Look out Bet's he's about to bomb you!
As many of you will be aware I have been dog sitting for the past five weeks. Not having had a dog for over a decade it has been hard work getting back into the dog owner routine. We have had, Betsy and Pretzel, Richard and Jade's Mother and son labs, yellow bitch Betsy and black son Pretzel. They certainly play havoc with my early morning and evening activities about the Estate.
For three or four decades we had a pair of labs, we always had bitches but it still came as a struggle keeping up with them. They had many good traits such as stock steady and respond instantly to the whistle. The problems came when their idea of a walk meant keeping their noses on the ground in search of every form of poop known to man, cow, horse, sheep, deer, dog, fox, badger and many more, all went the same direction. The latest favourite addition to the diet has been otter spraint. I guess its only time before we add beaver crap to the diet.
I have been told the addition of pineapple chunks to their diet will reduce the intake of poo, some sort of enzyme inter-action. I'm not sure if I'm being wound up, or there is any evidence of this working. I'm desperate so I'll give it a go, so watch this space for any result.
Members of the salmon syndicate should keep an eye on the water temperature, as today it dropped below 18 degrees C. One rod who was keeping a watch is Stephen Hutchinson who had the 14 pound fish today on the shrimp. This fish had been in for a few weeks but looked in fine condition considering the conditions it has had to endure. The link below will open the latest information from the Knappmill tidal barrier.
The latest counter data is, I'm afraid, much as exspected. Lets hope the eventual arrival of the rain increases the number of salmon entering the system. Unfortunately it will all be too late to benefit this years returns but hopefully will see a reasonable number fish on the redds.
All "fish on a net" shots today but worth showing for the pleasure they give as naturally bred fish in such good condition. John Slader landed them during a productive session on Mockbeggar. The tench were the target, with roach and rudd almost a certainty when they find the feed. The carp was a twenty plus on a single pellet providing a little extra entertainment. Thanks for the photos John always delighted to see such fish being caught.
Its good to see two or three broods of Kestrel about the valley, hopefully a sign of recovery from the several winters of prolonged floods that have drowned the field vole population.
I'm starting to get a feeling of dread about the break of this current drought. If past events are anything to go by we could be in for a soaking, lets hope it manages to arrive without staying all winter.
14th August
Its not just the fact it costs the Estate money to clear up and dispose of this lot, its the fact we have to redesign the car park to stop the low-lives coming back!
I'm afraid you'll have to put up with a lot of these thermal shots and clips as I get the hang of my new gadget. The geese in the shot above were sitting out on a gravel bar mid river. Hot heads and legs, with the body insulated with the feathers.
In the clip you are looking south about a mile to the church. The bats you see are in the first couple of hundred meters, as the heat the thermal picks up is is not sufficient beyond that distance. Despite being visible the number of bats continues at that density for the entire mile south. Plus, of course, the thirty further miles of the valley. I had no idea we had such a massive bat population, invisible until the thermal allowed me a glimpse.
The entry of the 7th August has given rise to a several very interesting photos being emailed through to me. I have to thank Russell Lowe and Richard Biddulph for getting back to me with their experiences of similarly damaged salmon. The first photo is from Russell who tells me there is a seal active in the harbour down at Christchurch and the photo is of one of its intended meals. The second shot, taken by Richard, shows a seal damaged salmon from Iceland, that has managed to survive its experience. There can be little doubt that the injuries on both fish are similar to the fish I put up on the 7th.
The survival of Richard's fish may be down to the extent of the physical damage, or that Icelands rivers are cooler and do not ccontain the array of pathogens that the Avon is subject to? David Solomon's work back in the 90's sadly illustrated that fish that remain in, or return to, the Harbour have a hugely increased mortality rate as flows decrease and water temperatures rise. Be this down to predation, such as the seal, DO levels, poaching, disturbance or simply returning to sea, never to be seen again. It would be interesting to see whether given the opportunity of free passage these fish might run into the Lower River where they would take up residence for the summer in the deeper, slower pools as they do in many other rivers. Bearing in mind, the Solomon Report also showed that Avon fish went up the Stour to the deep holes behind Mexi's to spend the Summer when unable to enter the Avon. Returning to run the Avon with the onset of the Autumn rains.
I guess we'll never know as the water company, with the collusion of the EA, continue to maintain the barrier to passage at the tidal limit. Shame on them.
Yet another oak that has seccumbed to the bust and boom of prolonged floods and droughts.
The first shows the young replacement oaks in our nursery. The recent impact of the weather on out ancient oaks begs the question, should we be planting oaks if they are unable to deal with the extremes in climate we are forecast to see in the future. Should we instead be looking to trees from warmer climates, such as the Mediterranean, for our next generation of trees?
A reminder to syndicate members that Ellingham Show is on tomorrow. Whilst you can get in at Ellingham, it might be advisable to avoid it if possible. The middle shot is a large bed of Cuckoo Pint seed heads, unusual in that the berries normally fall off before this in a normal year. The final shot is the Ellingham revetment that I cleaned up today.
With many thanks to John McGough for the next two entries. The first is this salmon that John found on the bank showing considerable signs of damage. The sad demise of what would have been a very nice hen fish with potentially 5000 eggs now lost to the system. Just what caused such catastrophic damage is difficult to say. A muzzle mark of a large predator can clearly be seen on the second shot. Was this, as with the recent entry of the seatrout, a run-in with one of our larger pike? In the ensuing struggle did the hundreds of small teeth on the roof or the mouth and the tongue inflict the wounds. Or was this damage inflicted at sea on its travels back to spawn? When I say large pike, it would have to be one of the many twenty plus fish in the Avon to realistically eat a fish of this size. Unfortunately smaller pike will misjudge what they are capable of dealing with and attack fish too large to handle. I personally believe this was probably such an incident and the salmon eventually shook itself free from its over ambitious attacker only to succumb to the damage in later days.
As I'm sure readers will remember I have a derogation from the EA to collect dead salmon for study. This one now resides safely in our freezer, to await collection later in the year. A further reason to be grateful to John for remembering to call me so that I could collect it before the local fox population came across it.
John's second entry is a barbel he landed on the Estate, showing the blue dot the EA use to mark introduced fish. We are told the dye only lasts two years but there have been exceptions. As we have not received any juvenile barbel, nor do we wish to, I wonder how far this one has travelled to reach us. Possibly the lower river as I believe there have been fish stocked well downstream of us. I guess it could have travelled around from the Stour as I know they chucked loads in there a few years back. It would be interesting to see if there are any more similarly marked fish about. If you do come across one take detailed ID photographs to ensure its not the same fish.
Great spot John and thanks again for sending both sets of photos through.
Please excuse the shakes on the clips below, all new to me this hand held thermal stuff and I shake at the best of times, without staggering about in the dark! Ignore the times shown I have yyyyet to set the date etc.
I've recently had occasion to speak to a poacher who was active on a neighbouring water. As it wasn't on the Estate there was not a lot I could do other than to warn him should he decide to try our waters we will most definitely prosecute him. To give an idea of what he would look like the above short video is of an angler over 200m away and these modern thermals can read up to almost two miles!
I should perhaps add the guy in the clip is not a poacher, not that anyone is likely to recognise him. I'm just using him as an example of the technology available to us. The fact he appears to be mooning me is purely coincidental as it was pitch black and he was completely unaware of my presence.
They've got all sorts of other uses apart from spotting clowns hiding in the shrubbery. The clip above was whilst I was seeking to locate our beavers. One of which is hiding in the willow behind the aluminated Sandpiper. Beavers have the distinct advantage over poachers in that they are for the most part submerged and only their head shines out. What both of these clips illustrate is the world that only comes out to play after dark. The entire length of the river is alive with bats, literally thousands of them. If you look closely in the first clip you cans see them sparkling in the sky above the angler. In the second they are down close to the surface of the river that along with the numerous fish that were rising enjoying the massive hatch, were active along the many miles of river and carrier on the Estate. Whether the presence of so many bats over the river is normal, or because the surrounding farm land is baked hard, hence invertebrate unfriendly I can't say.
..............and to finish, a couple of butterflies. If you are of the opinion any white butterfly is a Cabbage White, look away now. The first shot show a Green Veined White perched on a clump of lichen. An unusual place to rest making for an attractive photo that I like and you have to suffer to find the fishy bits. The second one is one of our most common butterflies in the shape of a Meadow Brown. The meadows that surround the lakes have a good population of this particular species and they emerge over a long period. Hopefully, showing a resilience to the drought conditions that have decimated their favoured grasslands in the last few weeks.
Two from today's transect.
The first photo shows the willow that has fallen, as a rsult of high wind, in Park pool. The photo is slightly deceptive in that the tree has fallen toward the point from which I took the photo, foreshortening the actual length that lays in the pool. It was of a similar height the the tall willow immediately behind it, so it is a massive tree. I was intending to take the winch down and remove it but recent events have delayed the removal. The events in question is the extent of the beaver activity in what was the top of the tree laying nearest the camera. The second photo more clearly shows the extent of recent activity. I am leaving it to see how much of the tree our beavers willow chop up and process. Saving me the task! If they haven't made a reasonable fist of chopping it up come the winter I will pull it out.
