Tuesday 29 April

A lovely day on the Moor with plenty of Warblers active at the Pond. I noted two grandparents with two very young children in tow, stepping off of the Boardwalk and trying to navigate through the bushes and small trees. I asked them to stay on the permitted path. They did comply.  

sunny and warm

 Loads of sound. Saw my first robin fledglings yesterday.

Water at Durngate 36.98. Although EA said it's been rising (despite no rain for ages) the pond looks lower

Usual runners. No litter. That's not frost in the river, it's willow seed. There's a limb down across Red Poll which is catching litter, and the moorhens were moaning about having to walk over it.

I won't be around the next 3 weeks. Look out Isle of Wight, here I come!

Sunday 27th April

 Quiet but I was early.

A fair amount of litter. Pond water levels quite low.

Comfrey and cowslips blooming.  

Chiff chaff, nuthatch, song thrush and wrens chirping away.

Friday 25th April

Few walkers with the occasional runner - nothing to report today.

Thursday 24th - all OK

A few folks around. Lots of bird activity at the pond (more than usual). Quite a few of the thorn whips planted in the swimming area are showing leaf - a relief after the dry spell after planting. The main boardwalk has some new maxims for passers by to consider … and the rusty wheel rim left by the Red Hole Stream bridge is now in the main entrance rubbish bin, as is a used fire extinguisher someone had kindly donated …

Saturday 19th April

The laminated 'no dogs' sign on the Durgate fence at the entrance was torn off and too damaged to put up again. Graffiti on the River Park bridge and dog mess on the path to the pond. Got rid of both. 

Lovely to see the Ladies' Smock coming out.

Mostly pairs of runners, well behaved. 

Easter Monday

 Sorry I forgot to report last week's round. I did do it, honest. With my granddaughter helping. Nothing to report as it happens.

today, there's been 4mm rain in the last week and river is as low as I've seen it for ages. That seems likely to change. I was out early enough not to see many people. 2 regulars, 1 small family and 2 runners. Clear bird footprints at the Pond and cowslips at the Glade. Very little litter except a car wheel at Swift's bridge, too big for me to move today. There's also a pile of metalwork across the river at Colson Road, but clearly came out of the main channel. I wonder if it's the same group who found unexploded ordnance on Saturday by Twyford Lock. Clearly lots of holiday activity around and very dramatic.

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