Wednesday 29th May

 Met more people than usual enjoying the reserve. Sadly a fair amount of litter at Durngate bench. Was about to ask a cyclist to dismount when he saw me and got off his bike. Had a pleasant enough chat and he admitted he knew bikes weren't allowed!!

The notice explaining about the northern end on the gate on the river Itchen side is no longer there. Met a couple who were very disappointed as they had come specially from Gosport having checked on the website that wellies were no longer needed so thought they could now get up to the northern end. 

SAM - I said I would pass on their comment about no mention of closure on the website. Could you add to the website that the northern end is still closed off until the path can get repaired.

Anne and Tim Ardill 

Monday 27th May - Warden

Very quiet this afternoon around Winnall, no issues on site today and everything seemed okay. 

Hmm

 pleasingly nothing to report! Minimal litter, water well down (looks like 25cm but it's getting hard to see the board). Popped up to SPM and looks good - apart of course from impending repairs to path.

Except why pay £1.75 for a bottled drink, take 1 swig,

and discard the rest?

Sunday 26th May - Warden

Despite the odd rainshower it was a really nice day on Winnall with a very noisy Blackcap singing as I left this afternoon. 

Thank you for tucking the sign under the bridge Rachel, I have put it back on the gate this morning, hopefully it lasts a bit longer this week. 

No issues today with people, bikes or dogs and the rest of the strimming at the Durngate entrance has been finished and the chalk board updated with birds. 

Thursday 23rd May

 A little late with this post. Lots of tall growth broken down  and obstructing the path between 2 bridges, on the plus side saw a field mouse amongst it.

Thankfully no problems with joggers or cyclists today, nice. Chatted to a couple of nice people with pushchairs enjoying the peace.

Sunday 26th May

One runner, one family.  I was a bit too early to see Charlotte

Deer and five ducklings near the pond.

Fab strimming! After last night's deluge, there are are some large fronds of Hemlock Water Dropwort overhanging the western side path.

I have moved the padlock lower down the SPM gate as in the past, people have broken off the top bar of the fence in order to remove it 🙄

Saturday 25th May - Warden

Really lovely day today, I had some nice chats with bird watchers and visitors and some more strimming has been done along the board walk and the the Durngate entrance. 

Had a couple issues today, one with more teens swimming along North Walls and the second being a group of 4 on bikes sitting at the top of the board walk at the bench, however they did get off and push them all the way to the exit. 

Saturday 25th May

What a lovely morning. Hi Charlotte, I can see you've done a lot of strimming already. Moderate litter this morning. The 'no swimming' sign from the River Park bridge had been torn off and thrown in the river but it was caught in the reeds. I fished it out and I've put it under the end of the short boardwalk, the Itchen end. Nice visitors and friendly chats. 

Great view of a Reed bunting and lots of blackcap singing.

Welcome Charlotte

 We havent met but you never know.

No sign of camper thankfully. Met the first of 2 groups from Peter Symonds, coming down to learn about sampling, survey and ID. Very little else to report. 1 photographer and 2 runners. Turned away 1 dog whose owner was pleasant. 1 duck with half grown duckling on path by magic mushroom. Water quite low. only 22cm at Durngate (yes, I can see the depth gauge now)

Sunday 19th May - Warden

Been a lovely warm day today and very busy with lots of bird watchers and walkers on site today. I bumped in to Lynne this morning and had a catch up and recieved some very useful tips, thank you. 

Had more problems with swimmers today on North Walls side and also e-scooters and cyclists. I think I have managed to cut all the low over hanging branches on the paths around site, if not let me know of any more. 

The Reed warbler was the highlight at the end of the day.