Waterside wildlife  | The River Wye is renowned for its stunning scenery and wildlife. The river and its valley are home to a wealth of wildlife including some of the most rare and endangered species of fish. | | The Wye's winding ways |
The River Wye is the fifth longest in Britain, rising in Wales and eventually forming part of the border between England and Wales. The river is largely unpolluted which makes it an incredible area for watching nature. Builth Wells in Wales is a particularly beautiful stretch of the Wye where the river passes through some of the most stunning and unspoilt scenery imaginable. Some of the most spectacular scenery occurs where the river's tributaries tumble into the river, cutting deep into the rocks. The waterfalls along this stretch make it especially rich in marine life and fish species which come here to spawn. Fascinating fish The Salmon is the River Wye's most famous resident.
Every year these amazing fish travel 6,000 miles from the Atlantic in an exhausting journey. A number of lesser known but equally fascinating fish also make their own migratory journeys to the Wye. Amongst them are the Twaite Shad, a species of Herring, which looks like a sea fish with its reflective scales, but is found on the Wye in freshwater. This fish is actually 110 miles from the sea, and it makes the journey to the Wye where it spawns for just six weeks. The Wye is one of only four rivers in the UK to have runs of this rare fish in Britain. Also look out for Sea Lampreys in the river - these four feet long fish are predators who come to the Wye to spawn between May and June. These remarkable fish can clamp their mouths onto rocks to move them and create a safe nest. The Lampreys can also thrash their tails to create a dip in which to lay their eggs. A good place to see them in the water is from Boughrood Bridge at Llyswen. Dipping and divingThe Wye is also a good place to look for birds including the Dipper which loves fast flowing, shallow water and lots of boulders on which to perch. Watch out for this characterful bird by the river bank. It is characterised by its strange habit of bobbing up and down like it is doing a curtsy. A brilliant way of exploring the river and its wildlife is by boat, and these can be hired from nearby towns such as Hay-on-Wye. Credits - Photos courtesy of Herefordshire Tourism and Field of Vision and RSPB. | 
