Monday 30th July : On Leave

Tuesday 31st July : In the office. More discussion with Steven about the temperature data and write-up from the Ettrick and Yarrow. Making links with the data we have on the different growth rates and patterns of Salmon fry in the two rivers. The fry in the Douglas Burn ("normal" temperature patterns and much denser population) are noticeably bigger than those at the top of the Yarrow (warm Autumn temperatures and much lower densities) which has always appeared odd, but now we have this temperature data, it seems explicable).

Wednesday 1st August : In the afternoon, up to Tweedsmuir and got one of the attachments on to the trap - now know better how to cut the water off around the work area.

Thursday 2nd August : A Grayling that had been tagged two and a half years ago having been killed (swallowed a worm) did an autopsy to see what effect, if any, carrying a tag might have had. Apart from a little pinkish scar tissue around the wire attachment, could see nothing special. Certainly, in growth and condition there was no sign of any adverse effect. Thirty months is the longest period we had a recapture after - the fish had been caught once before, about eighteen months ago. In the afternoon, out to the Ale Water to survey a population of Bullhead that turned up in small burn a few years ago  and on which we have been keeping a check - the first alien fish species to turn up in the Tweed for quite a number of years. The Ettrick counter is working again - with a new datalogger sent from Iceland.Our own one went there twice without actually being sorted but this new one got things going again straight away.

Friday 3rd August :  Monthly joint RTC / TF staff meeting in the morning. No particular topic today. Have our monthly biologists meeting afterwards, discussing the fish counter problems and the electric-fishing that is about to start amongst minor topics. In the afternoon, get a phone call to say two Grilse with swollen, red, vents had been caught at Tillmouth earlier in the week. Had  had an inquiry from the AST at the beginning of the week as to whether we had seen any such fish on the Tweed - had replied that I had not heard of any yet, so interesting to hear that there were examples here now. Wrote an Alert to go on the News page to warn anglers and boatmen to look out for such fish and to bring examples to the Foundation offices for examination.