07/11/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Fallen debris removed from paths where necessary.

Issues of note:

• The remaining tree of the two recorded last week on the western verge of the west path north of the cross path, would benefit from cutting back from the path edge.

Sightings

• Two otters reported crossing the path to Goosander hide this morning and entering the Clearwater Pond.
• Muntjac buck seen on the western end of the northern path
• ?juvenile Wood mouse seen beside the path towards the eastern end of the Hanson Plant

 31/10/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Path and Hide checks. Removal of small branches and debris from the paths. Trimming of brambles and trip hazards where necessary. 

Issues of note:

• Western path - south of the boardwalk, small tree down on the western side, partially across the path, a second one further south across the verge.
• Piles of reptile felts at intervals along the path verges, awaiting collection.
• Ponies seen in section 1 on the western shore. I believe collection before the 5th Nov is scheduled.

Sightings

• Otter reported at Tern Hide, seen feeding. Disturbed birds on the lake, many of which initially fled to the north-eastern corner - particularly the Coot.
• Slow, gradual increase in overwintering birds. Increasing numbers of Goosander and Pochard.
• Little Ringed Plover and a small flock of Lapwing seen.
• Green Sandpipers seen on the shore to the south of Lapwing hide. 

 17/10/2026  9.00 - 13.15  Dockens Water path and North side. Path and Hide check. Usual bramble, trip hazard and fallen branch material removed. 

No significant issues. Tree down on the right-hand verge of the western path although not impacting access. Trimming of the remaining willow on the bank in front of the Viewing Platform needed to fully open the sight lines.

Sightings:

• Brenda, Kevin and team bird-ringing from Lapwing Hide.
• Goosander, Shoveler, Pochard numbers appear to be increasing gradually
• At least 5 Great White Egret, along with Herons and a few Little Egret around Ibsley
• Red Kite seen flying from one of the small islands near the western shore - ? the location of the deer carcass attracting the WTE earlier in the week.
• Little Gull seen on Ibsley.
• No WTE seen or reported this morning.

Reserve busy this morning and numbers of visitors using the Hanson Plant and north side hides increasing. Numbers of our regular Blashford Birders/Winter Visitors appear to be increasing probably in anticipation of the winter migrant arrivals.

 10/10/2026  9.00 - 12.45  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual bramble and trip hazard trim.

Issues of note:

• Tree down on the western path, south of the cross path. Just possible to get round. Pole saw could be used to remove the branches directly affecting the path but a chain saw would be needed at some point to remove the main trunk.
• At the eastern screen on the north path there is a large tree blocking the extreme right of the view. Is there any chance of cutting the affecting branch back?

Sightings:

• Brenda and Kevin bird ringing along the north path and in the bird table field. ?50 birds caught
• Whilst at Lapwing Hide !!!!! an Adult and a juvenile White Tailed Eagle were seen flying around the northern part of Ibsley Water, exiting to the east.
• Ruddy Duck reported at northern end of Ibsley.
• Water pipits and wagtails reported on the shore in front of Tern Hide.

 03/10/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Bramble trim and twig removal.

Issues of note: [Most already reported to Pete]

• Left hand screen on North path. Small number of 'willows' still need cutting near the water's edge on the left hand side of the viewing area.
• Branch lowering over the western side of the western path, immediately after the path bisection. For future reference there is a larger tree leaning over the left hand side of the path immediately before the bisection - made need future cutting.
• Still some rubbish in the bramble to the left of Goosander Hide.

Sightings:

• Amusing sight of cormorants periodically appearing to group up ready for a feeding frenzy which alerts the Egrets and Herons into action!!!

Thursday 1/10/2026 10.50 to 12.30 Hanson path, Goosander, northern circuit, Rockford path, Dockens path, to Tern hide.

Very quiet bird-wise but lots of fungi along Rockford path. Good number of visitors.

 26/09/2026 9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Caught up with some of the bramble and trip hazard trimming.

Issues of note:

• Branches hanging low over north path ?west of the west screen. Trimmed some and bent some back between other branches, but not sure they will stay. ? Needs trimming
• Small ?binocular case on the memorial bench on the Dockens Water path - passed on to Catherine
• Water bottle left in Goosander hide and waste bags and paper still in the brambles to the left of the Hide.

Sightings:

• September cormorant feeding frenzy in operation!!! Seen herding fish into the bay to the west of Tern Hide, accompanied by Heron and Egrets!
• Flock of ?Lapwings seen flying north over Ibsley Water. ?indicator of bird movement and potential precursor to new migrant arrivals.
• 2 foals and 2 ponies seen on south side of spit between Lapwing and Goosander, one pony seen on the north side

 12/09/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Path and Hide check. Usual bramble and trip hazard trim.

Kevin, Brenda and team carrying out their bird ringing tasks at the north end.

Issues of note:

• On the signpost, just inside the east end gate onto the northern side from Ellingham Drove, tape had been removed from the upper section and used to cover the 'No Dogs' sign -  I removed and replaced the tape in the original place.
• Some rubbish at Goosander Hide - a plastic bottle in the vegetation at the front of the Hide, and a bottle and some empty plastic bags in the brambles across from the southern side window. 

 05/09/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual trim and hide check. 

'Sightings':

• Brenda, Kevin and team at Lapwing hide completing their bird ringing tasks.
• Lakes very quiet, apart from an Osprey seen flying over Ibsley by a visitor.
• Some increase in herons and egrets around Ibsley.

Issues of note: 

• Some rubbish in the brambles to the left of Goosander hide still.
• Bag of Ice Melt Salt left alongside the path from the road towards Tern Hide; on the Hanson plant side of the fence, close to the first marked trees. ? Catherine plans to collect.

Report:

• Visitor reported seeing two young men in the water near the shore in front of Tern Hide on a Monday two weeks ago. He took a photo which he plans to email in and/or show to Catherine. Also reported to the Welcome Hut volunteers.

 29/08/2026  9.00 - 13.15  Dockens Water path and North side. Removal of twigs and small branches that have fallen onto the paths. Trimming of trip hazards; plus small branches drooping over the paths and reeds over the boardwalk due to the wind and rain.

Issues of note:

• Some rubbish in the bramble vegetation to the left of Goosander hide, otherwise all appears OK.

Sightings:

• Very few bird species on Ibsley this morning other than coot, mallards, gulls on Gull Island and a few swans.
• Great White Egret seen in the silt pond near Lapwing hide
• A Lapwing on the spit in front of Lapwing hide!

Very quiet, no visitors at all seen on the north side this morning.

 22/08/2026  9.00 - 12.45  Dockens Water Path and North side. Usual bramble and trip hazard trim where necessary. 

Issues of note:

• some rubbish left in Goosander hide - ?same type as previous weeks, ?same person. 
• some rubbish on the ground outside of the left hand window.
• Quite a few birds on the silt pond near Lapwing hide but not easy to see through the trees and vegetation in front of the screens.

Sightings:

• 3 ponies and the foal on the spit between Lapwing and Goosander
• 2 Common Sandpipers and a juvenile Lapwing at the bottom of the bank to the left of Goosander hide
• ? Wood Sandpiper near the small island to the right of Tern Hide, plus 2 Lapwings and a pied wagtail

 08/08/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Hurray, the bramble growth is at last slowing down - still a few runners and trip hazards trimmed.

No obvious signs of inappropriate behaviour in Lapwing, Goosander or Tern Hides.

Sightings:

• 3 ponies plus foal seen on the spit south of Lapwing Hide. Foal feeding from it's mum!!
• Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed plover, Lapwing and Pied Wagtail seen on small spit to the right of Tern Hide.

For future reference:

• The birch, willow and vegetation growth in front of the 2 screens on the North Path need cutting right back  ++ to restore the sightlines to the Silt Pond there.

 01/08/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual bramble trimming, both runners and trip hazards.

Issues of note:

• Lapwing Hide. Two large empty water bottles left in Hide, no other obvious problems.
• Goosander Hide. No extra problems/damage seen in the Hide.      In respect of the left hand raft in front of the hide, a bird carcass is seen on the far left hand corner, plus the raft is tilting towards that corner.

Mike Meeks plus two helpers released some gull chicks near to the base of Spit Island, accessed via the overflow car park. He had spoken to Catherine prior to the release.

 25/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and north side. Bramble trip hazard clearing ++, along most of the paths.

Issues of note:

• Goosander Hide : signs of antisocial behaviour again. All windows left and the door propped open. Scorch marks along the timber below the low window. ?at least one name - 'Ryan'
• Tern Hide: Adjustments to left hand long window still required to facilitate closing.
• Oiling of kissing gate on south side of Ellingham Drove from Tern Hide needed. 'Squeaking ++'

 18/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Bramble trimming as ever - there were still plenty of potential trip hazards.

Issues of note:

• Main drive: Brambles could do with trimming back along the left hand side at the exit from the carpark and the rest of the left side up to the parking area at the top of the drive [I trimmed a bit but it could do with some more]
• Dockens Water path: The 2nd bench on the left hand side of the Dockens Water path with the large dead tree down behind it. Is there a chance that one or more of the dead branches could fall from the tree onto the bench?
• Tern Hide: The left hand long window could do with some sanding on the lower edge - particularly the outside of the lower edge - to facilitate the closing.
• The kissing gates on either side of Ellingham Drove for the path that crosses to and from the Tern Hide could do with oiling+++

 11/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual bramble trimming - still growing ++ - and hide check.

Issues of note:

• Lapwing Hide. Signs of out of hours use. All windows left open, drink cans left. ? the two spare benches at rear of hide removed or taken.
• Goosander Hide. 'Socks'  thrown onto the vegetation in front of the Hide. Sun glasses left in hide, returned to Catherine. 
• Empty crisp packets again left in the hedge just before exit onto Ellingham Drove.
• Increasing numbers of bramble trip hazards encroaching from the verges onto the eastern path.
• Trimming of nettles on western path - great, thankyou.

Sightings [or lack of]

• The spit in front of Lapwing hide is now partially visible.
• Great crested grebe nest appears to have disappeared from in front of Goosander Hide.
• No ponies seen on the western shore.

 04/07/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side.  Usual bramble trimming ++, hide and path checks.

Issues of note:

• reeds over boardwalk and nettles either side of the south end of the western path increasingly encroaching over the paths.
• Dead branch still hanging over the western path,  approx 50m south of the cross path.

NB: Is there any chance that Robin could be contacted to come over and scrape the main drive. Potholes becoming increasingly difficult to avoid.

 27/06/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Catching up with trimming of the bramble after a two week break!!

Issues of note:

• Empty plastic bottle has been dropped out in front of Lapwing Hide
• Reeds alongside the boardwalk need cutting back
• Dead branch hanging over the path south of the cross path
• Nettles on the verges of the southern end of the western path need cutting++
• a number of dog walkers seen and spoken to, poo bag picked up along the Dockens path

Sightings:

• 3 ponies seen in section 1 on the western shore
• Great crested grebes nesting in front of Goosander hide
• ?young sand martins very active in front of the wall
• large numbers of Grey-lagged, Egyptian and Canada geese seen on Ibsley water, spit island and the spit between Lapwing and Goosander - assume because of seasonal moult. 

 06/06/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Bramble, nettle and reed growth increasing. Brambles trimmed where needed. Small branch removed from Dockens Water path. Branches trimmed where drooping over paths on the north side - all of eastern, northern and western paths in places. 

Issues of note:

• Reeds dropping over the boardwalk - trimming required.
• Dead branch drooping over east side of western path, north of cross path, trimmed but could do with cutting back harder. [see entry of 23/05/2026]
• Nettles on verges need trimming ++ - eastern path, north of bench beyond the cross path;  western path, north of the east/west path divide.

Ellingham Lake

 1 June tent/fishing shelter on path east of Ellingham Lake.

Nicky

 23/05/2026  9.00 - 13.45  Dockens Water path, North side and Hanson Plant. Path and Hide check. Bramble trimming increasing. 

Issues of note:

• Tape replaced on the sign inside the gate to the North side. It was covering a 'Dogs Allowed' sign that someone had illegitimately added to the signpost. ?replace with black paint.
• Mother and daughter seen cycling on north side, not close enough to stop. 'No cycling' sign needed at the gate from the road and also probably at the western end of the Hanson Path.
• Some residual black tape removed from direction signs to the Car Park, which is unnecessary now that the Hanson path is open.
• Sanding completed on the shelf in Lapwing Hide.
• On the western path, a short distance south of the cross path, two small trees were overhanging the path. The one on the western verge was alive - I bent it around into the bay to the north, but it may well spring back in the wind - ?needs cutting. The one on the eastern verge was dead - I trimmed it as much as I could, but could do with cutting back further with a saw.
• Empty can dropped outside the south side window of Goosander Hide. I did not retrieve as I didn't want to disturb the sand martins.

Sightings of note:

• Carp very active in front of Lapwing Hide.
• Sand Martins active at the wall

 16/05/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Blashford North and Dockens Water path. Hide and path check. Increased bramble trimming and a branch trimmed that was hanging over the north end of the eastern path.

Issues of note:

• Dead female fallow deer at the western end of the Cross path, behind the trees on the north side, beside one of the deer crossing points. ?Recent. No obvious signs of animal or bird predation since death. Looks bloated - ?pregnant or bloated since death.
• Hanson Plant. Grid bent out and a pile of nuts and washers on the ground. All left over from last week's activity?!!!!

 09/05/2026  9.00 - 13.30  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual path and hide check. Need for bramble trimming increasing!!! 

Issues of Note:

• Out of hours use of Lapwing hide. Some rubbish left, including cigarette ends. Record diary missing. Pen had been used to draw, and scribble some inappropriate phrases on the shelf in front of the low window.
• Masking tape has been removed from some of the signposts, particularly those indicating paths through the Hanson Plant to the Tern Hide and Main Car park.

Sightings of note:

• Great White Egret in the Silt Pond near Lapwing hide, another on the western shore. 
• 2 Ravens seen on the north side of the spit between the Lapwing and Goosander hide.
• Blue tit appears to be feeding young in the Swift Tower!!!
• Sand Martins active both flying for food plus ?feeding young in the nest sites.
• Few butterflies seen except for 10+ Speckled Wood.
• Still some Common Terns remaining in front of Tern Hide.

02/05/2026  9.00 - 13.30  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual path and hide check. Bramble trimmed where necessary. Ibsley Water quite quiet re birdlife, however several Carp seen in front of each of the Hides.

Issues of Note:

• Recording notebook and bird identification book left in Lapwing Hide - returned to the Centre.
• Probable use of Goosander hide on Friday evening - empty bottles, cans and some litter left in the hide.

Sightings of note:

• Marsh Harrier seen flying over silt pond near the Lapwing Hide.
• Oyster Catcher seen at tip of spit between Lapwing and Goosander
• 4 very vocal Common Terns seen in front of Tern Hide.

 25/04/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual path and hide check.   Bramble trimmed where necessary.

Issues of note:

• Grid wrenched away from the doorway of the Hanson Plant building again. Only held by the bottom bolts. Catherine notified and photos taken.
• Additional debris removed and bramble cut back from the verges of the path near the tree taken down on Mockbeggar.

Sightings:

• Male Marsh Harrier seen from the western screen on the northern path, perched in a tree at the west end of the Silt Pond. Then took off circled a few times before flying off over the north end of Ibsley.
• Sand Martins very active at the wall.
• 3/4 Common Terns seen in front of Tern Hide.
• 5 Black Terns seen flying around at the north end of Ibsley.

 18/04/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual hide and path check. Minimal trimming required as yet. Ed accompanied me for half the morning and may have noted some additional issues. 

Issues of note:

• Small tree blown down across the northern path from the south side tree line - pushed back onto the hedge but still attached, could do with cutting, especially as the CES is due to start soon.
• Two visitors with dogs seen on the South side. One coming down the path alongside the Track - ?labrador type on a long lead [seen by Nigel]. One on the heathland area behind the car parking site at the top of the drive - Husky cross on a short lead - [seen by me, latter's owner reminded of  Reserve restrictions].

Sightings:

• Mallard and Tufted Duck pairings seen on northern Silt Pond, plus a female Mallard with 5 ducklings.
• Sand Martins very active at Goosander Hide.
• Mistle Thrush seen on the scrape.

 11/04/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Some branches in the Dockens Water. Some bramble trimming started, hides checked - appear to be OK, although pump a bit noisy in Tern Hide!!

Issues of note:

• Attempts have been made to enter the main building in the Hanson plant. Nuts removed from some bolts and left on the ground below, bolts still in place but the grid has been bent back to some extent to attempt entry. Photos taken by Catherine.
• Runner with dog attached seen on path near turn to Goosander, running towards the road. No attempt to stop when spoken to. ?A regular. Similiar incident reported by Jeremy McClements a couple of weeks ago.

Sightings:

• Female Goshawk seen sitting in a tree on the bank opposite the base of Spit Island. Remained there most of the morning. ? watching for Sand Martins. None were at the wall but were flying overheard across the lake near Lapwing Hide. Brenda reported that goshawks are nesting on Mockbeggar.
• Male adder at the base of the bank near Goosander, recently 'sloughed'.

 04/04/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water Path and North side. Some branches in the Dockens Water in the section before the Rockford Path. Paths and hides seemed OK, although a door and some windows left open. Left hand door of Tern Hide could do with 'oiling'! Minimal bramble trimming required so far!! 

A strand of barbed wire was broken in the eastern fence at the end of the bramble hedge section after the Goosander Hide turn, and left across the verge. ?result of deer crossing from Mockbeggar. Wound the wire back into the fence for safety purposes and to keep away from further deer movement.

Sightings:

• Goshawk reported flying south during the early morning.
• Approx. 50 Sand Martins flying/feeding over the lake, mainly in front and to the west of Tern Hide - ? for better protection from the wind. None seen going into the wall, as seen on Thursday.
• 6 Lapwings seen on the scrape with another 2 flying around along the northern bank.
• A few Violets seen growing on the eastern verge of the western path, north of the cross path.

 28/03/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side.  Usual path and hide checks. Branch in the Dockens water near the entrance to the overflow 'bay' at the Western end.

Report from Jeremy McClements re. early morning visit to Lapwing Hide. 

• Person in a red jacket seen near the Osprey Platform who then retreated back into the north eastern bay of Ibsley Water - ? fisherman.

• Kittiwake feeding in front of Lapwing Hide
• Osprey flying south over Ibsley and across into the Avon Valley  

Other sightings:

• 2/3 Lapwings seen on the spit between Lapwing and Goosander, 'playing hide and seek with a couple of crows!!
• 2 Lapwings seen in the scrape from the Hanson screen
• ?1/2 Little Gulls seen on the western shore line of Spit Island from Tern Hide

Issue reported: 

• A Brambling seen by the feeder at Woodland Hide appeared to have a problem/swelling at and around it's beak. ?cause.

 21/03/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water Path and North side. Usual path and hide check. Paths and hides OK; far fewer small branches and twigs on the paths than last week!!!

Issues needing attention:

• at the west end of Dockens path, on the way sign at the access point to the footbridge, the tape is falling off that covers the currently false direction sign to Lapwing hide.
• brambles immediately outside the northern side window in the Lapwing hide, require trimming to clear the view north.

