Standard Riverfly sampling techniques are used, 3 minute kick sample (using a 250mm by 500mm deep net with 1mm mesh size) and a 1 minute hand search, followed by an in field sorting and identifying to the 8 Target groups - Cased caddis, Caseless caddis, Mayfly, Blue winged olive, flat bodied stone clingers, Olives, Stoneflies and freshwater shrimp. The Extended Riverfly Project has also been incorporated which includes 33 invertabrate groups and takes into account water quality, silt levels and flow rates.
Riverfly data for 12 Months for individual sites
Riverfly Monitoring Initiative National
Results for 2024
From 2025, now incorporating both
BBFAA and local EA sample results
Environment Agency
Chemical River Tests Results
Species found consisted of ;
River / Brook
Still water only
EA Identified
146 Species
Utube Video links by kind permission of John Davy-Bowker
Mayflies (Ephemeoptera)
-
Drake Mackerel Mayfly - Ephemera vulgata
Baetis - 5 species
-
Pale watery - Baetis fuscatus
-
Small Dark Olive - Baetis scambus,
Heptagenids - 3 species
-
March Brown - Rhithrogena germanica,
Ephemerellid - 1 species
Leptophlebiidae - 2 species
-
Turkey Bown - Paraleptophlebia submarginata
-
Claret Dun - Leptophlebia vespertina (Adult only)
Caenidae - 1 species
-
Anglers Curse - Caenis horaria
Stoneflies (Plecoptera)
Perlodidae
-
Perlodidae sp
-
Common Yellow Sally - Isoperla grammatica
Nemouridae​
-
Nemoura sp.
-
Small Brown - Nemoura avicularis
Taeniopterygidae
Leuctridae
-
Needle stonefly - Leuctra sp.
Sedges (Trichoptera)
Rhyacophilidae
Hydropsychidae​
-
Grey Flag sedge - Hydropsyche instabilis
-
Grey Flag sedge - Hydropsyche pellucidula
-
Diplectrona Felix
Polycentropodidae​
-
Dark Spotted Sedge - Polycentropus flavomaculatus
Cased caddis
Hydoptilidae
-
Hydroptilla sp.
Limnephililidae​
-
Cinnamon sedge - Limnephilus lunatus
-
Large Cinnamon Sedge - Potamophylax rotundipennis
-
Micropterna sequax
-
Caperer - Helesus digitatus
-
Chaetopteryx villosa
Lepidostomatidae
-
Silver sedge - Lepidostoma hirtum
Leptoceridae​
-
Brown Silverhorn - Athripsodes bilineatus
-
Brown Silverhorn - Athripsodes cinereus
-
Ceraclea annulicornis
-
Triaenodes bicolor
-
Mystacides azurea
-
Athripsodes aterrimus
Brachycentridae​
Psychomyiidae​
-
Lype reducta
Phryganeidae
-
Agrypnia pagetana
Glossosomatidae​
Goeridae​
-
Medium Sedge - Goer pilosa
Sericostomatidae​
Freshwater shrimp (Malacostraca)
Gammaridae
-
Demon Shrimp - Dikerogammarus haemobaphes
Crangonyctidae​
-
Crangonyx pseudogracilis / floridanus
Asellidae​
Astacidae​
Dragonfly (Odonata)
-
Blue tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans infuscans (Adult only)
-
Azure Damselfly - Coenagrion puella (Adult only)
-
Large red damselfly - Pyrrhosoma nymphula (Adult only)
-
Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum (Adult only)
-
Black Tailed Skimmer - Orthetrum cancellatum (Adult only)
Other Orders
​
Alderflies (Megaloptera)
Sialidae
-
Alderfly - Sialis fuliginosa
True Bugs (Hemiptera)
-
Lesser Water Boatman - Corixa punctata
-
Lesser Water Boatman - Corixa panzeri
-
Lesser Water Boatman - Hesperocorixa linnaei
-
Lesser Water Boatman - Sigara falleni
-
Lesser Water Boatman - Sigara limitata
-
Water Cricket - Velia caprai
-
Pond skater - Gerris odentogaster
-
Water Stick Insect - Ranatra linearis​
Beetles (Coleoptera)
-
Diving Beetle - Oreodytes sanmarkii
-
Diving Beetle - Hyphydrus ovatus
-
Diving Beetle - Stictotarsus duodecimpustulatus
-
Riffle Beetle - Oulimnius tuberculatus
True Flies (Diptera)
-
Yellow legged Water Snipe fly - Atherix ibis (Adult)
-
Crane fly - Antocha vitripennis
Phantom Craneflies - Ptychopteridae
-
Ptychoptera contaminata
-
Ptychoptera lacustris
-
Black fly - Simulium equinum
-
Black fly - Simulium ornatum
-
Shore Flies - Ephydridae sp
-
Aquatic Danceflies - Clinocerinae sp
Non Biting Midge - Chironomidae spp.
