The NatureSpot Photo of the Month for November is this image of a Perch, taken by NatureSpot contributor Ted Gaten. More...

We've never featured a fish on Photo of the Month before, but why not? The Perch, Perca fluviatilis, is possibly one of our most attractive freshwater fish, with 5–8 dark vertical bars on greenish sides and bright red or orange pelvic, anal and caudal fins with a spiny dorsal fin. Although they can grow to nearly 60cm in length and live 20 years, 25cm is more typical for an adult. Older, larger perch often develop a pronounced hump between head and dorsal fin. This, together with the spiny dorsal makes big Perch hard to swallow, as this Great White Egret, Ardea alba, at Thornton reservoir found out. Fortunately, NatureSpot contributor Ted Gaten was on hand to capture the epic struggle, which was eventually won by ... the Egret. 

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