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A fishy find on the stream bed A fishy find on the stream bed
(7 months later)
Heavy rainfall had washed sediment into the stream from the surrounding farmland. Covering submerged stones and snagged branches like a thick bloom of dust, the silt rose, swirled and settled as I waded out towards the centre of the channel where the water deepened and cleared. The watercourse was formerly part of a system of watercress beds, and mats of leafy, emerald-green watercress still grow rooted into the stream bed, providing cover for the creature I sought.Heavy rainfall had washed sediment into the stream from the surrounding farmland. Covering submerged stones and snagged branches like a thick bloom of dust, the silt rose, swirled and settled as I waded out towards the centre of the channel where the water deepened and cleared. The watercourse was formerly part of a system of watercress beds, and mats of leafy, emerald-green watercress still grow rooted into the stream bed, providing cover for the creature I sought.
I crouched down and gently overturned a boulder – nothing. Carefully replacing it I moved on to investigate three more potential hiding places, all unoccupied. I’ve been visiting the stream since I was a child, and back then I learned that I could reliably return to some rocks week after week and find my quarry nestled beneath.I crouched down and gently overturned a boulder – nothing. Carefully replacing it I moved on to investigate three more potential hiding places, all unoccupied. I’ve been visiting the stream since I was a child, and back then I learned that I could reliably return to some rocks week after week and find my quarry nestled beneath.
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One particular wedge-shaped slab had always proved to be the most desirable dwelling, so I left this until last. Curling my fingers underneath, I prised it up like a trapdoor and peered below.One particular wedge-shaped slab had always proved to be the most desirable dwelling, so I left this until last. Curling my fingers underneath, I prised it up like a trapdoor and peered below.
As its brindled, scaleless skin gave it almost perfect camouflage against the gravel substrate that it hovered above, I needed a moment to realise that I had finally uncovered a European bullhead, the only freshwater species of cottid found in Britain. At one time these fish were known as “miller’s thumb”, their broad, flattened heads thought to resemble a splayed digit, misshapen as a result of the constant rubbing of flour between thumb and fingers in order to gauge its texture.As its brindled, scaleless skin gave it almost perfect camouflage against the gravel substrate that it hovered above, I needed a moment to realise that I had finally uncovered a European bullhead, the only freshwater species of cottid found in Britain. At one time these fish were known as “miller’s thumb”, their broad, flattened heads thought to resemble a splayed digit, misshapen as a result of the constant rubbing of flour between thumb and fingers in order to gauge its texture.
Sedentary and skulking, Cottus gobio is primarily nocturnal, venturing out at dusk to feed on invertebrates and the eggs of other fish. During daylight hours they take refuge in cracks and crevices, using their flared, fan-like pectoral fins to hold steady against the current. This fish had a heavy-browed, beefy appearance, with a tapered body, prominent eyes and an oversized head that accounted for a quarter of its overall length. I attempted to gently scoop it up for a closer look, but its slimy skin was slick against my fingers and it darted away, zigzagging from side to side like a ricocheting bullet.Sedentary and skulking, Cottus gobio is primarily nocturnal, venturing out at dusk to feed on invertebrates and the eggs of other fish. During daylight hours they take refuge in cracks and crevices, using their flared, fan-like pectoral fins to hold steady against the current. This fish had a heavy-browed, beefy appearance, with a tapered body, prominent eyes and an oversized head that accounted for a quarter of its overall length. I attempted to gently scoop it up for a closer look, but its slimy skin was slick against my fingers and it darted away, zigzagging from side to side like a ricocheting bullet.