A nice seatrout that looks as if a pike attack inflicted too much damage to survive. The damage can be seen above the anal fin where the clear inprint of the muzzle, teeth and all, can be seen.
I have been without the internet for several days and it has horrified me just how integral it has become to my life style. Everything now seems to reside in easily accessible files, except when they are not accessible! I won't bore you with how my conversations with my providers bot went, suffice to say I was not a happy bunny!
I can't lay the blame for my enforced isolation all at the door of the lack of internet as I spent one very enjoyable day chasing bass and bream about off Portland. I always enjoy the days out in the boat as it takes me completely away from the seemingly continuous demands of my work. I actually don't mind the occasional rough weather trip that reminds you just how insignificant humans are against the back-drop of deep water. As it turned out Saturday wasn't a "fluffy day", as one of the skippers put it on a previous trip when we were being bounced all over the boat. There's always plenty to see at Portland with the abundant birdlife and many species of fish that can be found in the race and the nearby "Shambles" sand bar. With nothing more taxing than waving a fishing rod about and leaning on the gunwale rail, watching coming and going of the migrants, as the Gannets, Shearwaters and gulls pass and the tuna spiral out of the water as they pursue the bass and mackerel. A good way to spend a day.
The lakes have continued to provide some excellent catches, the first being Tony playing what turned out to be a fourteen pound common. One of three doubles he managed ion a short evening visit. The sunrise was taken by Paul Roberts from "Birdhide" warning of inclement weather ahead. Not that it seemed to bother Paul who enjoyed a six fish visit including a brace of thirty plus specimens. The final shot is of the collection of spombs that I had occasion to turf out of my truck at the weekend. Probably not half of what I have removed from the trees around the lakes this season. I really must ask the carp guys why they keep chucking them in the trees?
Interesting shot that shows a massive crop of acorns this year. The weight of them is adding to the stress on the oak limbs, bending many almost to breaking point. If the oaks in the forest are similarly loaded it looks as if Alister's pannage pigs are going to have to play a very important role come September.
..........and finally. Brenda very kindly sent through this charming little clip of two of the four young Kingfishers they caught during the latest CES ringing visit.
The contrast between the baked hard, shallow soil paddocks and the rich, damp margins of the lake. The deeper rooted perenials of the margins include; hemp agrimony, fleabane, water mint plus purple and yellow loosestrife. The importance of these rich margins cannot be over emphasised, especially when the higher paddocks are baked to a crisp. To keep these margins so productive involves, clearing self-set willow and alder every autumn, to prevent them taking over. Labour intensive and of no great financial benefit but so important for the survival of so many species. Of course the other very important plant of the margins that requires annual management are the phragmites reedbeds. Brenda's long running warbler work clearly illustrates their importance, making their careful management worthwhile.
At a time when so many of our habitats are under threat from climate change, disturbance and mismanagement, the role of the river and lake owners and managers is vital. Clubs and fisheries across the country control thousands of miles of habitat corridors thaat are being sadly neglected. I repeatedly ask that fisheries that do not have the manpower or knowledge to safeguard them, enter into partnerships with the many bodies that do. As owners and managers you set the agenda, so please don't neglect the potential they offer.
Three of the visitors to the fleabane in the shape of the common blue, Green-veined White and a Clouded Yellow.
The Silver Y was hiding down amongst the cool, damp stems of the marginal plants.
Wonderful, a water review that has created a new Non-executive, talking shop. The new reulatory executive quango is almost guaranteed to comprise of the failed professional quango personnel of the fore runners! I guess when I have had time to read it properly and digest the content I'll see how it will impact the Avon.
The black ants were flying well today. Much to the delight of many in the bird world.
The low water continues to bite. Ibsley Pool is at the lowest I have ever seen it. From the extent of the freeboard you can see the drop in levels. The pool fishes best for salmon when the water level is six inches below the level of the field. The second shot shows an ancient hornbeam down in the park that has decided its had enough and is simply dying. The parched grass covers over three hundred acres of the park and I daresay the hornbeam will not be the last tree we lose this Summer.
The pro and cons of catching the smallest eel in Meadow Lake to follow!
There are two mysteries in the fishery that I find extremely frustrating. The first is why the carp anglers, fishing boilies, regularly catch very large eels, when I deliberately fishing for eels catch limitless numbers of small ones! I have tried large baits and been plagued by the small eels picking the bait up and dropping it. Small baits and I get small eels, up to four pounds or so. I guess I could go down the route of fishing fish meal boilies but you can guarantee I would get bothered by thumping great carp! The photos capture the spectacle of the full moon that was shining across the lake all night. I had plenty of time to enjoy the most magical of nights as I had a run about every twenty minutes, ensuring I didn't get any sleep.The middle shot the "Shed Bay" first thing in the morning, looking perfect. The final shot the huge amount of gear it took to catch a pound and a half eel and that didn't include a bivvy as I sat up all night.
The other mystery is just where, if they still exist, the five hundred crucian carp I have put in Meadow and Kings-Vincents over the previous two or three years have gone. They were put in up to ten inches in length, the Meadow fish were put in the heavily weeded lagoon, where they would have had plenty of cover. It has parallels with the eel fishing in that its impossible to use small baits, which are more likely to attract crucians, as the roach and rudd demolish them within seconds. As you will have seen previously I have been trying to locate them with the fish finder cameras that are now available. Aptly named "Roach TV" by "Pecks" as as soon as the camera hits the bottom it is surrounded by hundreds of roach and rudd mostly between two and ten ounces. Carp and tench are regularly seen and even the odd eel, just to rub salt in the wounds but no crucians, as yet. Its a strange problem to have on a fishery in that we simply have far too many fish!
Such sad times in the Levell household as this week we had to say goodbye to Anne's pony, Ashley. At the ripe old age of thirty one, I'm afraid his systems were failing and it was decided his quality of life was rapidly declining.
Those thirty one years have been a helter-skelter of emotions for Anne; affection, pride, wonder, enormous pleasure, worry and pain, the entire gamut. During his thirty plus years he provided everything that was ever asked of him and more.
Anne visited him everyday during those years that adds up to a massive commitment of both time and care. That commitment will leave a huge hole in Anne's life and it will understandably be sometime before matters are back on an even keel.
His very arrival on the scene all those years ago was not the expected means by which you acquire a pony. Anne was out riding, in the forest at Knaves Ash, on the Crow Hill to Burley Street road, with her closest friend, Brenda, when they came across a dead mare. Standing just a few meters away was a foal, less than a week old and looking totally lost and confused. Unable to catch him at that time they rode back to John Denning's, where they had ridden out from, to decide the next move.
John came back out with them to the mare to see if the three of them could manage to catch the foal, to save it from starving to death. Chasing was going to prove impossible so, in what might be described as a typical John Denning plan of action, he dived on it and held on! Having caught it they then had the task of getting a panicking foal the half mile back to the stables. I believe it was Brenda who drew the short straw and had the unenviable task of cajoling, dragging and cursing the little blighter down off the heath and across the road to John's yard. Little did they know at that time just what they had started.
The mare was registered to one of the Commoners who had no interest in the foal saying they could keep it for the cost of removing the dead mare. That was all well and good but taking on a week old orphan foal is some commitment. Brenda already had her hands full with her existing horses and it was agreed Anne would take on its care.
Fortunately, in sad coincidence, one of Liz Wright's Percheron brood mares had just days before lost a foal. Its not a given that a mare will adopt an orphan but it just had to be worth a try and Ashley, as he was now christened, was introduced to Liz's mare, Bob. Bob however had other ideas and was having nothing to do with being shut in a stable with a scrawny foal. She was an unbroken, unshod mare, having been out in the field her entire life. The following morning Bob was back in the field, having cleared the half stable door to regain her freedom. Liz wisely said that trying to stable Bob was unfair and Ashley would have to take his chances in the field. Amazingly once reunited in the field Bob immediately took him as her own, beginning the next chapter in Ashley's young life. It was often said of Ashley that he believed he was a Percheron, with his laid back approach to life.
Ashley as a foal alongside, Bob, his foster mum.
His early years once Bob had discharged her ward, by then was a strapping lad having had the best of starts began in the meadow alongside Terry Smith's mink farm. The harrowing tales of halter training and backing that Anne would tell me on her return from the field made me think perhaps this wasn't such a good idea. Fortunately, Brenda, with her vast experience was on hand as mentor and coach ensuring a safe and satisfactory conclusion to his lessons.
Training well underway for a dapple grey youngster.
The following few years saw more and more lessons and training. Brenda by then had her own land and Ashley was in permanent residence enjoying a lifestyle within Brenda's herd. His training followed the natural horsemanship route where he proved to be a quick learner with liberty and line work becoming second nature. Anne would ride out several times a week and the years flew by as their partnership matured.