-
Prodiamesinae sp
Chironomini sp
-
Cricotopus trifasciatus
-
Orthocladiinae sp
-
Tanytarsini sp
-
Tanypodinae sp
Biting Midge - Ceratopogonidae sp.
Phantom Midge - Chaoborus sp
Mosquitoes - Culicidae spp.
-
Mosquitoes - Culiseta annulata (Adult only)
Leeches (Hirudinea)
-
Leech - Helobdella stagnalis
-
Leech - Theromyzon tessulatum
-
Leech - Erpobdella testacea
-
Horse Leech - Haemopis sanduisuga
Flatworms (Tricladidea)​
-
Flatworm - Polycelis felina
-
Flatworm - Planarea tenuis
-
Flatworm - Dugesia tigrina
Worms (Oligochaeta)​
-
Square Tailed Worm - Eiseniella tetraedra
-
Sludge worm - Tubificidae spp.
Snails (Gastropoda)
-
Common Bithynia - Bithynia tentaculata
-
Common River Snail - Viviparus viviparus
-
Wandering Snail - Ampullaceana balthica
-
Common Ram’s-horn snail - Planorbis planorbis
-
Nautilus Ram’s-horn - Gyraulus crista
-
European valve snail - Valvata piscinalis
-
Whirlpool Ramshorn Snail - Anisus vortex
-
Jenkins' Spire Snail - Potamopyrgus antipodarum
Limpets (Gastropoda)
-
Lake Limpet - Acroloxus lacustris​
Bivalves (Bivalvia)
-
River Pea Mussel - Pissidium amnicum
-
River Pea Mussel - Pissidium nitidum
-
River Pea Mussel - Pissidium subtruncatum
Water mites (Hydracarina)​
-
Water mites - Hydracarina Spp
-
Hydrachna sp.
Springtails
-
Podura aquatica
Water Fleas (Daphniidae)
-
Daphnia Sp
Copopods (Copopoda)
-
Copopoda Sp.
Environmental DNA barcoding (eDNA) Fish Survey 2021
Great thanks to Mike Duddy and the Mersey Rivers Trust for this information
Electro Fishing Surveys
Electro fishing survey taken on Birkin brook beat 1. August 6th 2017
Both generator and backpack methods were used and resulted in a number of Perch upto 6 inch and Gudgeon to 6 inch, along with healthy populations of Bull head, Minnow and Stickleback. Also found were 10 Eels upto 2 foot in length and a Brook lamprey of about 5 inch.
-
Fish Species Found
-
Brown Trout
-
Perch
-
Gudgeon
-
Bull head
-
Stone Loach
-
Minnow
-
Stickleback
-
Eel
-
Brook Lamprey
Environment Agency Electro fishing surveys taken on Peover Eye.
