Wednesday 29th January 2025. 10.45 to 12.45. Walk around Ivy South, Woodland, North Hide and returning via Lichen Heath and Dockens

Not a lot to report. The reedbed on the north side of Ivy Silt Pond seems to be suffering from strong water flow through the woods. Some appear to be almost uprooted. Had comment from a photographer at Ivy North. He felt that not enough is done for photographers at the Reserve, even suggesting that the front of Ivy north should be painted white to deflect decent sunlight into the adjacent reedbed! I was very polite to him but... Mmm, a subject for discussion!!!

 25/01/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North    Paths checked for trip hazards/potential trip hazards; removed where necessary. Hides all OK. Visitors++   Red-crested pochard, black necked grebes, black-tailed godwit, great white egret seen from Tern Hide. Goosander from Goosander Hide. Birds tended to be towards the western shore from Lapwing Hide.

Fastening lost from sign on Hanson Plant gate directing visitors to Goosander & Lapwing Hides. Catherine notified.  

January 22nd 2025. Tern Hide, Goosander via Dockens, then Ivy North, Lime Walk, Ivy South and Woodland Hide.

A very cold tour so spent a lot of time in snug hides. Everything tidy with a surprising number of visitors. Three BT Godwits from Tern Hide and 8 Goosanders from Goosander Hide. There were also 3 Goosanders on Clearwater. Snowdrops were appearing along the Dockens path and there was a murmur of Siskin and Redpoll song in the trees around Woodlands. Also 2 Stock Doves there.

Tern Car Park and Wild Walk

 20 Jan 1.5 hrs in total late am early pm litter pick to Tern Car Park.  Quite a bit found and removed a number of items on the right heading back to the road, possibly same place Jackie mentioned but no bottles there today. Also round Wild Walk, not much litter.

Great spotted woodpecker drumming and song thrushes singing.

Nicky

 18/01/2024  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North. Paths and hides checked. All appears OK except for some of the signage. The tape, covering directions to the Car Park via the Hanson Plant on some of the sign posts  is coming loose or has been lost and needs replacing while the Hanson path is still closed. There is some rubbish, including bottles, behind the bramble on the right of the path as one returns to the road from the Tern Hide.

On the south side there are some branches in the Dockens Water before the turning onto the Rockford path, that could do with removing. There is currently a foam patch by them.              

Jan 17th 2024, Lime Walk to Ivy South, thence to Woodland, Ivy North, and Dockens to Goosander.

All in order. There were 40 Cormorants on Ivy Lake; the most I've ever see there. At Ivy North a dog and its 'parents' received a very cold greeting and only got halfway through the door! I followed the culprits outside and diplomatically told them the rules and suggested they take the dog down the Rockford path provided he/she stayed on a lead. All good along Dockens and Goosander with 5 Goosanders and multiple Wigeon, Tufted and Pintails showing. On the subject of 'no dogs' signage: I really think the messaging is too tame and with little impact. Visitors entering the reserve via the Ellingham Drove east entrance could be forgiven – sort of – for not noticing the 'no dogs' signs. I've attached a few before and after improvements that could be made to the existing signs. (For the record, I ran my own visual communications business for 25 years. Any advice needed in this area please ask)

Various paths and hides

 13 Jan 1.5 hrs in total litter pick Tern, Goosander and Ivy S hides and around Ellingham Lake long walk. Most litter found beside waterski driveway.

Great wildfowl numbers and views from Goosander Hide.  Several goldeneye around Ibsley Water.

Nicky

 11/01/2025  9.00 - 12.45  Blashford North  Hides and paths checked. A few twigs etc moved and a few brambles cut in anticipation of early problems in the spring.Otherwise OK. Hides and car parks busy. Visitors reported Maccoa sighting, 3 black necked grebes plus marsh harrier fly over. Fox on spit between Lapwing and Goosander.

Part of decorative screen by the map in the Main car park displaced. Repositioned although welding broken so may well displace again.

Jan 7th 2025. A shortish tour. Tern Hide to North Hide, thence via Holly Walk to Goosander. 11.20 to 13.10.

Nothing much to report. At around W3W 'fears.chosen.hatter', facing north on the left, there is a branch sticking out which might catch a tall visitor by surprise. Black-necked Grebe and 4 Goosanders were the star performers at Goosander, and at Tern Hide the Maccoa Duck was right in front of the hide.

3rd Jan 2025 Ivy South, Ellingham Lake circuit and Pound, then to Goosander via Holly walk.

All in order throughout. Male Little Grebe calling from Ivy South and a pair of Goosanders on Freshwater Lake. Another 4 Goosanders and a Great White Egret from Goosander Hide.

 04/01/2025  9.00  - 13.00  Blashford North  Paths and hides checked. Mainly OK apart from frost ++ on boardwalk. Tree perch in the centre of Ibsley Water has disappeared. ?2 cormorants perched on the remains of the trunk which is now below the water line.

Plenty of birders in doing their bird counts!  Male and female goosander on rail at Goosander hide, plus 3 goosander on Clearwater pond.  GWE on western shore plus one moving around spit between Lapwing and Goosander. Golden eye in front of Tern hide. ? heard water rail squeal in the reed bed near Lapwing hide.

3rd January 2025 Rockford, Spinnaker and Ellingham lakes

 Start 0940   End 1210 

Sunny, frosty morning. Lots of gulls screeching over Rockford lake but nothing around to serve as an explanation. 

On the Rockford path between the screens about half way there are 5 posts down and fencing on its side on the lakeside. A total of about 60 yards in length of fallen or no fencing mixed in with undergrowth. And again close to the screen near Ivy Lane. I'm sure none of this is new but maybe worth flagging.

On the Spinnaker path going anticlockwise away from the sailing club there is a fallen tree partially blocking the path about two thirds way round. 20 yards down from the bench overlooking the water. I know it's Hampshire's to put right but access will be affected for anybody who can't limbo dance.

On Snail Lane: from the house called Ropewind there is no boundary fencing for over 50 yards on the roadside from the end of the house's fencing up to secure entrance gate. There are 4 clear entry points with at least 2 looking regularly used - whether by deer or people I couldn't say.

Once inside the lake was very quiet and I met only one person fishing. On the long straight before the pond near to where the path bears left the pathway is quite overgrown.  There is evidence of some having been cut back and some of the wire fence pushed down on Snail Lane. Some litter nearby.

On the stretch from the house with tarpaulin on its roof to the no fishing boundary sign alongside the field with donkeys in it there is some spikey growth at face height - makes inspection a bit tricky. 

There is a kayak paddle next to the temporary deer fence. The deer fence has some gaps at ground level to rear i.e. garden side.

Nothing to report round Ellingham lake.

The shingle beach at  Dockens had broken glass which I reported to Catherine  - i picked up several pieces but thete may be more. Worth double-checking.

 02/01/2024  9.00 - 12.15   Blashford North    Paths and hides checked. All appears OK apart from the boardwalk - slippery ++. Some twigs and brambles removed. 

The 2 black necked grebes plus 2 golden eye visible in front of Lapwing hide. 3 female goosander in front of Goosander hide, one on the rail with the cormorants.