Quiet on the reserve this morning with only two couples strolling round. Heard my first cuckoo very faintly as some distance away.
Very little litter.
All okay on site, lots of runners and bird song and I’ve seen my first ducklings of the year.
The new signage looks great - so much better!
Met a couple of WCC staff studying the new Durngate board one was aware of the sewage pipe from Harestock on the reserve and he asked how they could visit the sanctuary area. Suggested they look on the Trust website under events to see if any guided walks planned - wasn't sure of any dates Sam?
Cleared lots of twigs and small branches from the path at the southern end. Sadly large amount of litter by the Durngate bench along with the blue bag of bedding.
cool, but bright day.
Noisy sedge warblers, geese in evidence who were happy with food offering. Water low. That's not snow or frost, it's willow down in 1st pic. 5 walkers including one I met on the Mass Bike Ride Saturday. Little litter apart from Durngate bench. Snipped a couple of low branches. The one near the new signs at North Walls bridge is still attached and will need a saw but it's passable and manageable. I'll see what I can do but no promises.
Pics came out in reverse order for some reason.
Busy with lots of walkers and one ridiculous runner.
Baby moorhens in the pond!
A man with lots of radio equipment doing Parks on the Air: radio enthusiasts set up temporary stations in designated parks, enjoying the harmony of nature while making contacts with other radio enthusiasts.
Some violent duck sex on the boardwalk. Two members of the public told me
that the female was hurt. When I went back she was looking a bit bedraggled and sleeping. I texted
it in to Fi.
A man way off the path in the undergrowth. I asked him to move back
onto the path. I explained he was in a protected area. He gave me a lecture claiming he had a right to roam
and paths were very controlling. Righto!
Champagne cork, wire and foil on the pond path, which has now gone through my washing machine.
Sleeping stuff still at Durngate.
Lovely new signs, which I can confirm are very visible.
Beautiful new signage - bravo. Lots of litter around the Durngate bench, where the bedding is still stacked. I rang the Trinity bell, hoping to ask if they had any idea whose it was, and if so whether I could leave it with them, but nobody was around.
Quiet, one runner, a few folks. Noisy Sedge Warblers at the north end opposite Rugby Club Meadow. Minimal litter. Sleeping bag and some bags of possessions neatly stacked behind entrance bench - I left them there as it looks like someone’s coming back for them.
Lots of people strolling round enjoying the spring sunshine. A young roe deer in the undergrowth near the stream dipping area causing much interest! Several orange tip butterflies on the wing.
Looking forward to seeing the new signage - hope the old broken one at Barton Meadows will be replaced as well!
Lots of birdsong. 15 runners and walkers. No rudecyclist today. I moved the bag and mat to bin by the entrance. Across the river behind children's nursery is a huge lump of human faeces. I wonder if there's a connection. Tiny bit of litter under the alder in SPM. Broken branch just north of watching trees bench. It wouldnt play ball so I marked it with red and white tape
Lots of people about. One polite young male runner; had a chat with a less polite female runner.
Sleeping Bag and mat at Durngate, I left it there
Very warbly at the pond.
The birdsong is ramping up, delightful to hear. Love it when the marsh marigold comes out. Moderate litter. Human excrement near the mosaic where they try to swim. Got rid. Frequent runners making it the opposite of peaceful.
lots of bird song this morning, and very quiet on site. Didn’t see any littering anywhere, all seems okay
Several sedge warblers in Swimming Pool meadow this morning competing with chiff chaffs for level of sound!
Met only 4 people strolling round and very little litter.
1 runner, 3 walkers. Plenty of bird song on reed bed, less on north walls side. Same cyclist as last week, around the same time, 9.20. No litter. 1 roe deer. Water in pond clearly lower
A few runners, some nicer than others. A few walkers.
One nice chap enjoying the birdsong. I introduced him to the Merlin app. My work will be complete when everyone has it.
Comfrey coming into bloom.
After a week away, everything is greening up, including the burned area in SPM.. Lovely to see the cowslips and Lady's Smock. Moderate litter. I had to bury human excrement under the spreading willow in SPM.
Noted from a distance on Winnall Moor this evening, around 1800 hours - A man walking a Great Dane, seems like this could be a common occurrence around this time.
As it's Bank Holiday I might have been better going in later but . . .
Fair amount of birdsong. Several runners, a regular walker and a regular lady saying her prayers. Very little litter. Burnt reed bed showing good signs of recovery.
Rude cyclist on an illegal bike. Told me to F*** off.
