30/11/2024  9.00 - 12.45  Blashford North   Usual path and hide checks and bramble trimming. Paths that have been 'leaf blown' looking good!! Main car park is going to need a good clean!!!!! Is the 'no access' notice due to go back up on the new gate by Goosander hide? 

 ? Female Scaup in front of Lapwing hide. Great White Egret on northern side of spit between Lapwing and Goosander. First Goosander sightings of the year seen from Goosander hide. Good view of three Roe deer resting at the bottom of the bank behind the vegetation to the south-west of Goosander hide!

Conflicting notices regarding Tern hide and main car park status on Blashford Lakes website.

 26/11/2024  9.15 - 12.30  Blashford North  Paths cleared of small branches/bramble. Hides busy, Tern +++ and not just from In-Focus. White tailed eagle seen to the west of Ibsley until about 10am. 

All areas of the reserve were busy therefore car parks were full at times. Flooding on path from centre car park to top of drive. Visitors advised to use track but with care.

 23/11/2024  9.00 - 12.15 Blashford North   Trimmed bramble and removed small branches/twigs blown on to paths. Broken/hanging branch across western path to Lapwing - reported........ and sorted by Pete. From Tern hide a gull was seen on land in front of Lapwing, appeared to have some fishing line hanging from its beak. After about 10 minutes flew off  over the trees south of Ibsley!!! 

Task to add to maintenance list!!! - clear and create drainage channels from puddles on the paths. Particularly path to Goosander hide and on eastern path to Lapwing near the end of the cross path.

Ellingham Drove and Pound

 18 Nov 11am 1 hr

Litter pick to road entrance then west on N side of Ellingham Drove but had to give up on the layby as there was too much, mostly in the bushes.  Continued around Ellingham Pound and to Ivy North.  Took the glass home to recycle, put cans in Ed Ctr recycling.  

No other issues.

Nicky

South past Rockford Lake and right round Spinnaker Friday 15th November 1.40 to 3.30 pm

Cut back some overhanging foliage on Rockford path. Approached Spinnaker clockwise - path dry and fully passable apart from some overhanging thorny bits which I cut back. In through the gate. The summer house being built on the boundary fence is possibly nearing completion. I didn't linger as there were several workmen and I didn't want them wondering too much about what I was doing. I did think though that the trees that were planted nearby seemed fewer in number than I recall - maybe I'm wrong but may be worth checking. Bearing in mind Jack's advice to me of a few months ago I resisted the temptation to cut back a lot of growth on the way round. There is a discarded large empty black container on the path (close to the white thatched house which has a grey tarpaulin on part of the roof). I left it where it was as I wasn't sure what I'd find on the rest of my way round. Chatted to a friendly angler near the Snails Lane gate. Limited birdlife on the lake itself - mallard, coot, moorhen, Canada geese, a little egret. Path down the side of Spinnaker back to the clubhouse was in good shape, fully passable.

 16/11/2024  9.00 - 13.00   Blashford North. Continuation of existing issues : Leaf litter  ++, nettles on path verges, restricted sight lines from Viewing Platform. Otherwise seems OK.

Great White Egret taking advantage of the recent clearance on the north side of the spit between Lapwing and Goosander 😊. Green Sandpiper on spit to right of Tern Hide. Red crested Pochard and Moccoa still evident.

13th November 2024. North side circuit including hides, Holly Walk and Tern Hide

Walked to Lapwing clockwise (door jams a little), thence continuing clockwise. The view from the observation blinds are beginning to get restricted by vegetation but it's not too bad just yet. Nothing of note at Goosander. At Tern Hide the RC Pochard and Maccoa Duck were still together despite the former trying to discourage the latter. The new car park lining-out looking very smart.

Goosander and Lapwing Hudes

 11.45 1 hr 11th Nov circuit of the northern hides. Some litter at Goosander and pull-in.  Also checked Tern Hide earlier, some litter.

Otherwise no issues.

Nicky

 09/11/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North     Key points: Leaf litter ++ Hides seem OK apart from sticking lower edge on door at Goosander hide   Nettle trimming required on verges of paths to Lapwing hide.  Viewing platfrom: Sight lines need clearing particularly in view of increasing 'home to roosts' and potential murmurations. They include sight lines  1. to Spit Island.   2. to west and south-west areas of Ibsley Water.   3 from back of viewing platform to Goosander hide.

Is the northern side and western tip of the spit between Lapwing and Goosander to be cleared as per the southern side? Access from the water to the shore is prevented by current bramble etc growth in those areas.   

2 Great White Egrets seen. One on western shore and one on north side of spit, south of Lapwing Hide

6th November 2024. Centre to Willow Hut via boardwalk and, via Lime Walk, to Ivy Nth and Tern Hide. 10.45 to 12.50

The Boardwalk is leafing-up but not too bad. Willow Hut looking very smart after attention. Two Firecrests beside northern Lime Walk and the usual Red-crested Pochard at Tern Hide.

To Goosander, Tern and Rockford Screen

 1.5 hrs in total from 11.30 litter picked to Rockford screen, Goosander, Tern and Ivy Nth Hides.  Yes, very green water by Goosander Hide and Dockens Path hidden by leaves.

Otherwise ok but a wallet handed in, passed to Catherine.

Flock of b t godwit on Ibsley.

Nicky

 02/11/2024  9.00 - 13.00   Blashford North.  Leaf litter growing ++, particularly through the woods beside the Dockens Water. Path route difficult to see in places. Also beginning to build on the boardwalks leading to potential hazards. The need for leaf blowing is growing ++.

Hides generally OK although the door to Goosander hide is sticking more at the bottom as it swells in the cooler/damp weather. There is also a growing amount of green algae in front of Goosander.

Fungi looking good - Pete you must have had a great time with the Young Nats last week!!