During those intervening years regular camps in Brenda's field as friends would gather and take lessons from guest instructors or simply play games, as the ponies were put through their paces. Those friends all have in common the love of their ponies that are at the centre of their lives. Ashley had been at Anne's side throughout those decades. His passing is desperately sad but those precious memories and those lifelong friends will always be close by.
Always a quick learner, making the log look easy. Leslie, Anne, Brenda and Ricky at one of Brenda's camps. Riding out before dawn to watch the sunrise from the top of the Downs on Mid-Summer's Day
Meeting the next generation of the family.
White-letter Hairstreak. Hopefully the Lutece, Dutch Elm Disease resistent, elms that were planted in an effort to safeguard this population are now mature enough to attract them.
Awesome male tench, weighed at 7.14 a clean fish with no retained milt. Well fished Mark
The garden, doing its best to survive!
Roach TV. My latest attempt to find the crucians.
Roach TV, as Pecks named my latest attempt to track down the crucians.
Roach were not the only visitors to the film set.
A distant shot of two juvenile Spotted Flycatchers waiting for their parents with more food.
Despite having lost in the region of fifty swans to avian flu, we still have reasonable numbers on the river. There were about fifty birds in this group hopefully developing resistance to the illness that sadly remains rampant in the valley.
The Six-spot Burnet continue to hatch and drift across the meadows in search of trefoil. A Green-eyed Bee is a bonus addition to the burnet shot. The middle photo shows a recently emerged moth and f you look closely in the lower left quardrant of the shot you will see a couple of the papery cacoons they emerge from.
The Small Skipper is one of hundreds of shots of Skippers I take on each transect in an effort to ID Essex Skippers. As well as being rapid, erratic fliers, the high winds of late and the tall grass make getting ID shots a trcky business. They are almost impossible to identify without a photo and to add to the problems they have to be facing you to enable the ends of the antenna to be seen. In the case of the Small Skipper the ends are brown, with the Essex they are black.
Phil busy cleaning up the Hill.
Came across the interesting little group above as I walked Mockbeggar today. There were Comma, Red Admiral and Speckled Wood all trying to drink the leaking sap, from a damaged ash tree root, as a bunch of European hornets jealously protected the spring. One other visitor was the lovely looking tree wasp in the last shot. There are several different wasp that come under this species heading, I'm assured this one is (D. media) dolichovespula media.
Three more shots that caught my eye today. The first being those jealous hornets protecting their food source. I think the Comma at the bottom of the frame would do well to push-off as it looks as if he's been spotted. The middle shot shows a Six-spot Burnet. One of several that emerged today about the meadows. Third perhaps my favourite butterfly the Marbled White, showing the wonderfully psychedelic underwing.
If you have occasion to be near any large trees please be aware that during this heat wave there is an increased risk of mature trees dropping large limbs for no apparent reason. What may on external inspection appear healthy may house hidden fungal infection and rot. Many of these stately old trees are long past their sell by date and are struggling to maintain water pressure to the higher canopy. In an effort to correct any imbalance these old trees appear to self pollard to bring new growth back nearer the main trunk. In the last fortnight we have lost half a dozen major limbs and two or three entire trees have failed.
This is the first of Brenda's Cuckoos that has now fledged. I had previously posted the photo when still in the nest. Two of the four have now fledged and soon to become independent of their foster parents.
The first shot shows the gravel shoals that the recent high flow winters have created. Thousands of tons of gravel have been moved in recent years as the prolonged floods have become a regular occurrance. The movement of the gravel and the scouring of the channel have serious implications for redds and vital spawning weed beds. Also the prolonged flows risk flushing entire years classes of juveniles downstream and even completely out of the system. If, as would seem likely as climate changes become more obvious, we are to see these floods on a much more regular basis our species will have to adapt very quickly or disappear.
The weight of fruit on the Mirablle plums is causing branches to fail. Several of the trees have completely collapsed, which would seem to be their death knell. Seems odd that they are failing through a self inflicted surplus of fruit?
The third photo is of one of the isolated pools that now make up the Kings and Ashley Stream as the blocked channels dry out as the water levels drop. The thousands of juveniles that once inhabited these channels are now food for the Herons from the nearby heronry.
One of several Great Crested Grebe nests on the river this year.
The first shot shows some fishing gear left stuck on a snag by one of our poaching fraternity. Had a salmon taken that contraption it was almost certainly a death sentence. Double, barbed trebles on six pound line, just asking for a treble in top and bottom jaw and a snap off, which would almost be a certainty with six pound line. I suppose we just have to put it down to ignorance and the lack of enforcement by the EA and police.
On a far happier note the second shot shows Clint playing a very lively middle twenty. Always nice to turn up just as the action gets underway.
Kevin and Phil busy haymaking in the Lower Park. Less than a fortnight and we can start to cut the water meadows, which will make getting to and fro the river a great deal easier.
The tail of Ibsley Pool in desperate need of at least a foot of water. Similarly Middle Cabbage down to its bones. The third shot is of the Kings Stream hatch gates. Its deceptive as it looks as if there is a resonable amount of water in front of the gates. The water is almost static with just a trickle through the gates.
With Meadow Lake opening on the traditional start of the coarse fishing season I felt I should welcome the new season with the most classic of summer fish in the form of a tench. After dinner I headed for the lake in the hope of finding just such a fish. A red topped float, next to a lily pad, in four feet of water just a meter or so from the bank. Two grains of sweetcorn over a scattering of corn and pellets. The first hour proved frustrating as the roach homed in and took every bait I cast out. Eventually my target arrived and obligingly beat the roach to the bait. Producing the lovely olive green beauty above to welcome the new season.
Someone who welcomed the season in style was John Slader, who managed a twenty eight pound common on the fly. With the lake seemingly reluctant to give up many of its carp today an impressive start indeed. Well fished John and thanks for the photo. I did try and find one of the river members who might have provided a photo opportunity to welcome the new season on the river. Unfortunately of the two or three I spoke to no one managed a fish whilst I was there. I guess I'll have to catch up with a river shot over the coming days.
With the river down to its bones in most places it very odd to see the North Marsh remains flooded. In recent weeks the water has backed up into the marsh as weed begins to grow and the gravel shoal downstream of the hucklesbrook confluence restricts the channel. I have the downstream hatches as wide as I dare without risking harming downstream channels. The weed doesn't appear overly thick, so I guess the gravel shoal is behind the backed up water. Historically the gravel that was flushed down the Hucklesbrook was removed and added to the nearby green road. The chances of the regulators allowing that practice to relieve the problem are nil. It would seem some water level juggling may be required. I guess there is an upside in that the waterfowl and waders love the place, with numbers far higher that might normally be expected at this time of year. Every cloud and all that!
Those of you that know me, or are regular readers of the diary, will know our garden is little larger than a postage stamp. Its not so much a garden as a collection of random ideas that appealed at the time. This morning, for no apparent reason, it seemed odd to me that several of those ideas would have involved seating and for such a small garden we seem to have maximised places to sit down. We have a breakfast table and chairs under the fig tree. Reading chairs under the lemon and the olive and raised table and chairs at the top of the garden to watch the antics of the Swifts. We also have an oak bench but as I have that covered in plants at the moment I guess I can't include that in the seating audit. It seems a little excessive but I wouldn't know which ones we could do away with, so I guess we just have to keep them all.
To end on just a shot of the masses of wild cherries that cover the ground under the trees this year. The blackbirds and thrushes that usually clear them up have had to admit defeat as thousands remains scattered in all directions. Gin makers take note, it would seem that this year is also going to be a bumper sloe crop as the bushes are festoon with thousands of them.
Darrel saved the day, sending through a shot of a nice opening day double and news of a good brace of chub in the early hours of the morning. Thanks for the report and photos Darrel, well fished.
Warnings about the extent of the erosion we have suffered, due to high water and the sudden change to low flows, are becoming an annual issue with the frequency of the winter floods we experience these days. At several places over the length of the Estate we have seen large sections of of the banks collapse, leaving great lumps of clay littering the river bed. Don't try using the style in the first shot, its guaranteed to end in disaster! We will get over to sort out the styles on this stretch in the near future. Be careful and just be aware that the banks are in many areas unstable and under-cut
In the third shot I tried to photograph the carp that are gathering to spawn in the Back Lagoon. All too often in the past they have timed their spawning to coincide with the opening days of the season on the lake. Should they be spawning on Monday, the Back Lagoon will be closed, to give them some peace and quiet to get on with their business.
I've been continuing with my strimming and clearing in readiness for the coarse season. One spot I cleared up was the head of the tulip tree we hauled out onto the island at the tail of the weirpool. With the branches hauled out and cut up it seems we now have a swim out on the island. Certainly an interesting swim during low water times such as we are now experiencing at the moment. The flow is reversed as it circulates in the pool and in front of the island heads back towards the hatches. Its not that easy to access, so watch your step as you cross the ditch that I filled with the cut up logs but once your out there its quite comfortable. If you do fish the swim, please let me know how you got on.
