep the pond clean and if the water is clearer you'll be able to see more wildlife. if you look at the top image the green colour has gone after about month.

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Nottingham City Peregrines

The Nottingham Peregrines have been nesting on the Newton Building for the last ten years and become almost celebrities receiving over 800,000 hits a year.

Around this time of year the chicks need to be ringed to help I.D them when older and track movements.

This year four chicks were ringed with the biggest being female normally and the smallest normally being male.

Peregrine numbers crashed in the 1960s due to the impact of pesticides. They have now increased slightly in numbers, to about 1,400 breeding pairs in the UK but their recovery in some areas is still held back by illegal persecution. They carry one of highest standards of legal protection and if peregrines are disturbed or harmed, perpetrators can face fines up to £5,000 and even imprisonment. Today, peregrine populations in Britain are slowly recovering thanks to their protected status and the banning of dangerous pesticides.  

When peregrines started to use this ledge as a nesting site, a few years ago, Nottingham Trent University and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust decided that for security reasons, a camera should be installed. This would hopefully prevent egg thieves or harm from intruders. It was only a few years later that we were then able to also stream this video feed live online. - See more at: http://www.peregrinecam.co.uk/

Even got the chance to hold one of the chicks!

Short video on the ringing of the chick

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

This week i visited Attenborough Nature Reserve for the Big 50 event happening celebrating 50 years of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust while also trying to find 50 new species for the reserve. This gosling as a pleasant distraction while walking to the hides.

a recent edition to the reserve is the sand martin hides behind the visitor centre, well worth a visit to see this stunning birds.

I've honestly never really given them much thought but were amazing to sit and watch coming in and out of the holes which have been made for them.

 Its amazing how close they get so its important to be quiet in the hide, the strong winds outside also blew the birds close to the glass for great views.

The sand martins inspect the holes bringing nesting material to there new homes.

You can see the natural sand banks in the background where the sand martins also breed but these artificial holes work just as well.

 Attenborough have set up cameras inside some of the nests offering fantastic views of the birds. Mike Dilger will be opening the hide on Sunday the 11th May while Springwatch will be looking to feature them also.

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Top Tips for watching British Fish

Britain has a massive variety of fish species with 300 + sea species ranging from rock gobies the size of your thumb to basking sharks bigger then a bus. Its the freshwater species I'm concentrating on though with this (living about as from the sea as its possible in England) There are 54 species give or take migratory fish and alien species and despite swimming around in our rivers, lakes, canals and ponds there are ways to see and interact with them, you don't have to jump in with them like me!

Fish Watching Tips

• Wear polarising sunglasses to cut through the glare of the water and see the fish. (When taking pictures of fish above water use a polarising filter)

• Keep low down away from the skyline while walking upstream out of the fish's view

• Don't stomp your feet; the fish will feel your vibrations

• The clearer the water the easier it is to spot fish

• Fish rarely hang out in the open: look for cover

• Dull clothes will help you blend in

• Look for flashes or movement in the water

• Try throwing in bait and see if anything takes it like bread or kitchen scraps which are easy to see being taken

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com