Here are a couple from the Teifi this weekend, March Browns were hatching in their hundreds at midday and continued to hatch until around 4pm.

Mating swarms were performing their dances high above the water later in the day and there were some Orange Striped Stoneflies basking stock still on the flat rocks of the new croys up at Bangor Teifi.




The definitive spotted femurs of the March brown, Rhithrogena germanica - the invert pics are super sized files, click for a very large image.


















Forgot to mention that the March Brown survey is running at the moment, please report any sightings using the very nicely designed online form here

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Musha rig um du rum da

Superb image, thank you very much for posting. Small query about the survey: should I report repeat sightings at the same location but on different dates or not? Don't want to bog them down.

Thanks HF, It was a nice surprise that a couple of those images were as clear as they were as they were all hand held rather than tripod shots.

I think the March Brown survey is concentrating on locating the whereabouts of the species, I put two entries in for the same day indicating the uppermost and lowest points at which I'd seen the flies

Here's the info I was sent for circulating to the members of our AMI group -

"For anglers, the March brown Rhithrogena germanica is one of the most iconic mayflies. Although the species is in decline and under threat across Europe, the UK may be a stronghold.

The adult can be distinguished from all other similar mayflies by their early flight, mottled wings and dark spot on each leg. The nymphs live in rivers and streams, hatching into adults in large numbers between late March and the end of April. This hatch occurs often around mid-day and typically lasts for a very short period.

The over-winter development and early flight period of the March brown make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes in these critical periods. We need to find out where this species occurs in the UK so that we can help protect it.

If you see this up-wing fly, please report your sightings online
or use the attached postcard. Hard copies are available on request, please reply with your address and the number of copies that you would like to receive.

There are already records coming in from a number of locations, including what seems to be the first record of the March brown from Cornwall. Remember that all your records are valuable, no matter where they come from.

See the RP website for information about the survey."

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Musha rig um du rum da

You take a mean photograph Diawl. Fantastic images.

Nice to see the March Browns out an about. How were the trout responsing?

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Thanks for posting they are super photos
regards Duncan,

Great shots DB - can we have more?

Cheers all, glad you liked the pics.

The trout weren't rising that day Imago but I was I was out for a springer or an early sewin which weren't - as is so often the case for me - on the fin either! Plenty of time to mess around with the camera though.

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Musha rig um du rum da

Great photos

Another useful tip in March brown ID from John Goddards 'Waterside Guide'

'The fawn wings are strongly mottled black, but a useful identification feature is the distinctive clear patch in the middle which is devoid of cross veins'

This can be seen clearly in your photo.

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I didn't know that, it's a handy tip, cheers Kisauni.

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Musha rig um du rum da