I have spent the weekend and most of last week strimming in readiness for the opening of the coarse season on the river and Meadow Lake.
I did manage to get to walk my transect at lunchtime today. Not exactly ideal weather but there were reasonable numbers of butterflies about. What was noticeable were the number of bumblebees working the bramble flower that has just started to come into bloom. There were literally thousands enjoying the flow of nectar the recent wet weather has produced.
We have numerous anthills about the lakes. We also have lots of rabbits, which should translate into lots of Green Woodpeckers. We are told the rabbits keep the growth on the anthills eaten down allowing the woodpeckers to dig out the ant eggs. For several years that seemed to be working well, with several pairs of Green woodpeckers nesting around the lakes. A year or two ago all the Green woodpeckers seemed to disappear. The fourth element that was added to the mix, were a pair of Goshawks. Unfortunately for Green woodpeckers they seem to figure highly on the Goshawks diet, with the inevitable result.
Brenda has been busy with her warbler study and her nest records. The first photo shows a brood of Bullfinch that Brenda managed to ring and that later successfully fledged. The second photo, one of three Cuckoo chicks she has found in her warbler nests.
These are a couple of views of the lake Mark sent me as he enjoyed the wonderful setting we are privileged to share. Certainly fish are a bonus when we are surrounded with such beauty. Thanks for sending them over Mark, they really do capture the magic of the lakes.
Please be aware the water temperature recorded at Knappmill at 09:00am exceeds the permitted limit for salmon fishing. Please ensure you check the water temperature that can be found in the header of this site under; KNAPPMILL (WATER TEMPERATURE).
You will have to accept the conditions and click on continue to read the spread sheet. Also please remember at Somerley we stop at 18 degrees (NOT 19)
I should just add that the times given on the site are in GMT, 08:00am is the time that is critical for the salmon temperature during BST. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
The two fabulous shots above were kindly sent over by Brenda, who had been out on the lakes on a CES ringing visit. The dramatic looking bird is a Water Rail, the first the Wessex ringers have manage to catch and ring. Those of you who fish regularly will no doubt have heard their strange cry, or more correctly scream, from deep in the reed beds. They sound as if they are being murdered. Brenda tells me that is not the only association with murder as this bird did its best to impale anyone who went near it whilst they were ringing it.
Lovely photos Brenda thanks for sending them through, a rare sight in such close-up.
A beaver kit, spotted near the lodge today.
Now there's a thing! I guess congratulations to Bertie and Bertina are called for. As well as being the cutest little blighters it also answers the question of how many beavers we have on the Estate. Well, it means we had at least two.
The orchids are looking well in the damper ground closer to the lake shore. Once you get twenty or thirty meters from the bank the ground remains bone dry and rock hard. The few hours of rain we have enjoyed has hopefully saved the day as the clover and trefoil has shown a glimmer of regrowth. We will need a top-up every few days if the meadows are to be saved.
The butterflies and day flying moth numbers have picked up a little in recent days. The first two photos above are of Five-spot Burnet, whether they are Five-spot or Narrow Bordered Five-spot, I'll leave to the experts. The Small Heath is easier to ID.
If you care to delve back into the previous entries of years gone by you will find the entry where we removed the stick from a very large Tulip Tree that had fallen ino the pool. At the time we simply cut the top wood off and winched the stick across the pool for removal to Kingsley's sawmill. I had hoped the intervening floods would have smashed the top wood up and swept it away but it was having none of it. After a couple of years with me chipping away at the branches that had made fishing the left hand side of the pool unfishable I had to admit defeat and resort to heavy machinery once more. Kevin and Phil brought our winch up and we set up on the opposite bank to where we hauled the stick out and set about dragging the sunken topwood out clear of the pool. We certainly managed to get the vast majority of the branches out and they can be seen piled on the island on the left bank. I won't go so far as to say its clear of snags but hopefully the next flood will now be able to deal with anything that remains.
I look forward to having a go myself for the perch that live in the deep water infront of the island. I'll be keen to see how it fishes in the coming season and would appreciate news, of any species, from anyone who pays it a visit.
Manny very kindly sent over a frame grab of his latest re-enactment. A snapshot of a Mesolithic encampment, as they travel the river highway. The braided channel and tangled willow was the nature of the valley they would have to have contended with. All being well there will be more photos and tales to follow.
Strangely a friend contacted me only yesterday to suggest the dugout, which has been almost a year in the making down at the lakes, would make a good prop for an ancient history film set. It wore my fingers to the bone hollowing out that trunk with a stone axe! Job done Michael, great minds and all that................
Yesterday afternoon I walked several of the carriers looking for a breech that is causing problems dividing the flow between the various streams. One carrier I walked was the Penmeade that back in 2019 the Wessex Rivers Trust managed a project that involved turning a canalised, over straightened channel, into a more eco friendly stream. The shots above show how the habitat has improved with slacks, shallows and reed fringed depths. It now provides wonderful habitat for a myriad creatures that previously failed to adapt to the unrelenting flow of the straighten channel.
The first two photos above are of the Blashford Carrier that back in 2019 was a silt filled dry ditch. The beautiful little stream now crosses the patchwork of grazing and hay meadows bubbling with life as it heads south to rejoin the Main Avon channel downstream. Its astonishing to see the shoals of fry and yesterday as I walked the stream a prolific Mayfly hatch. None of which existed five years ago. The third shot shows the baked mud of the watermeadows just fifty meters away from the streams. Mud that resulted from deposited silt, after the floods of last Winter had subsided.
Dancing drakes in the shelter of the field edge
Remaining bright despite the low water condition we are currently experiencing
It looks as if the cattle have managed to encourage the Woodside Carrier to breakout.
I did find the breech I was looking for, on a different carrier several hundred meters from the Penmeade and the Blashford streams. A job that will take a little planning by the look of things, if we are to avoid getting stuck in the now softened banks.
Probably not the most likely pool to produce a salmon under the present conditions. Having said that the recent trickle of 2SW fish all had to come through this pool and it is now pleasingly fishable.
A contradiction when it comes to the low conditions on teh river are the still flooded meadows on the North Marsh. The place remains a magical wetland with Lapwing, Redshank and Gadwall all enjoying the high water. I'm not certain of the cause of the retained waterlevel but my suspicions are the works to correct the channel realignment that occurred a few years ago. The prolonged floods of subsequent years have seen a considerable volume of the introduced and loosened gravel swept into new shallows downstream of the marsh conflence with teh main river. Gravel mobility is somewhat of a lottery when it comes to major instream works. Trying to predict or manage such gravel movement is all part of riverine management. Just what the EA or NE make of the changes would be an interesting discussion.
At least the goings-on in the bird world provide an ongoing interest, as the salmon fishing is still struggling, to put it mildly. The two very poor shots above are the result of not having the camera and having to make do with the mobile. A Goosander and a Mandarin leading their off-spring to safety.
The maiden voyage and it floats!
I wouldn't say its the most sea worthy vessel I've ever set sail in but keeping ones head above water is quite an achievement!
The most depressing part of the day was a visit to Mockbeggar where the meadows are already burning off as a result of the lack of rain. The shallow rooted vetches and daisies are already wilting and dying. The shallow topsoil over gravel retains no moisture what so ever and it is already too late to save the spring flowers. Hopefully the deeper rooted bramble, thistles and ragwort will provide sufficient nectar and pollen to enable the pollinators to survive. It does not bode well for the Summer.
Spot the Stork. It is in fact sat in the top of the Cedar of Lebanon, centre of shot, down in the Lower Park. Its been about the Estate for over a week, presumeably one of the Knepp Estate birds. Unfortunately its not ringed so we are unable to discover its history.
Lots going on with the nesting now in full swing. Many of the incubating birds are keeping a very low profile to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Those that aren't hiding away seem to be lazing in the almost constant sunshine, after their early morning sing-song. I put up the shot of the Whitethroat as we don't see that many about the Estate. This year I recently came across two very vocal males, fingers crossed they are moving in. The Cattle Egret are similarly none too common on the Estate. The photo captures five of the nine birds that were feeding alongside the steers. The peregrine is a pleasing sight after the sad news concerning the sudden loss of both birds that were nesting on the Christchurch Priory. No cause of the loss has been released as yet. Hopefully the pair with us will remain in good health.
A bonus clip captured by Mike Stead, whilst out on the river looking for a salmon.
What a lovely clip, thanks for sending it through Mike. The salmon fishing may be desperately hard, under the current low water conditions, there are however advantages of being in the valley at this time of year to compensate for the lack of fish. The added charm of the clip is Mike trying to second guess where the little blighters were going to appear next.
Congratulations Alex, an absolutely perfect 2SW fish. I was on hand to do the honours with the net and it made my day just slipping the net under it. A just reward for your and Jamie's six hour round trip to visit us.
The Starlings are back in their usual nest site at Ibsley Bridge. There are two holes in the electricity pole, the brood are in the lower cavity, ten or eleven feet up. Quite a day for the birdlife, as well as the Starlings a Stonechat must have a bood there somewhere the fuss she is kicking up. The second brood of Goosander in the weirpool, Oyster Catcher and Little Ringed Plover on the gravel decks and still huge numbers of Swifts feeding on the hatch, over the A338 beside Ibsley Water.