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. May 23th 2013. SJ 80025 72396. Survey length 40m width 1.94m. Area 77.6m
Fish Species Found
-
No Catch​
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. May 19th 2011. SJ 80025 72396. Survey length 50.2m width 4.52m. Area 226.904m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 5
-
Perch Perca fluviatilis 3
-
Gudgeon Gobio gobio 1
-
Bullhead Cottus gobio 150
​
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 17.8cm
-
2 18.7cm
-
3 16.3cm
-
4 37.3cm
-
5 20.7cm
Perch
-
1 26.5cm
-
2 15.8cm
-
3 14.3cm
Gudgeon
-
1 13.6cm
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. May 13th 2007. SJ 75607 72830. Survey length 71.5m width 4.98m. Area 356.07m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 2
-
Grayling Thymallus thymallus 5
-
Brown / sea trout Salmo trutta 1
-
Perch Perca fluviatilis 1
-
Roach Rutilus rutilus 6
-
Gudgeon Gobio gobio 5
-
Bullhead Cottus gobio 66
​
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 48.0cm
-
2 33.3cm
Grayling
-
1 15.6cm
-
2 18.8cm
-
3 11.3cm
-
4 25.9cm
-
5 17.8cm
Brown / sea trout
-
1 13.1cm
Perch
-
1 9.7cm
Roach
-
1 19.7cm
-
2 20.5cm
-
3 22.6cm
-
4 20.0cm
-
5 25.4cm
-
6 21.3cm
Gudgeon
-
1 9.4cm
-
2 10.3cm
-
3 10.7cm
-
4 12.6cm
-
5 11.0cm
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. August 10th 2006. SJ 80025 72396. Survey length 63.2m width 5.03m. Area 317.89m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 2
-
European eel Anguilla anguilla 1
-
Grayling Thymallus thymallus 9
-
Brown / sea trout Salmo trutta 2
-
Perch Perca fluviatilis 2
-
Bream Abramis brama 1
-
Roach Rutilus rutilus 13
-
Gudgeon Gobio gobio 3
-
Bullhead Cottus gobio 364
-
Lamprey sp. Petromyzontidae 10
-
3-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus 4
​​
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 41.0cm
-
2 32.9cm
European Eel
-
1 79.0cm
Grayling
-
1 33.1cm
-
2 27.4cm
-
3 10.5cm
-
4 9.0cm
-
5 9.5cm
-
6 8.6cm
-
7 24.0cm
-
8 19.3cm
-
9 20.0cm
Brown / sea trout
-
1 39.1cm
-
2 43.7cm
Perch
-
1 23.0cm
-
2 6.3cm
Roach
-
1 19.5cm
-
2 22.0cm
-
3 24.4cm
-
4 24.7cm
-
5 20.5cm
-
6 20.2cm
-
7 21.4cm
-
8 26.5cm
-
9 25.7cm
-
10 21.8cm
-
11 22.2cm
-
12 21.0cm
-
13 1.86cm
Bream
-
1 24.5cm
Gudgeon
-
1 12.0cm
-
2 11.8cm
-
3 8.5cm
-
4 12.6cm
-
5 11.0cm
Lamprey
-
1 10.0cm
-
2 12.0cm
-
3 11.0cm
-
4 14.0cm
-
5 8.0cm
-
6 13.0cm
-
7 15.0cm
-
8 13.0cm
-
9 14.0cm
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. August 8th 2006. SJ 80025 72396. Survey length 42.1m width 3.98m. Area 167.558m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 9
-
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 2
-
Perch Perca fluviatilis 5
-
Gudgeon Gobio gobio 10
-
Bullhead Cottus gobio 62​​​
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 12.3cm
-
2 13.5cm
-
3 14.5cm
-
4 13.2cm
-
5 12.2cm
-
6 12.3cm
-
7 37.8cm
-
8 36.8cm
-
9 29.6cm
Rainbow trout
-
