On a dank and grey winters day, who would have thought we would be adding a new fish species to the list.
Well, Bernard Bradshaw took some shots of a Grey Heron this afternoon fishing in the mouth of the Mardyke where it flows in to the Thames and it caught a strange looking beast.
I am very sure that it is a type of Pipefish (so sort of related to Seahorses - I think) and some Googling has revealed that Nilsson’s Pipefish has indeed been recorded as far up river as the O2 if what i read is correct. However Nilsson’s pipefish is small getting to no more than about 18cm but this one is at least 30cm and has quite bold stripes so may well be Greater Pipefish.
So, if there are any fish experts out there who may be able to help with the id please email me at howard.vaughan@rspb.org.uk
The Pipefish went completely rigid and the Grey heron was unable to do anythign with its catch and so dropped it and continued to hunt for more digestible prey.
An Update: 21st January: The pictures were sent to the Natural History Museum and we got a swift response... "From the size, snout length and angle, the cross-sectional aspect of the body and the banding on the tail, I would say this is almost certainly the Greater pipefish, Syngnathus acus. This species is known to inhabit the tidal Thames"
Oh and today's avian sightings to lure you into visiting tomorrow...
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer