Happy New Year!
Tad warmer and brighter today. There's a plank on the boardwalk feels spongier than before, identified by tape. Someones been walking in the grass beside boardwalk, clear human tracks. Minimal litter, pair of child's specs at dipping stream, I took them home and will post on a couple of local groups. Quiet with a bit more bird noise around. Cygnets are changing plumage. Durngate depth 37.12, very little change lately. No recent rain, but you wouldnt know it.
A few birdwatchers and walkers. A couple of runners including the one who pushed me, running fast laps. He told me to fuck off on his first lap and gave me the finger on his second lap. Ever the charmer.
I'm away next two Sundays, back on 19th January.
By agreement with Sam won’t be covering South or North today. Hope everyone had an excellent 25th!
Vert quiet this morning though the ducks were in fine carolling !! voice. Met a couple of families enjoying a pre lunch stroll.
Signage much better- thanks Paul. Will replace the Winchester Local Area Volunteers HIWWT group programme in the New Year.
Merry Christmas everyone from Anne and Tim
Popped over today to replace the Sanctuary sign. While I was at it I secured the No Dogs on North Walls Bridge as it had one drawing pin left. There's a rubbish fire in the Rugby Club. The smoke can look like it's in Rugby Club Meadow, but it isn't.
Really nice though. 3 tits, 3 warblers. Slightly icy underfoot. 2 runners, 1 with children. No litter thanks to the weekend team.
Durngate water 37.14m. No rain since yesterday
Fairly quiet. Two walkers walking, one runner running (nicely) and no dogs masquerading as otters.
Much more litter than expected. McDonalds mostly (other take-aways are available). Maybe end of term festivities. This sign torn off, I wedged it with a small branch, sorry I couldn't repair it properly.
Happy Christmas everyone.
Very quiet - just one couple walking round. 12 excited male mallards looking resplendent in their breeding plumage were on the main river. Nothing new to add to previous comments
Not much litter today - perhaps blown away!
Anne and Tim
lovely to see Swimming Pool Meadow reopened after nearly a year. I see Lynne also noticed plenty of paw marks in the new clay. Clearly not foxes. Had a long chat with a regular photographer. There's a football in the reeds at the pond. It didn't get there by itself! Saw a duck climbing a tree, but couldn't get a pic.
The reserve is fully open. The new path looks great and there are otter footprints on the new bank. A side rail on the southern end of the main boardwalk in the mangrove swamp needs repairing at polygraph.leaned.applauded
Had a lovely chat with some birdwatchers.
And..... the runners are back. I spoke to four:
Two men, polite but not really listening.
One extraordinarily rude man. I had thanked him for slowing down (he didn't have much choice as three of us were on the boardwalk) and he stopped, took out his earphones and barked "what did you just say to me?" I said I had thanked him for slowing down and he stamped and huffed and ranted on. Apparently having signs and asking people to slow down is like having the Daily Mail in residence. This was witnessed by the two flabbergasted birdwatchers who said "and you were nothing but polite to him".
One lovely, very polite and supportive lady. She told me that two other runners had barged past her. She also thanked us for our work.
What a brilliant repair job. Very exciting to see it and be up in SPM again. A few visitors enjoying it too. One lady with a dog who went to the park when I had a friendly chat. 'Oh I didn't see the sign'. Plenty of litter today.
