It was just like I was snorkelling there with you! Incl the ouch & bumps due to trees, branches and shallow parts. Mesmerizing scenes and kudos to the restoration team! #rivernar

Top row: Painter's Mussel (Unio pictorum), so called as shells were used to hold paint.
Not sure about other live freshwater mussel?
Assume oyster shell has washed out of ancient midden.
#freshwatermussel/freshwatermussels" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#freshwatermussels #freshwatermussel #RiverNar #Norfolk #MolluskMonday #MolluscMonday
4/7

In the crystal clear waters, over the clean sands and gravels of the restored River Nar at Castle Acre Common, abundant Brown Trout, mainly parr & 20-30 cm fish. Also a few Bullheads & Sticklebacks.
#Browntrout #troutparr #Nar #RiverNar #CastleAcre #WestNorfolk #chalkstream 3/6

Creature from the Black Lagoon? Merman?
And some Roach.
Was beautiful drifting back downstream over the Crowfoot and Pondweed gilded by the setting sun. (Sadly quite a lot of algae too).
#RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Norfolk #Brecks #fens #sundayvibes #SundayMorning

9/9

Sadly River Nar very infested by #nonnative #invasive Signal Crayfish; many alive & dead ones...
Lovely freshwater sponges under High Bridge.
Who laid these eggs (inch long jelly waving in current)?
#RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Norfolk #Breckland #Brecks #freshwater

8/9

Several extensive patrols of Dace in River Nar.

And Gudgeon, including of good size, more numerous than have ever seen them elsewhere.

#Dace #Gudgeon #RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #KingsLynn #Norfolk #Breckland #Brecks #TheBrecks #freshwaterfishag/freshwaterfishes" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#freshwaterfishes #freshwaterfish

6/9

Absolute blizzards of Chub in the River Nar - of all size classes. Never seen anything like it. Often in mixed schools of eg Roach. Quite a few damaged/diseased.

#RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #KingsLynn #Norfolk #Breckland #Brecks #TheBrecks #freshwaterfishes

5/9

Some of the River Nar Brown Trout were damaged. Maybe the numerous Pike to blame?

Drifting downstream into evening sun, lone fish high in water column were all hawking trout.

#BrownTrout #trout #RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #KingsLynn #Norfolk #Breckland #Brecks

4/9

Here's another possible Sea Trout in River Nar?
Must have seen more than dozen parr.
Many trout v confiding.
Thanks Adam Gretton @country_logs for tipping me off about this underwater wonderland.
#BrownTrout #trout #troutparr #RiverNar #Chalkstreamshtag/Chalkstreams" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#Chalkstreams #Chalkstream #Norfolk

3/9

Though chilly in the wind, beautiful spring day for a snorkel up the River Nar from High Bridge, between Wormegay & Blackborough, Norfolk.
#RiverNar #Chalkstreams #Norfolk
7/7

Have noticed before the striking silvering of some bur-reed leaves - making them look like spears. Wonder what causes it?
Also silver was a handy carabiner I found on the bed of the river Nar.
#RiverNar #Chalkstreams #Norfolk 6/7

#watervole #WaterVoles #RiverNar #Wormegay #Norfolk #Breckland 3/7

River Nar at Blackborough heavily infested with Signal Crayfish. Interesting how much they vary in colour - some with blue claws, some red.
#signalcrayfish #AlienInvasive #Invasive #NonNative #InvasiveSpecies #crustacean #RiverNar #Wormegay #Norfolk #chalkstreams #KingsLynn 2/7

1st time in water for 3 weeks (of intense work). Found nirva-Nar in the mile of River Nar upstream of Blackborough. Extraordinary congregation of 10+ monster Chub (60+cm). Delayed breeding? Just as camera battery ran out😠...

#MySwim #RiverNar @theriverstrust @anicolson

1/9

The Nar River Restoration Scheme at Castle Acre Common has diverted the channel N, back into the well vegetated flood plain, with Hemp Agrimony abounding, away from the course to the S, now reduced to a ditch, bordered by ancient Alders. #chalkstreams #norfolk #rivernar #nar 6/6

Thrilling chalk stream "reefscapes" formed by glistening banks of Starwort (Callitriche), threaded with Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus). The trout often seem to have taken up residence by the restoration obstacles installed in the River Nar channel. #RiverNar #CastleAcre #Norfolk 4/6

Masses of Brown Trout parr in the restored stretch of the River Nar through Castle Acre Common. Water beautifully clear but an overcast afternoon so had to supplement light with torch.
#Browntrout #troutparr #Nar #RiverNar #CastleAcre #WestNorfolk #chalkstream @WildFishCons
2/6

Usually Brown Trout face into the current, but this little beauty, sun glinting on her (short nose, concave anal fin) scales, just downstream of a log, was lying perpendicular to the current.
#RiverNar #Chalkstreams #Norfolk #BrownTrout #WestAcre #sundayvibes #SundayMorning 11/15

Suddenly the current flung a struggling form almost into my mask. Took a few secs to realise it was a diving Moorhen chick. It surfaced & headed for bankside vegetation to alarm calls of its parents.
#BirdsSeenIn2023 #Norfolk #RiverNar #WestAcre #birdwatching #birding
7/13