Issue of note:

Dog walker seen by a visitor on the north side in the early part of the morning. 

Sightings:

• Birds well spread out across the lake. Usual mix except for...........
• Large flock of Black-tailed Godwit on Spit Island. 
• Sightings of Ruffs ?x2 and Little Gulls ?x4/5 reported on the west side of the island

 14/03/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side.  Twigs and small branches ++ 'deposited' by recent winds, cleared from the Dockens Water path and the north side paths. Bike tyre marks seen on northern paths - ?yours Pete when checking the north side, or inappropriate visitors? 

Ibsley Water level dropping gradually. Rail in front of Goosander can now be seen at the lake surface.

Sightings:

Brimstone and peacock butterflies seen.      2 adders seen [off piste]. 

Birds well spread about the lake and on Gull island, along the western shore and on Spit island.  Nothing out of the usual reported.

07/03/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water Path and North Side.  Usual path and hide check.

Issues of note:

A couple of broken branches in or balanced on other branches over the Dockens before the Rockford path.

Pete - The tree mentioned last week with 'fragile' branches is the one, beyond the Rockford path, immediately before the straining wire with a yellow covering, attached to the new pole/pylon on the right/south side of the path. There are 2, possibly 3, branches that with the lightest tap drop sections over the path. Will require a pole saw to cut.

A visitor, whilst visiting Goosander hide late afternoon/early evening, reported that on occasions he has seen people wandering around in the scrape. Hopefully the electric fence will be a deterrent.

Interesting sightings:

• Would it be possible to trim the brambles immediately outside the side window on the north side of Lapwing hide to improve the visibility of the shore going north. There were a number of different small birds on the grass on that side this morning, ?stonechat etc.
• Numbers of Lapwings increasing
• Two Oystercatchers seen on Spit Island

 28/02/2026  9.00 - 13.30  Dockens Water path and North side. Path and hide check.

Issues requiring attention:

• Large dead tree, just before the new pylon on the south side of the Dockens Water path, is dropping dead branches onto the path. ? needs cutting back. 
• Small tree drooping over the north end of the Eastern path. ? needs removal/cutting back.

Sightings of note:

• two male adders reported by Goosander Hide. Excited visitors managed to get a photo!!!

Fishing gear was seen being unloaded from 2 Vans parked outside the main gate on the south side - ?plus from one parked at the top of the drive. ?fishermen from the new Ellingham Lake enterprise. Catherine investigating and ?directing parking to the Water Ski Lake site. 

 21/02/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water path and North side. Usual path and hide check. Clearance of some remaining twigs etc. on paths from last weeks tasks.

Issues of note:

• Small tree/branches drooping over north end of eastern path
• Plastic bottle in brambles outside Goosander hide and 3 glass bottles on the bank, and one in the water, by the culvert in the Hanson Plant. The 3 glass bottles washed and left in the kitchen for removal to glass recycling point.

Outstanding tasks:

• creation of log pile, from trunks/branches on verge of eastern path, for potential lizard sightings, ref Lee Hamilton's facebook entry 17th Feb.
• clearance of willow growth in front of western screen on north path, to improve visability over silt pond.

 14/02/2026  9.00 - 12.45  Dockens Water Path and North side. Path and Hide check. 

Reserve was very Busy!!!!!  Removed some remaining debris from the paths that was leftover from the Tues & Thurs tasks.

Main issue:

Bench in the Hanson Plant has been removed/?stolen!!!!!!!!!!

 07/02/2026  9.00 - 13.15  Dockens Water path and North side.  Path and Hide check. Little trimming required.