Out on his travels, in recent days our beaver has moved quarters to higher up the river. Just how long he stays up this end is anybodies guess, as he seems very mobile throughout his territory.
Congratulations to Chris Jefford on the capture of a twenty pound fish from the bridge pool. Taken I believe on the increasingly popular technique, the upstream weighted nymph. Thanks to Paul G who arrived on the scene to take the photos.
3rd May
Thanks to Steve Battle for sending through the first two photos above. The first captures a group of spawning carp over at Mockbeggar. The second is of a 4.07 eel that picked up a bait intended for the carp. Now they are spawning fishing will be erratic for a few days as they have other matters on there mind.
The third shot is of the dugout that has been sitting in the first car park for months. The fact it floats is quite an achievement in itself. I now have to either sink it or fill it with water to expand all the cracks in an effort to stop it taking on water. It will also hopefully persuade the ant colony that has taken to eating the rotting wood in an effort to take up residence in the bottom of the boat, to leave.
I hope the Mesolithic re-enactment Manny has in mind doesn't involved prolonged boating! The delicate nature of the craft doesn't bode well for long exposure to water if heavily loaded.
Alex Cheregi sent me the video of the spawning chub that he came across whilst out seeeking a salmon. Interestingly Alex tells me it was after the opening of the coarse season last June that he spotted chub spawning last year. Mixed-up hardly seems to cover the vagaries of the weather this year. Thanks for sending the clip through Alex.
I'm sure many of you will already be readers of Hugh's blog. For those of you who haven't found it yet, the link above is for the Swift appreciation society amongst the readers. Hugh has written a piece on his blog, capturing the amazing life history of these wonderful birds. I'm sure readers who are not so into Swifts will find plenty of other interesting entries to keep you amused and amazed.
The first shot shows a shoal of large bream that are gathered up in readiness for spawning. The second photo is one of our next generation of carp that have found a sheltered spot behind a reedbed to sunbath.
Barbel on the shallows busy with their spawning. Much earlier than we might expect to see the barbel on the shallows, hopefully the longer growing period for the juveniles will see a good survival through next winter.
I would guess that fish is over the magical fifty pound barrier. Perhaps we'll never know for certain if she spawns before the start of next season! Personally I hope she does as I hate to see these massive fish retain spawn. Retained spawn sadly only ends in one way, with the loss of the fish. I should explain the scummy, white mass covering the surface is willow down that blows in great sheets across thye lakes.
The colony of honey bees that took over one of my Mandarin boxes last year looks like it has survived the winter.
You don't have to look as far as the obscenity of American politics, or the insanity of Ukraine and Gaza, to see intolerance and self interest in full flow. Basic animal behaviour can be witnessed a great deal closer to home.
Last week I took the covers off the Swift boxes, as returning birds had been seen circling the house. No sooner had the covers been removed than the local male starling population began to lay claim to them. Not content with having four broods almost ready to fledge on the other side of the house the males took up station to intercept any Swifts attempting to enter the boxes. A week previously they had been happily sharing the workload of feeding their demanding brood, now the macho, this is my patch, stay out! They spend the entire day sat at the top of close by trees or the TV aerials where they can dive bomb the Swifts attempting to enter the boxes. They are on opposite sides of the house yet they feel the need to make demands and lay down conditions for gaining access to the boxes. Just like the clown and the piggy eyed assassin there is simply no rational explanation for their action other than self interest. We have four pairs of Swifts back already, which is a week earlier than usual. I just hope the inhabitants of all the boxes can settle down and live harmoniously together.
The woodpigeons are quite content to live in peace with all other species, they don't seem to have an aggressive bone in their bodies. We have three pigeons nests, the first being in a magnolia, there is also opne in the middle of the apple tree blossom and one in the wisteria. Whilst they may not be territorial they don't shine out as the sharpest tools in the box. They shove a few twigs on a branch and look surprised when their eggs fall through the scant trellis work. I guess it takes all sorts.
A double Bank Holiday weekend with lots of people in all directions, many where they shouldn't have been. What were missing, were the salmon fishermen. I was surprised how few rods there were about over the four days. An added frustration were the four salmon that were dropped. The overcast conditions and drizzle seems to have brought a run of fish to us. It just remains for one to actually be landed!
Despite the lack of salmon on the bank there was the consolation of one or two fine trout. Thanks for the photo Oli, if not the targeted species certainly a welcome distraction.
A panoramic view, looking south, across the North Marsh.
It would seem I well and truly put the kibosh on the rain in my last entry. Almost as soon as I wrote the entry the decent rain was replaced by drizzle that continued, on and off, for the forecast sixteen hours. Midday today and the Forest streams hadn't budged and the gound had soaked up what rain did fall. I believe that could be classed as the fishermans curse. I should have known better that to count my chickens!
Despite the fact the river has failed to rise and the salmon have failed to fill the river, the valley is not a bad place to spend a day. I'm sure there are one or two fish quietly heading upstream and there is always something to catch your eye whilst you seek that elusive denizen. The Marsh Marigold are putting on a brave show to help keep up the spirits.
Things are looking up! Its raining as I write this and forecast to continue for the next sixteen hours. Added to that, after spotting his tracks I have been checking the cage trap for over a month in hope of catching the big lad above. Today he paid us a return visit and we certainly stopped his farting in church!
Dark clouds on the horizon, bring it on. We are forecast rain tomorrow, fingers crossed for a deluge.
With the drying winds of the past month even the North Marsh has at long last drained. When I say drained in many areas it remains a muddy, weed filled swamp. After the shock of seeing the impact of the flooding on the plantlife, the next thing to catch the eye is the state of the green road that runs across the marsh. Most of the gravel surface has disappeared into thye depths and the soil that previously covered the gravel has washed away. Finding the time to repair and length of the road seems unlikely, certainly in the foreseeable future. The middle shot is a passing Osprey that drifted across the marsh to see what I was up to. He didn't seem that impressed as he circled back to the spiny oak from where he had watched my progress along the river bank. Finally, on the right, one of our swan nests. It will be interesting to see how many of our mature pairs have survived the avian flu and are well enough to breed. I will keep a record of the nests I find this year to see if we get anywhere near the usual twenty or so pairs.
The brood above is one of well over a dozen pairs we have dotted about the Estate. They are good parents and their numbers will increase dramatically over the next year or two. The bird news I actually wanted to record is that several Buzzards in the valley seem to have succumbed to avain flu. One corpse has been confirmed as having died from the disease and there are several other reports of dead birds from neighbouring properties. I'm not sure how many of our pairs that we have on the Estate, somewhere in the region of twenty would seem close, will be lost remains to be seen. Hopefully the birds from territories that do not include areas of the valley will escape exposure to the disease.
They seem to be missing the point here. It doesn't come as much of a surprise to hear that the Avon has a very high bacterial load. The message that those that choose to swim in it may be risking their health isn't exactly new. The key word is "choose" if you choose to ignore the warnings and come down with some ghastly infection, it was a self inflicted condition. The creatures that inhabit the river do not get this choice. They have to endure the pathogens, bacterial infections and viruses we send them without choice or respite. If we are serious about protecting our rivers and their ecology, the priorities should change from public drinking water and bathing water criteria, to riverine ecology determinants.
I spent a few hours today tidying up around Ibsley Bridge. One of the sections I strimmed out was the bank that covers the circulating water in the weirpool. Its not that this is a recognised pool, its just that it appealed to me as an interesting piece of water. Under the current conditions of bright conditions, north winds and low flows, the fish are likely to be reluctant to move and the few that have entered the river are likely to be holding up in the deeper water. The section of circulating water should, in theory, be the perfect place for them to await the arival of low pressure and a freshet of water. The bank is a little tricky but if you fancy a challenge spend half an hour seeking the holy grail of salmon lies.
Whilst on the subject of difficult conditions I will put the March figures for fish entering the river as sent out by the EA last week. I believe there were just fourteen fish passing the counter, even less than February! Whether this low passage can be attributed to the rubbish conditiones we are experiencing or there are other factors I can't say. All I can say is we are desperate need of a freshet of water and a few cloudy days. Not just us fishermen, I should add. The arable farmers are holding their breath that the spring cereals will survive the lack of rain and the wild flowers will be experiencing drought conditions if this dry period continues for another fortnight. The soil moisture deficit must be rocketing,k which does not bode well for the Summer ahead.
Desperately disappointing salmon numbers entering the river during March.
Its not only fish that head upstream to spawn as millions of grannom sedge flies pour up over the spillway on their upstream migration. Don't have the audio too high as the A338 runs alongside and the phone has picked up the racket. The upstream migration of all riverine creatures is a natural mechanism to preserve the species in an effort to prevent it being flushed out of the system. The migration runs as far as conditions permit and as the eggs and larvea are flushed downstream, the result should be the original holding areas of the species are repopulated. This is where man's ill considered interventions all too often end up buggering up the natural processes of the river, weed cutting, dredging, contaminated discharges, barriers to passage, the list is endless but no less deadly.
