31/08/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North.   Bramble and nettle trimming where necessary, trip hazards on verges ++ Hides seemed OK. Spit in front of Lapwing hide almost visible! Sightings: flock of approx 20 Lapwing on spit south of Lapwing hide; 2 ospreys reported flying over Ibsley Water; 2 kingfisher seen in front of Goosander hide between 6.00 - 9.00am. Buzzard sitting on the Osprey platform. Adder.

Visitors requests: Removal of vegetation at waters edge in front of Lapwing hide, by the 'appearing' spit, and on the area in front of Goosander hide above the sand martin wall.

North side

 26th Aug 11-12.30 litter pick and cutting overhangs to all north hides and north side of Ellingham Drove. 

Black necked grebe Tern Hide.

Nicky

 24/08/2024  9.00 - 13.00 Blashford North. Wet!!!  Bramble and nettle trimming along paths plus cutting back reeds that had fallen over the boardwalk in the rain. Boardwalk very slippery. Hides seemed OK. No ponies seen. On the footpath from the road to Tern Hide a branch needs cutting back at the northern end of the wooded section.

Very amusing sightings on the spit between Lapwing and Goosander hides. From Lapwing hide I could see two young foxes playing plus 'chasing' some very intelligent lapwings!!!

Wild Walk and Ellingham Lake 22nd August 2.15 to 3.30pm

Pretty miserable afternoon with few visitors and even less wildlife. Good news is that there was almost no litter. Cut back a lot of overhangs. New path holding up well. That's it!

To Tern Hide

 19th Aug 11.30 45 mins litter walk to Tern Hide. Saw black tern after being alerted by a visitor.  Same time of year as when I saw 2 here a couple of years ago.  In fact I had been talking to him in the hide about it earlier!

Brought feeders in after discussion with Chloe due to poorly siskin and greenfinch seen.

Nicky

 17/08/24  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North  Caught up on bramble and nettle trimming from last week. All paths and hides appeared OK. Met 3 lads cycling around the north side. 

Saw 6 ponies. One on the spit, all the others up near Lapwing Hide. Excellent view of Ruddy Shelduck from Lapwing Hide.

Wild Walk

 11 Aug 11.45 half hour circuit of Ivy N and Wild Walk, some litter and stray brambles dealt with. No issues to report. Saw an osprey heading towards Ibsley Water while I ate lunch in the hut! Fairly high but losing altitude.

Nicky

07/08/2024 North Circuit, Lichen Heath, Ivy North, Ivy South, Boardwalk and Lime Walk to Tern Hide. 10.40 to 13.00

Nothing to report. Everything tidy. Once again, the Water Mint beside the Boardwalk attracting loads of invertebrates, and huge numbers of Mottled Grasshoppers on the Lichen Heath.

10/08/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North   Only partial bramble and nettle trimming due to broken shears!!  6 ponies seen on spit south of Lapwing Hide. Sightings - adders, male and female. Lapwings in Silt pond by Lapwing Hide and on shore in front of Tern Hide. Footpath from top of drive to Centre car park is wet and muddy. Needs attention as visitors are being directed to use it instead of the drive.

Concerns about 2 gentlemen who arrived on site early, walked a short distance, down drive and then back to their car via footpath. Were elusive about their intentions although had a tent in their car and random other belongings. Said that they were from Hayling Island, had been camping in the Forest and just looking around. Advised them that there was no wild camping on the Reserve. Did not appear to have stayed very long. 

 03/08/2024   9.00 - 13.00   Blashford North   Usual bramble and nettle trimming of paths, and hide checks. Windows left open in Goosander and Lapwing hides. Piece of wood broken off from inside of the Goosander door - left on desk in office.  Only 4 ponies seen on the spit north of Goosander hide, but very likely the other 2 were hidden behind the bramble bushes. Plenty of birds out on the lake but best views from Lapwing Hide including large groups of Great Crested Grebes. Ruddy Duck seen by visitor from Tern Hide. Lapwing flew onto the shore there also. Footpath from upper car park to Centre car park could do with a resurface to reduce wet/muddy areas after rain.

31st July 2024 Ivy North to Ivy South, Lime Walk to Willow hut and Ellingham west path to Ellingham Pound

Very quiet, all tidy. Twelve Brimstones feeding on Water Mint along the boardwalk and Winnowing Little Grebe around W3W expect.apes.gourmet. Brown Hawker was seen near Willow Hut, and ovi-positing Azure, Red-eyed and Common Blue Damselflies on the Pound. Also 2 ovi-pos Emperors there. Golden-tabbed Robberfly with damselfly prey noted in same locality.