Issues of note:

• a lot of debris collected against the old footbridge beyond Rockford entrance, large branch on the far side and a large upright pipe on the nearside!!!!
• Tin cans seen in brambles on east of path and in the Clearwater pond from the road to the Goosander turn.
• Faulty catch on the low window in Lapwing Hide. Possible to use but with care. Lower part of hook bent. ? Catherine to check.
• Two blocks of wood found in the water by the boardwalk. ?offcuts washed up by the high water level or ?blocks washed out of the boardwalk itself. Left on the ground beside the south end.
• Improved drainage channels needed from puddles on the path to Goosander
• Glass bottle found in brambles behind the bench in the Hanson Plant [ tin cans and plastic bag found there on Thursday]

Action taken:

A couple of small channels made in the sides of the large puddles on the main drive to encourage some drainage. Would it be worthwhile making some more or slightly larger channels to help in the interim until Robin can come again/drive replaced?

 31/01/2026  9.00 - 13.30  Dockens Water path and North side.  Path and hide check.

Issues of note:

• Branches in the Dockens Water and collecting debris, principally in the 30 metres before the Rockford path.
• Verges of the Eastern path, particularly the first half, north of the path divide, awaiting clearance of broken branches and some vegetation.
• White plastic bag at the base of the bank on the far side of the Clearwater pond, seen from the bench in the Hanson plant.

Characteristics and sightings today:

• Water level in Ibsley almost covering the rails in front of Goosander hide.
• Most of the birds on the north and north-west areas of the lake - good mix of species, very few on land. ?some species taking advantage of the flooded areas along the Avon valley.
• 2 red kites flying south, high above the Welcome Hut at lunchtime.

 24/01/2026  9.00 - 13.00  Dockens Water Path and North side.  Path and hide check.

Issues of note:

• small wheel [?source] found alongside Dockens Water. Returned to Welcome Hut, left alongside the ramp.
• door handle loose at Lapwing hide. ?new screws and/or plugs needed.
• plank near north end of boardwalk feels 'spongy', ?rotting.

Geoff brought in some skeletonised mole and other [?rat] carcasses to hand on to Chloe. In the blue plastic bag left on the moth trap in the water tank shed.

 17/01/2025  9.00 - 13.15  Dockens Water path and North side. Path and Hide check. Usual twig and small branch removal. No immediate major issues but issues for attention in near future:

• Slim branch overhanging eastern path from the left hand side, approx 30m north of cross path near the first bend - potential to drop further.
• Some clearance needed on the verges north of the east and west path divide
• Not unexpectedly, drainage channels need clearing/improving at east end of cross path and on path to Goosander.

Two 'tent' pegs hanging alongside a fence post on the northern path [ ?Brenda's used for mist nets] plus  brown peaked cap found in the Tern hide. All returned to Catherine at the Centre.

Tern Hide area and Ellingham Lake

 12 Jan 1hr litter pick car parks, Tern Hide and viewpoint and around Ellingham Lake. 7 goosander on Ellingham Lake.

Nicky

 10/01/2026  9.00 - 12.30  Dockens Path and North side. Usual path and hide check.

Issues of note:

• ? Swan carcass on Ibsley Water; in from the western shore, opposite Lapwing hide.
• Seat/walking stick left in Tern Hide. Taken over to Chloe at the centre.

Otherwise path and hides clear.

Circuit of Ivy Lake

 5 Jan 1 hr circuit of Ivy Lake, litter pick pr bullfinch s end of Rockford Path. No issues.

Nicky

 03/01/2026  9.00 - 12.30  Dockens Water path and North side.  Path and hide check. 

Issues of note:

• The boardwalk is icy/slippery ++
• Now the water level in Ibsley has risen substantially, the shore line vegetation in front of Lapwing hide needs cutting to allow visitors to see the birds on the shore. I think sandpiper and wagtails were there this morning!
• There appears to be some foam in the centre of the Scrape - seen from the viewing screen in the Hanson Plant. ? source
• Some of the hide windows are not always being closed or secured.

Door grid and camera in the Hanson Plant still in place.

29th December 2025. 13.15 to 14.40. North Hide, Lime Walk, Ivy South to Woodland, Tern Hide

Nothing to report. Just outside Reserve there were 50+ White-fronted Geese and a Bean Goose on the watermeadows at Ibsley.