Mallard are one of very few indigenous species that feed on the grannom hatch.
The gulls hammer the hatch. Whilst indigenous to the county, they are not indigenous to the river valley and their presence has an unbalancing impact, similar to man's bungled efforts. What is more frustrating from a riverine perspective is that the presence of gulls is encourage by the supposed conservation trusts as they make every effort to get the gulls to nest inland on the islands out in the disused gravel pits. The impact on the river is of little concern, "out of sight - out of mind".
A couple of other shots that appealed to me today. The first being Harbridge Church across the watermeadows, taken over Ibsley Pool. The kingcups looking glorious on on the meadows. The second the obligatory butterfly in the shape of a Peacock feeding on the blossom of the bird cherries over the lakes.
Less than a month ago you needed wellies to cross these meadows. Now after the NE winds have sucked all the moisture from the land the watermeadows have for the most part been topped and rolled. Trying to guess our weather is a pretty hopeless task these days.
Having spent the best part of the day strimming nettles I thought I should at least put some of them to good use. A bucket full of fresh tips provided the starter for dinner this evening.
A nice shot to finish on, Martin with a 30+ common as I dropped in on the lakes today. Great result and perfect timing.
The middle and the lower Ashley Bends. I put them up to complete the entry I added yesterday. This lower end of the fishery doesn't get the attention it deserves. There are always fish tucked up under the deep outside bends. Presenting a fly to them is the difficulty in such deep water.
Not such a pleasing sight. Resulting from the choked inception I put on here the other day, the sorry state of the Kings Stream. One gate open on the Kings, Ashley Streams division, in an attempt to apportion the flow between the two. Unfortunately fifty percent of Sweet FA, is still sweet FA. Still, lifeless, silt choked pools that should be full of fry and older juveniles. The Kings Stream is statutory main river, unfortunately other than being a title accorded it on paper the protection it receives is like the flow FA. Statutory main ditch is a more accurate description.
We are facing the perfect storm when it comes to looking after our rivers. The regulators are completely starved of funds from Central Government yet refuse to admit they are unfit for purpose, unable to regulate the required work on the river other than those endeavouring to do the job on the ground filling in multiple forms to do their job for them.
These endless forms result from what is deemed the best management practices based on the best available scientific evidence. Unfortunately the best available science is out-dated, poor or non-existent. The available science is in many cases decades old, resulting from studies that were completed long before the climate changes and pollution our rivers face today were taken into account or even recognised. The lack of funding has meant meaningful research is no longer undertaken. All to often replaced by statistically irrelevant, pseudo scientific dabbling, posing as sound, scientific research.
On the ground, when attempting to deal with the impact of floods and droughts that we are now experiencing on a yearly basis, we are hamstrung by the dogma and inflexibility of regulators that do not understand the complexity of the situations we face.
Just when the management of the regulators will tell the political holders of the purse strings that they are unable to do their job, god only knows. The treasury don't give a sod, the politicians are more than happy to support a toothless bulldog and the tiers of management are solely concerned with maintaining the status quo ensuring their jobs. Who picks up the tab? You guessed it, the river.
Above the weirs, where Pauls fish came from yesterday. Just downstream of the scruffy willow on the left the pool opens out into a more easily fished section. Fish come up either weir and drop into this shady area to rest.
Ashley Bends are looking extremely fishy, make sure you pay them a visit when you are next on the river. Don't forget to fish all the way down to Dockens, which was looking equally fishy today.
Congratulations to Paul on landing a beautiful twenty pound class Avon Springer. Pleasing to see this fish come from above the weirs, where very few rods fish. Well done Paul and well fished, reward for all your effort.
As a change from clearing pools and strimming banks, today I spent the greater part of my time walking the fishery to inspect the impact of the winter high water. Now that the water levels have dropped back and the water is back withing the banks this morning I was able to walk the river for the first time in months. The second shot shows one of the iron bank stays that now protrudes some four feet out into the river. At some point I will have to repair that erosion to ensure the bank of the perched channel doesn't breach. My walk started at the lakes I and walked south down the Dockens to Ringwood. Its astonishing just how quickly this north easterly wind had drawn the water out of the meadows. Areas that a fortnight ago were a quagmire were comfortably walkable in wellingtons today. There remain pockets of wet ground and the odd splash and these are proving popular with the grey herons, egrets and snipe, as the vast expanse of feeding that was previously available to them quickly shrinks and disappears. Very noticable were the eroded bays where the geese have been coming and going over the last six months. The impact of five or six hundred geese, clambering in and out of the river every day for six months is surprisingly severe. What in many cases might be conssidered stock damage can quite easily be identified as goose and swan activity. Unless Mark's cattle have grown claws attached to the ends of their hooves. The vertical grooves visible in the third shot above are the claw marks as the birds strive to get purchase on the slippery mud.
One of the main reason for my walk was to determine the flow that is currently in the carriers. Now the river is back within its banks I can now directly control the volume of water entering the carriers. The flows remain very high and I will have to reduce them to avoid the ground being poached alongside the channels, when the grass is sufficiently plentiful allowing the stock back on the meadows.. This reduction in flow has to be achieved over a week or two to avoid and sudden changes in water level that may effect nesting wildfowl and waders. The old willow pollard in the first photo imeediately above shows signs of considerable beaver activity. If you look closely several of the branches have been gnawed off well above the current water level. This activity must have taken place at the height of the flooding to allow the beaver to reach the level where he, or he, was able to remove the branches.
Lots going on in the valley as the breeding season for all the animals gets into full swing. The kites and the ravens are busy either nest building, in the case of the kites, or feeding their young on the scavenged afterbirth in the lambing fields. The harriers have established their territories and are guarding them from interlopers that may accidently happen upon their chosen site. The Goosander are sitting, with at least three nests in hollows close to the river and their non breeding siblings await the arrival of the broods to help in their rearing. One other early brood that would seem to have hatched is one of the woodlark pairs, with both parents busily carrying food back and forth to their new arrivals.
I have just measured my mornings exercise on Google Earth and it would seem I have walked in the region of five miles. From Blashford down to Ringwood, back up the main channel to Ibsley, before heading back to the car at Blashford following the route of one of the carriers. It may seem a long way but its an easier day and considerably more enjoyable than swinging a strimmer at the rapidly growing margins of the salmon pools.
This afternoon I walked around one of the lakes that I know to be a distance of a mile and a half. The lakes were equally busy with the sunshine bringing out the butterflies and bees, making for a wonderful comparison with the wet grey days of the winter just passed.
A warm, sunny day allowed John to get the fly rod out again and tempt one of the basking carp.
John, making light work presenting a fly to a carp.
A clip of John playing a carp that was probably a scraper double.
Two interesting ducks can be heard and seen in the background. Once a rare sight about the Estate they are becoming frequent breeders these days.
As the water levels drop the Kings Stream inception becomes ineffective through being choked with the gravel, swept in by the high winter flows in the main channel. The water level will continue to drop and ten thousand square meters of wonderful riverine habitat will dry out. Spawning sites and juvenile populations will be lost, yet again. We have offered to resolve this without cost to the public purse, however bureaucracy or bullshit, call it what you will, prevents it happening. That about sums up the state of our riverine protection, the well being of the river doesn't matter a jot, as long as the paperwork is complete and all the boxes are ticked. That's the polite version, I could be a great deal more descriptive in my frustration at the failings of our regulators.
This is a first for me in March. The Painted Lady above was basking in the early morning sunshine up at Hucklesbrook this morning. Has she over wintered this side of the channel, or is she an early arrival from the Atlas Mountains? Considering we have been experiencing north winds for weeks, I favour the first idea.
Manny sent over the shot above from one of his cameras that is looking out for our Beaver. This shot almost deserves a thought bubble coming up from the otter as it looks at the activities of her new neighbour.
The bright conditions and north east wind have been making fishing very difficult in recent days. Despite the difficulties, John did have a few hours on Kings-Vincent a day or two ago and managed three nice bream. Bites were few and far between and no roach and rudd seemed to be feeding.
Today John switched his attention to Mockbeggar and did manage to find the rudd and roach feeding, which hopefully bodes well for the coming weeks.
Thankfully, after such a grey and damp winter the signs of Spring's arrival are picking-up. There are many signs that are making a welcome appearance such as the first brimstone butterfly, the toads in the wildlife pond in the back garden, the joy of the first primroses, Sand Martins heading north up the river valley and of course the first Cuckoo.
Perhaps the clearest and most welcome sign of all is the appearance of Brian on the bank. You just know Spring has sprung and warmer days are with us a long last. Good to see you Brian and no, you don't have to have your photo on the membership card, I just needed a shot for the diary.
Does it come as any surprise that the issues raised in the article above are deliberate government policy. Its a good article highlighting the disgraceful behaviour of the water companies and those supposedly entrusted with protecting the environment and societies welfare.