A few people out walking.
Some litter.
Big hole in Patricia's bench at the north end of the main boardwalk. ///numeral.unsecured.connects
Thought might have been more people this week as school holidays but fairly quiet. Chiff chaffs in full song. First sighting of comfrey and ladies smock in flower. Very little litter. Paths dried out.
I’ll be checking WM North but have a task to do there and probably won’t have time for the South as well. Paul are you covering the South that day?
Considering we havent had rain for 8 days theres still a lot of damp about but puddles have receded. Environment Agency reports water rising at Durngate. Removed 1/2 bag of onion rings from the Glade. Trolley removed to Durngate entrance, bit of a coincidence being next to reed fire. Will report when I have a minute. Couple of runners. Met a regular photographer, nice chat. 2 canada geese on site and 5 flew over as I entered. Couple of tops draped over a tree near North Walls bridge. I left them just in case the owner(s) retrieve them. Bit of chalk drawing at Pond.
Beautiful bright morning, lots of runners.
An enormous dog left a pile of mess on the path near the bridge, and there was a discarded nappy at the paddling stream. Glad
A lady with two dogs took them out when I asked her. 'Didn't see any signs'....
Sad and shocked to see the fire damage in SPM.
Apart from yesterdays fire and the M&S shopping trolley at the entrance the rest of the reserve is okay, lots of bird song and a very curious tree creeper moving around the willows by the bridge.
T-shirt weather today!
Busy with people of all ages enjoying the beautiful day - some visitors coming from out of county. Several brimstone and peacock butterflies on the wing.
Very little litter!
3 walkers, no runners. I left a NERF water pistol on the Durngate bench in the hope it gets reunited with owner. Plenty of birdsong. I saw a jay, 2 Canada geese and, by the pond, a muntjac. Despite recent rain and the Environment Agency markers saying levels are rising/dropping. Some streams were lower, some higher. Recent track of a bicycle going between Durngate and North Walls (i.e. not obliterated by yesterday's rain)
Lots of walkers, a couple of grudgingly polite runners.
A dead mole in the pond. No new fires.
A beautiful bright morning. Excellent sighting of a reed bunting at the pond, a muntjac on the path, heard my first chiff chaff, the sparrowhawks were seen mating by the photographer (I only heard them). Another fire on the glade - they keep coming back, whoever they are.
An afternoon visit. Very quiet and very little litter. Two people sitting on the pond dipping platform and acting as guards for all the frogspawn as a couple of mallards coming in and out! No sign of any frogs.
Saw the Glade fire, but otherwise no litter..
Couple of walkers, 2 regular runners. Lots of birds.
Busy with walkers, families, birdwatchers. Nice to see some young people with their cameras and binoculars. One silly runner. Couple of people far off the path, including the artist.
New fat balls in the feeder at ///pelting.rollers.succumbs (near path on the west/Art School side)
The remains of the fire in the glade is mostly ash, I cleared up the paper. Might need to a shovel for the rest.
A bad litter day plus a large new fire site on the glade. Lots of paper ash and still hot, so I didn't have the means to clear it all. At the Durngate board a capped syringe which I took to Trinity as they have a sharps box. Human excrement next to it which I had to bury. A guy drinking beer at 9.30am at the paddling stream, who ga
Lots of bird song this morning and a couple of grey squirrels. A few walkers and runners enjoying the site.
Very quiet, minimal litter. No sign of the frogs, but the little muntjac was grazing on the open ground in front of the pond. Thursday Group finishing up willow burning in Swimming Pool Meadow.
Beautiful day - first outing without a jacket!
More frogspawn in the pond since last week but no sign of frogs today. A muntjac deer in the brambles nearby.
Had several friendly chats with people enjoying a stroll round and a not so friendly exchange with a rather beligerant cyclist sunbathing on the bench at the northern end. Picked up a collection of 6 lager cans this morning.
much the same as Lynne and Jim: 2 walkers, lots of frog activity in the pond.
Water levels going down a bit (don't speak too soon!)
Just a few folks around. Visiting couple from Isle of Man very complimentary about the reserve. Not much litter. Adjusted side gate at Durngate entrance.
A frog party (fest, rave, orgy) going on in the pond.
Blue sky and sunshine! A peacock butterfly abd two brimstone sunbathing! A red kite flying over northern end. Lots of small birds calling with wrens and great tits in competition for the loudest! Not much litter.
Several people walking round and one gentleman reading your notice Sam - result!
