Ellingham Lake and Ibsley

 Litter walk to Ibsley Viewpoint and Ellingham Lake circuit. Also checked Goosander Hide.  No issues, some litter removed.  Busy day. 1 dog walk sent elsewhere.

Nicky

 Jacki 26/08/23 9.00 - 13.00 Blashford North. ?Hornet's nest in the bird box attached to the screen on the south side of Lapwing Hide. Otherwise all else seems OK.

 Jacki 19/08/23 9.00 - 13.15 Blashford North.   All appears OK. Small amount of rubbish, drinks cans, outside Goosander hide. Good sightings of kingfisher fishing and feeding at Goosander early this morning, plus firecrest along the Dockens Path towards the Rockford entrance. Photographed by a visitor. 

Reptiles: grass snake released from under the cover of the sandpit by Catherine first thing, and I saw both a male and female adder in separate places on the north side.

Walk to Goosander Hide

 Monday 14th August 11.15 1 hour to Goosander Hide, small amount of litter near road entrances, nothing else to report.

Nicky

 Jacki 12/08/23  9.00 - 13.00.  Blashford North  All appears OK. Some of the sightings from this morning:

• A commotion of coots
• A swim of cormorants
• A dole of doves
• A sord of mallards
• A gaggle of geese
• A water dance of grebes
• A screech of gulls
• A crown of kingfishers
• A circlage of martins
• A plump of moorhens
• A booby of nuthatches
• A colony of sand martins
• A lamentation of swans
• A volery of wagtails
• A descent of woodpeckers

Ref: Fanous. S (2014) A Conspiracy of Ravens. Oxford. Bodliean Library, University of Oxford.           Images: Bewick. T (1797 - 1804) History of British Birds.

Oak blocking Rockford Lake path

 7th August 11.30 to 11.30 

Large oak across path between Rockford and Ivy lakes.  Only passable by crawling/crouching.  Chainsaw job.  I picked some litter here and cut back overhanging nettles, brambles etc. here and near Ivy North.

Nicky

 Jacki  5/8/23  9.00 - 13.00   Blashford North. Entrances to the Reserve on both sides of Ellingham Drove had large puddles. Drainage channels were cleared as much as possible and the water had gone down considerably by midday. The boardwalk on the north side was slippery because of the rain. May need a warning notice until mesh replaced or turned over. Otherwise all else appeared OK. Regular sightings of kingfisher at Goosander now, plus a fly by of a Hobby and a well worn Red Kite!!