Yeading Walk : Yeading Brook

River flow seems low, which seems strange as it has not been dry weather.
The species of grass growing out of the sandbags has been identified as Rye grass, which may not be ideal for encouraging biodiversity and has limited use for wildlife.
There is a large amount of filamentious algae growing on stones and surfaces, more than has ever been previously observed in 3+ years. This could indicate high nitrate or phosphate levels.
Unfortunately we were unable to conduct ammonia and phosphate tests today.
Some dead invertabrates observed.
The Brook smelled bad!
265 Gammarus
1 olive baetidae
Other species observed:
-2Chronimid midge (red midge larve)
-5 midge larve
-1 blackfly larvae
-180 water hoglice (huge increase, 16 counted last month)
-1 large horse leech
-1 Glossiphonia leech
-15 small leech
- 1 pea muscle
- Stone loach eggs( probably, this species of fish last observed here in May last year)
- Flatworm
- 4 Aquatic worms
- 1 mealworm (relocated to dry land wood area)
- egg purse/plant root 1.5cm