Too bright to go fishing so I decided checking out the activity on the North Marsh would be time better spent. I parked up just north of the bridge and headed north along the side of the marsh to the Hucklesbrook Stream. The Marsh remains flooded over seventy five percent of its area, making it one of the few remaining wet lands in the valley. The wildfowl and waders are now taking full advantage of the conditions and the entire area is covered in birdlife.
A glimpse of the marsh with several hundred Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Curlew and the odd Green Sandpiper. Add several hundred Wigeon, SHoveler, Pintail, Teal, Mallard, plus Grey heron, Little and Great Whiote Egret. Lots more to add with the swans, geese, coot, Reed Bunting and Cettis it would take hours to count them all.
Just a fraction of the wildlife and waders present today on the marsh. A perfect habitat that has been carefully managed by the estate for decades. Recent wet winters have taken the control of the water levels out of our hands, however the value of the habitat remains undeminished. Had we continued to run a dairy herd on these meadows, as had been the historical usage up until the 1980's, none of this wonderland would exist. Although, had we continued to run a dairy herd the land would have been considerably more valuable to the estate. Certainly under the current Defra policies, that rewards landowners to selling the phosphate/nitrate off-setting for millions of pounds. Landowners that had ignored the needs of nature for decades are now rewarded for stopping their polluting habits. Or in the case of one or two practices the polluting habits of the practices that had been denied as polluting by the landowners and the regulators for decades. Only to come clean and admit their polluting ways when government policy dangled huge rewards. As for the landowners that acted responsibly in preserving the ecological value of the land, tough! Neither the reulators or the government could give a toss. It had to be some kind of urban halfwit came up with that policy.
The beaver didn't need to completely gnaw through the trunk, a squall delivered the coup de grace. Oddly Manny and I had walked beneath the tree just minutes earlier and heard the crash as the tree hit the ground behind us.
How to cheer up a riverkeeper? You take a page out of Richard Kingston's book and catch a twenty plus Springer, hooray! Richard was fishing with friend, Patrick Banks, when he found our second Springer of the season. After such a long spell of cold bright conditions the drop in pressure and the overcast conditions were perfect for a result today. I'm sure Richard's fish is not alone, hopefully the next few days will see more fish grace the bank. Congratulations Richard and many thanks for the photo.
I put this frame grab that Manny kindly sent over to allow a better view of these amazing little ducks. My distant shot failed to do justice to the amazing plumage of these birds. Whilst not indigenous I don't believe they detract from the native bird population and they certainly bring a plash of vivid colour to the rivers and lakes.
This is a second frame grab from Manny. It's not the beaver activity that is of interest but the smaller rodent scuttling about in the background. One of the apparent side effects of getting rid of the mink population is the explosion of the rat population. Now the river is dropping back where ever there is exposed soft mud, there are tracks from rats. Not just isolated signs but tracks seem to be the length and breaths of the valley. It remains to be seen what impact such a large rat population has on the ground nesting and hollow tree nesting birds.
The tree in the photo fell down this afternoon when a gust of wind was just too much for it to bear. I shall leave it for a week or two to see what our beaver makes of his new food supply. If you are fishing Park Pool, on the right bank, the track through to Coomber is blocked.
A wonderful day to welcome the official start of Spring. With temperatures in the high teens the sigh of relief from the valley was almost audible. Bird song everwhere and butterflies drifting along tracks and glades in number higher than I have ever seen at this time of year. The wood duck photo shows three of six mandarin drakes that were warming themselves in the early morning sunshine. Just as I was about to take the photo a mandarin duck passed and three of the drakes set off in hot pursuit.
This Black-tailed Godwit flock has been about in the valley for several days. It was a WeBS day today and I am pleased to report that they were still with us this morning to be recorded on the count. I do have a digital count of them and there are 866 in the main flock. There are one or two other smaller flocks that come and go making a count in the region of a thousand birds at its maximum. They lift off when ever a harrier or one of the eagles go over, making a wonderful light reflecting spectacle as they twist and turn to confuse any potential attacker.
Loafing Lapwing were also about in good numbers, as were Snipe and several Green Sandpiper.
The final day of the river coarse season began with one of the hardest frosts of the year. Add bright sunshine and conditions looked grim. I later heard that there were some good bags of chub landed, which made that early start worth it. Overall its been another classic Avon season with some wonderful fish gracing the net. We saw pike to thirty four pounds, barbel over eighteen and several seven pounds plus chub. There's not a lot more we can ask of a fishery. There are one or two very special captures indeed, if I get the okay, I will tell a tale or two when time permits.
The early anglers were not the only ones who had to endure the cold start. The lambs are arriving thick and fast and this morning the two in the first shot came into the world during a below zero frost. Cold isn't the enemy of lambs, wet is the real killer. As soon as the ewe has licked them clean and they have had their fill of colostrum, in their first feed from her, they soon dry out and become the gambling lambs we associate with Spring days.
Wilst the river has shut for the coarse anglers the lakes remain open. Meadow has been fishing very slowly in recent days, the 39.14 common above, caught by Karl, being about the only fish in recent days. Having said that, we always look to the arrival of the warmer weather and longer daylight hours to trigger the fish into feeding more freely. Fingers crossed this northerly wind and frost clears off and we have a chance to do a spot of more angler friendly fishing. Thanks for the photo Karl. Cracking looking fish under difficult conditions, well fished.
Sunset across Blashford Pool as I walked back to the truck this evening after an hour with the rod. "Walked back to the truck" doesn't actually describe the return from the river. Blashford probably remains the most difficult pool to access, apart from Hucklesbrook of course. The area that wasn't flooded up to a foot deep, had cloying mud to the same depth in places. Once on the bank be very careful where you put your feet as there are several very deep runnels that have been scoured out providing a sudden drop for the unwary. Allow the mud disturbed as you wade down the bank to clear before moving your feet. Certainly not a pool for the faint hearted at present.
Having said all that, the river did fish very well. My T18 set-up was a little too heavy for the shallows just before the bend as it dragged the bed on several occasions. Overall the heavy set-up was probably best as much of the pool is deep and quick.
A great deal of the approach remains seriously flooded.
At least one beaver seems to have become a little more active in recent nights.
Our first of the year. Great result for Gary in the shape of a sparkling, fresh 18 pound cock fish. Congratulations Gary, great result, well deserved.
Colin doing the honours as Gary steers his Springer towards the net.
As well as Gary's fish a second fish was lost today, hopefully a further sign we have a few fish with us.
To finish a reminder that the coarse fishing comes to an end on Friday. With the end of season rapidly approaching there will be many members trying for a last session of the season. The second shot shows what happens when an eagle arrives over the marsh. Instant panic as a thousand wildfowl head off in the opposite direction. The eagle continued on its way without a pause and the wildfowl circled around and resettled on the marsh.
Being the final weekend of the river coarse season its been strangely subdued. The high water has put off all but the most dedicated and those that did fish have struggled. There have been several salmon rods out and about who have met with the same disappointing result. The highlight for me has been that Manny who has been about heron watching and sent over several frame grabs that provide a fabulous view of our herons that are now incubating their eggs. We see them everyday as they go about their business in the valley yet we seldom have the opportunity to see them close up and appreciate what a stunning bird they are. Thanks for sending them over Manny, lovely shots.
What a messed up, frustrating day. I was supposed to be out in a charter boat off Portland, unfortunately it was deemed too rough to go out. I'm not sure how many of our boats have been cancelled in recent months, it must be at least the last four. Always a silver lining, I could check my trail cams, I could check the mink traps to save Kevin a job and I could watch the rugby. Unfortunately there was no sign of the beavers on the trail cams. The mink had failed to trigger the traps and the continued interference of the man out in the shed ruined my enjoyment of the rugby. In desperation I decided to take the fly rod off its hooks in the alley, to head out and fish through a pool or two.
My luck, or lack of it, continued and within twenty minutes I hooked into a good fish. This was undoubtedly a salmon as the head shaking and resistance sent a clear message. Five minutes of very little movement, just continued solid, head shaking resistance. Twice it passed close in front of me, the first time four feet down, allowing me the sight of a very bright flank. The second time just two feet down and clearly a very bright fish of about fifteen pounds. Next time I thought I may manage to net it.
You can guess what actually happened. Suffice to say I didn't land it! Undoubtedly a fresh fish, which is a complete pain in the butt. On the bright side it provided a little light entertainment for Nige and Harry, who were fishing opposite and watched my lamentable performance. I have also heard of a good fish dropped yesterday, so there are fish in the system at long last.
This just about tops the day off! It was only a month or two ago that I managed to clamber down that bank and clear the trees that had previously slipped into the head of Woodside Pool. Now this lot has choked off the head of the pool completely. With the current high water in the valley, it will be months before we can get a winch out there to clear that lot. Having said that it is usually the tail, from the gates opposite, that produces the fish. Just what impact it will have on the chub shoal that usually lives under the oak tree just upstream is anyone's guess.
