Wild Isles

Freshwater

2 Apr 2023

Locations not known for sequences 

10
2
3
8
9

Species features in each Sequence

1
Four-spotted chaser, Emperor dragonfly, Eurasian hobby
2
Atlantic salmon, Common bottlenose dolphin
3
Eurasian beaver, Osprey
4
Raft spider, Pondskater sp., Diving beetle sp.
5
Daubenton's bat, Natterer's bat, Brown long-eared bat
6
Common toad
7
Common toad, Horse leech
8
Green drake mayfly
9
Eurasian water shrew, Dragonfly sp.
10
Red deer, Great crested grebe
11
Red knot, Peregrine falcon

# Species by IUCN Conservation Status

1
Four-spotted chaser
Four-spotted chaser
NE
Four-spotted chaser (Four-spotted chaser) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterFour-spotted chaser (Four-spotted chaser) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterFour-spotted chaser (Four-spotted chaser) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Somerset Levels, UK

The part of the sequence featuring the four-spotted chasers was filmed on a reed bed in the Somerset Levels [1].
[Link 1]
1
Emperor dragonfly
Anax imperator
LC
Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEmperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEmperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Langford Lakes Nature Reserve, Wiltshire, UK

The part of the sequence showcasing the hobbies hunting dragonflies was filmed in Langford Lakes in Wiltshire by cameraman Simon King, as per local reporting [1]. Though several dragonfly species are shown, including a four-spotted chaser (at 1:16 and 1:21) and various hawker dragonflies, the largest focus is placed on the female emperor dragonfly (based on british-dragonflies.org.uk [2]) laying its eggs on the water's surface.
[Link 1] [Link 2]
1
Eurasian hobby
Falco subbuteo subbuteo
LC
Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo subbuteo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo subbuteo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo subbuteo) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Langford Lakes Nature Reserve, Wiltshire, UK

2
Atlantic salmon
Salmo salar
LC
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterAtlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterAtlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
River Ness, UK

2
Common bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus truncatus
LC
Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus truncatus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
River Ness, UK

3
Eurasian beaver
Castor fiber
LC
Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Bamff Wildland, Perthshire, UK

According to local news coverage, the filmmakers came to Bamff to spend 10 days filming the three families of European beavers in the summer of 2021 [1].
[Link 1]
3
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus haliaetus
LC
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterOsprey (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterOsprey (Pandion haliaetus haliaetus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
UK

4
Raft spider
Dolomedes fimbriatus
NE
Raft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRaft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRaft spider (Dolomedes fimbriatus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dorset, UK

D. fimbriatus is often confused for the very similar D. plantarius. Appearance and size are not foolproof means of identifying the species - as with many spiders, only close examination of their sex organs can help us do this with certainty. According to Fen Raft Spider Conservation's website [1]: "Adult males of the two species can be definitively separated by the structure of the tibial apophysis, one of the sclerotised projections on the pedipalps. In D. plantarius it is a bifid structure with a relatively flattened top (mitten-shaped) but it is simpler and more pointed in D. fimbriatus." Further diagrams can be found on Araneae - Spiders of Europe's website for D. fimbriatus [2] and D. plantarius [3]. At 18:57, we get our best look at the male spider's pedipalp. It's clear that the tibial apophysis is markedly pointed, and the blunt mitten shaped structure is absent, so I'm fairly certain this is D. fimbriatus.
[Link 1] [Link 2] [Link 3]
4
Pondskater sp.
-
?
Pondskater sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterPondskater sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterPondskater sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dorset, UK

4
Diving beetle sp.
-
?
Diving beetle sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterDiving beetle sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterDiving beetle sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dorset, UK

5
Daubenton's bat
Myotis daubentonii
LC
Daubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterDaubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterDaubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
North York Moors, UK

5
Natterer's bat
Myotis nattereri
LC
Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
North York Moors, UK

It was really difficult to identify a specific Natterer's bat here since, from afar, it's hard to distinguish them from the Daubenton's bat based on ear shape or other, more obvious characteristics. Instead, I relied on an ID document from Nottingham Bat Group [1], which states that in the Natterer's, the calcar, the border of the membrane running between the hind leg and the tail "is ‘S’ shaped and reaches halfway to the tail." whereas in the Daubenton's the figure of the calcar shows a straighter calcar. It's not much to go on but the individual shown at 24:44 has a distinctly S-shaped calcar, so I assume this is a Natterer's.
[Link 1]
5
Brown long-eared bat
Plecotus auritus
LC
Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterBrown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
North York Moors, UK

6
Common toad
Bufo bufo
LC
Common toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Winscombe, Somerset, UK

The behind-the-scenes article [1] states: "So with both the Warminster (in Wiltshire) and Winscombe (in Somerset) toad patrol on speed-dial, we were ready", while this episode's media pack [2] puts the filming location of this sequence as Somerset and Dartmoor. The latter is where the toadlets and leeches drama was filmed, so I assume the former refers to the scenes with the adult toads facing the dangers of cars on the road.
[Link 1] [Link 2]
7
Common toad
Bufo bufo
LC
Common toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterCommon toad (Bufo bufo) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dartmoor, UK

7
Horse leech
Haemopis sanguisuga
?
Horse leech (Haemopis sanguisuga) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterHorse leech (Haemopis sanguisuga) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterHorse leech (Haemopis sanguisuga) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dartmoor, UK

The predatory leech species featured in this sequence is a horse leech according to the behind-the-scenes article on the programme website [1].
[Link 1]
8
Green drake mayfly
Ephemera danica
NE
Green drake mayfly (Ephemera danica) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterGreen drake mayfly (Ephemera danica) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterGreen drake mayfly (Ephemera danica) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
River Avon, UK

9
Eurasian water shrew
Neomys fodiens fodiens
LC
Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens fodiens) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens fodiens) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterEurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens fodiens) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
UK

9
Dragonfly sp.
-
?
Dragonfly sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterDragonfly sp. () as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
UK

10
Red deer
Cervus elaphus elaphus
LC
Red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRed deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRed deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk, UK

This was filmed at RSPB Minsmere, according to an article featuring producer Chris Howard on the East Anglia Daily Times [1]: "the crew waited about two weeks to capture the perfect light at Minsmere to show the red deer trails through the reedbeds, said Chris."
[Link 1]
10
Great crested grebe
Podiceps cristatus cristatus
LC
Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterGreat crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterGreat crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus cristatus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
UK

"
11
Red knot
Calidris canutus islandica
NT
Red knot (Calidris canutus islandica) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRed knot (Calidris canutus islandica) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterRed knot (Calidris canutus islandica) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
RSPB Snettisham, UK

11
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus peregrinus
LC
Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterPeregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) as shown in Wild Isles - FreshwaterPeregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) as shown in Wild Isles - Freshwater
Dee Estuary, UK