1 32.2cm
-
2 34.8cm
Perch
-
1 5.5cm
-
2 6.4cm
-
3 14.0cm
-
4 11.1cm
-
5 18.4cm
Gudgeon
-
1 8.2cm
-
2 9.5cm
-
3 8.5cm
-
4 8.5cm
-
5 9.7cm
-
6 11.9cm
-
7 9.0cm
-
8 10.5cm
-
9 7.5cm
-
10 9.8cm
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. July 13th 2005. SJ 80025 72396. Survey length 72m width 38.75m. Area 2790m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 6
-
European eel Anguilla anguilla 2
-
Grayling Thymallus thymallus 7
-
Brown / sea trout Salmo trutta 5
-
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss 1
-
Perch Perca fluviatilis 5
-
Bream Abramis brama 2
-
Roach Rutilus rutilus 17
-
Gudgeon Gobio gobio 2
-
Bullhead Cottus gobio 135
Bream
-
1 37.2cm
-
2 24.2cm
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 40.8cm
-
2 51.0cm
-
3 39.4cm
-
4 36.9cm
-
5 27.2cm
-
6 22.2cm
Rainbow trout
-
1 32.5cm
Brown / sea trout
-
1 25.0cm
-
2 28.4cm
-
3 31.2cm
-
4 23.6cm
-
5 28.0cm
Perch
-
1 8.5cm
-
2 10.8cm
-
3 16.3cm
-
4 15.8cm
-
5 9.8cm
European Eel
-
1 46.0cm
-
2 28.0cm
Grayling
-
1 29.1cm
-
2 30.0cm
-
3 28.8cm
-
4 23.2cm
-
5 25.1cm
-
6 19.5cm
-
7 16.9cm
Roach
-
1 18.9cm
-
2 23.2cm
-
3 23.6cm
-
4 23.3cm
-
5 24.9cm
-
6 20.8cm
-
7 26.9cm
-
8 24.3cm
-
9 24.5cm
-
10 24.8cm
-
11 20.4cm
-
12 26.5cm
-
13 26.5cm
-
14 22.7cm
-
15 21.6cm
-
16 24.5cm
-
17 22.0cm
Gudgeon
-
1 9.8cm
-
2 9.9cm
Electro fishing survey taken on Peover Eye. July 13th 2005. SJ 75607 72830. Survey length 78m width 4.8m. Area 374.4m
Fish Species Found
-
Pike varieties Esox lucius 5
-
Brown / sea trout Salmo trutta 3
-
Bream Abramis brama 2
-
Roach Rutilus rutilus 14
-
Lamprey sp. Petromyzontidae 11​​
Fish Species lengths
Pike
-
1 60.5cm
-
2 50.7cm
-
3 30.6cm
-
4 39.1cm
-
5 44.7cm
Brown / sea trout
-
1 35.7cm
-
2 42.9cm
-
3 9.0cm
Perch
-
1 9.8cm
Bream
-
1 22.0cm
-
2 28.1cm
Roach
-
1 16.3cm
-
2 20.4cm
-
3 23.3cm
-
4 20.6cm
-
5 20.6cm
-
6 24.7cm
-
7 23.1cm
-
8 23.1cm
-
9 16.4cm
-
10 20.0cm
-
11 16.6cm
-
12 18.3cm
-
13 20.0cm
-
14 18.8cm
-
15 21.6cm
-
16 24.5cm
-
17 22.0cm
Lamprey
-
1 16.0cm
-
2 14.0cm
-
3 13.0cm
-
4 11.2cm
-
5 9.0cm
-
6 16.0cm
-
7 14.0cm
-
8 13.0cm
-
9 11.0cm
-
10 14.0cm
-
11 16.0cm
Species found consisted of ;
River / Brook
Still water only
20 Species
Fish
Game fish - 3 species
-
Wild Brown Trout - Salmo trutta,
-
Rainbow Trout - Oncorhynchus mykiss
-
Grayling - Thymallus thymallus
Course fish - 8 species
-
Grass Carp - Ctenopharyngodon idella
-
Common Carp - Cyprinus carpio
-
Perch - Perca fluviatilis,
-
Chub - Squalius cephalus,
-
Tench - Tinca tinca,
-
Bream - Abramis brama
-
Roach - Rutilus rutilus
-
Rudd - Scardinius erythrophthalmus
Predatory - 2 species
-
Pike - Esox lucius,
-
European Eel - Anguilla anguilla,
​ Others
-
Gudgeon - Gabia gabia,
-
Dace - Leuciscus leuciscus,
-
Minnow - Phaxinus phaxinus,
-
3 Spined Stickleback - Gasterosteus aculeatus
-
Bullhead - Cottus gobia,
-
Stoneloach - Barbatula babatula
-
Brook Lamprey - Lampetra spp.