Woods on south side

 July 29th 11.15 1 hour litter picking and snipping brambles on paths to Main car park (Tern) and along by Dockens and down to screen on  Ivy Lake. Hot! No issues to report.

 27/07/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North.   Usual bramble and nettle trimming - not too bad. 5 ponies seen, all on the spit south of Lapwing Hide. Lapwing and Goosander hides both had windows left open. Otherwise all seemed OK.

Met Brenda and Kevin at the end of their ringing session. Kevin surprised us all by showing us a young kingfisher that had been caught in one of the nets - a very rare occurrence even for them I gather. Was judged to be a female as it had a small area of red beginning to show on its lower mandible. Also saw what Nigel advised me was probably a Godwit that flew down in front of Tern Hide as I entered - very long legs and beak. Numbers of butterflies increasing - particularly newly emerged Peacocks, Red Admirals and Commas.

24/07/2024 North Circuit walk

checked out the north circuit and Goosander path. All good. Nothing to report with everything tidy.

Nicky - 22nd July - Ellingham Lake walk

22nd July 11am 1 hour around Ellingham Lake and to Ellingham Drove gate.  Not much litter. Some cutting but not too much needed. Saw a mink. Ran in front of me across the path towards Ellingham lake.

Nicky

Jacki - 20/07/2024

 20/07/2024  9.00 - 13.30  Blashford North  5 ponies seen either side of Lapwing Hide rather than in section 3. Hampshire gate on south side of section 4 checked; closed correctly but may need strengthening. Bramble and nettle trimmed as usual - growing fast ++.  All hides seem OK. Adder & juvenile grass snake seen, as were an increasing number of gatekeepers in spite of the weather. A group of great crested grebes - 12 or more- still swimming and diving in front of Tern hide.

Nicky - Tour of all hides

 15th July 2 hrs in total went around all hides dodging rain as very few visitors.

Litter and cutting as usual. 2 mandarins female or immature on Ivy Silt.

1 tufted female with 2 tiny ducklings from Goosander Hide.  They tried to ride on her back but kept sliding off.  Very entertaining.

Nicky

Jacki - 13/07/24

 09.00 - 13.00 Blashford North.  Usual bramble and nettle trimmed where necessary. All paths and hides seem OK. 5 ponies seen. A Great White Egret seen on western shore plus 3 little egrets - 2 on Ibsley and 1 in silt pond by Lapwing hide.  Adders seen. Sand Martins still active at Goosander. Paint brush found outside Tern hide - probably left there on Thursday - put on Pete's desk. Collected my fleece from the kitchen that I left on Thursday.

Issue of note: poles still in the Dockens Water, short distance before Memorial bench. Possible attempt at a dam made a few weeks ago - could do with removing.

Nicky - 8th July

12  noon 1 hr around the Wild Walk, very little litter, some cutting back of brambles. No issues to report.  Visitors all happy.

Nicky

Jacki - 06/07/24

9.00 - 13.30  Blashford North.  Usual bramble and nettle trimming where necessary. Reeds alongside boardwalk nearing time for cutting. Otherwise paths and hides seem OK. 5 ponies seen - by the ragwort near Gull Island!!  As well as Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Marbled White and Ringlet saw my first Painted Lady of the year in the Hanson Plant. Still several Fleabane Tortoise beetle larvae on the Inula near the Centre.

03/07/2024 North circuit 13.25 to 15.10

Nothing to report. Noted Common Tern chick with parents on the nearest Goosander raft.

JULY 4th 1320 to 1510 Centre to Ivy Lane and back

Litter picked from Centre along Dockens Water and down the side of Rockford lake to Ivy Lane. Lots of growth sticking out across the path for about 100 metres up to the first screen - especially nettles and brambles. Did what I could with the secateurs but it needs a proper job to be done. Cut back what I could and went all the way to the gate on Ivy Lane. The approach to the first screen could do with being cut back as could the area around the first bench after that screen on the way down to Ivy Lane. No visitors en route and very little birdlife too.

JULY 2nd - 1140 to 1320 Circular walk from Centre around Ellingham Lake via Ellingham Drove and back

Cut back lots of overhangs and growth sticking out throughout the circuit. Benches 2, 3 and 4 up from Ellingham Drove are surrounded by a lot of growth which could prevent some people from sitting on them so I would recommend they need attention. The only wildlife of interest to me were a couple of adult terns trying to show the ropes to half a dozen juveniles on the small lake backing onto Ellingham Drove. I'm pleased to say I saw no litter, less pleased to say that I saw no visitors during my time on site.