To end on a much more positive note. Julian Chidgey very kindly sent me through his winter piking report for his first season on the Estate. The photo above is Julian with a 24.01 fish, which made up part of his winter's catch. He sent his report through before the end of the season, as he had spotted the pike spawning on his vist last week and decided to call time on this season and leave them in peace. Very much the approach to our fish I appreciate, many thanks Julian. As for his season it goes some way to highlight just what a superb fishery the Hampshire Avon is. Twelve pike over twenty pounds, eight different fish, to 27.10 that makes for a pretty amazing piking season. Well fished Julian, many thanks for the report and the lovely photo. I'll be interested to see what you make of the barbel and chub next summer.
I have spent several hours over the last day or two trying to finish the clearing of willow, bramble, Turkey oak, Ilex and alder selfsets from the reed beds and wildflower meadows. I also needed to get the brambles alongside the tracks cutback before the nesting gets underway.
Having cleared and cut-back a reasonable area I was glad to call it a day with most of what I had hoped for achieved. I'm afraid I can't say that for the tree work, what wasn't sorted this winter will I'm sure wait until nmext year to be finished. As I drove back around the lake in the afternoon I stopped and looked out across the lake to the islands. Strange as it might seem after all my work the view looked almost identical to that when I drove past in the opposite direction a few days ago. I knew where I had cleared several thousand, four or five feet tall, self-sets. The brambles beside the tracks trimmed back but unless you had a photographic memory you would never have realised the effort in achieving nothing!
I guess I must derive my satisfaction from knowing everything is where it should be and as I wished it to be. The real test for my efforts is if the bees and butterflies thrive and the birds find the cover and food source to their liking. I have always tried to manage a light touch when cleaning the meadows, the fact the end result goes unnoticed is reward in itself.
Whilst on the subject of birds nests, Brenda has kindly sent over her year reports for her warbler study and nest record. I'll put them up here for your edification as soon as I have remembered how to do it!
The links below will download Brenda's reports that then you will have to click on to open them.
Thanks to Dimitrii for the cracking Firecrest shot.
Brenda's brilliant report of the ringing effort at Meadow.
One of Brenda's photos showing the centre of her focus, in the form of a Reed warbler brood.
The nest record and continuing warbler report from Mockbeggar.
The latest update shows that Hucklesbrook remains well flooded, certainly too deep for wellingtons. The water continues to drop back at the excruciatingly slow rate of about a centimetre a day. Blashford also remains flooded on the left bank. Ellingham is a little more accessible yet remains testing. With less than ten days to the end of the river coarse season it looks as if it will be a challenging end to the season. Don't despair as there have been some spectacular fish for those brave members who have accepted the challenge.
At least the depth of water at Hucklesbrook provides safe day roosts for many wildfowl. Today several hundred were loafing well out on the marsh. Mainly wigeon and shoveler, there were also good numbers of teal, pintail, gadwall and mallard. All the duck in the second photo are in the centre of the first shot, along with hundreds more, they are all virtually invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately these deep areas are no good for the waders, or for the wildfowl to feed on at night. Fortunately, the Ibsley and Harbridge meadows seem to remain popular with the wildfowl at night.
Always brightens the day when I see my first brimstone of the year. I've seen several peacocks but they never lift the spirits as the Brimstone manages.
With the flood very slowly subsiding the avian flu casualties are no longer being flushed through the system and they are being left stranded in the meadows. There were at least three corpses in one small section of meadow at Ibsley being eaten by the crows and the buzzard in the photo above. Along side the scavenging mob there were at least five pairs of Lapwing that are setting up territories now the meadow is sufficiently drained for them to think about nesting.
We haven't seen a great deal of activity from our beavers in recent weeks. I'm not sure if the high water levels, or the cold weather has put them off. The last day or two, as the water has dropped, seems to have encouraged them out of their lodge for a spot of willow coppicing.
Sorry about the lack of posts, particularly after I had promised to keep members up todate with the state of the river. Unfortunately I have changed my PC and but for the intervention of Jonathan it would have probably been months before I had resolved the issues involved with tranferring files and apps. The shot doesn't get anywhere near portraying the stress and frustration involved sorting out the chaos. Particularly when Jonathan arrives and clicks a few keys and the wretched thing runs like clockwork!
Fingers crossed, all seems up and running smoothly now so I have added a shot of Dog Kennel Pool, taken from the Lodge. As can be seen from the photo, we are still well out in the meadows, with a very full river. We are forecast a spell of dry weather over the coming week so hopefully the levels will drop a little quicker and we will be able to get back on the bank sensibly by the end of the week.
Spot the established bee colony. That single Scots pine at the centre of the photograph is seventy or eighty feet tall. If you look closely at the very top of the tree you will see the established colony, hanging in the open, beneath a bough. Certainly a first for me during my time keeping bees and managing large tracts of woodland.
A closer shot of the nest showing the slabs of comb. I'm not sure if they are still in residence or have succumbed to the winter cold. A close inspection of the photo does seem to show sealed honey and one or two workers on the edge of the inner combs.
I should add that although in a site that may be used by Asian Hornets, it is not a hornets nest. It is wax comb, with cells, not paper cups.
At least the return of the floods has given me the unexpected opportunity to have a day or two tackling a task that has unfortunately been missed in recent years. It has allowed me to spend several enjoyable hours coppicing some of our overstood hazel. Several of the stools have already succumbed to lack of attention and died out. Hopefully those that I have cut back will get a new lease of life and bounce back with a flush of new growth. The main problem they face these days is the attention of deer. The new growth will be grazed and completely destroyed unless we cover the stools with the brash. Thirty years ago roe deer were the only deer that gave rise to the problem and were relatively easily deterred by the brash protecting the regrowth. These days we also face, fallow, sika and muntjac, all seemingly determined to destroy the hazel coppice. The huge rise in deer numbers is a very real threat to the survival of the coppicing form of management. We will do our best to cull the deer numbers down to a level that enables the hazel to get away and provide a thick understory for the woodland birds and mammals that are also threatened by over grazing. I fear small uneconomic blocks of woodland face a bleak future if deer numbers continue to rise as they have in recent decades.
Brilliant piece of fishing from John to round off the day. The lake failed to produce a carp for anyone over the weekend. John also fished KV on the maggot this morning, without so much as a touch. So things are hard! In a last ditch effort John stopped off at the Lagoon and had a ten minute walk, to see if he could spot a cruising fish to tempt with the fly. Luck was on his side and one or two fish could be seen moving just below the surface. Back to his car to get the fly rod, which he had put in just on the off chance. John then cleverly clipped a deer hair fly down so that it had negative bouancy, slowly sinking at just a couple of cm a second.
The result can be seen in the photo above. A cracker of a thirty pound common. Taken during incredibly difficult conditions, a superb bit of fishing. Congratulations John, delighted to have been on hand to do the photos.
The levels continue to rise as the water tops the bund downstream of Ibsley Bridge and fllods the Ellingham car park. Unfortunately the flood plain now stretches from one side to the other of the valley and we are still rising. I'll keep you updated in the next few days.
With the finish of the river coarse season just three weeks away and the salmon season getting underway, members are keen to get down for a day on the river. I will put up pix regularly for the next week or two, to provide members with a glimpse of what awaits them. This will enable the correct gear to be selected. Be it coarse or salmon the first thing required will be a pair of chest waders. One or two areas remain accessible with wellies but for the vast majority chesties are the order of the day.
The water is currently rising very slowly and with further rain forecast tonight and tomorrow is likely to stay high for several days. In the third photo a salmon rod can be seen out on Blashford Pool. Its amazing what the lure of an Avon Springer can have on a grown man. As I said the other day it should bring the barbel on the feed and any salmon out in the bay will be encouraged to head upstream. Fishermen are born optimists and always look on the bright side of life!
Couple of nice shots to end on in the form of a Muntjac buck and doe. A couple of frame grabs that Manny kindly sent over this evening. They are the result of many patient hours waiting for this pair to arrive on the scene to capture some footage for his film epic. I believe these little deer will be in the episode that looks to the future and the changing flora and fauna in the valley and forest.
As I write this, just for a change, its raining outside and blowing a hooley. The main river is slowly rising and the Forest streams are running high, bringing colour down to the river. Whilst it will continue to make salmon fishing a struggle, with no Springers to report as yet, it should bring the barbel onto the feed. For those who have braved the elements in recent days there have been one or two wonderful fish, 18+ barbel, 30+ pike and some lunking great chub. To hear such fish reported certainly helps to keep the spirits up in these trying times. The photo above is John with a seven plus chub. The previous day he'd managed five fish to 6.15 so the seven is reward for honesty. Great fish John and thanks for the photo.
I've put this photo up again as today I received confirmation from Defra that the swans and gulls that have been found dead and dying about the valley, do have Avian Flu. Not a great surprise, it does mean however, the need to avoid contact with any dead or dying birds at all cost is now official. With in the order of seven or eight thousand gulls roosting in the valley, how this will play out is anyones guess. The prospect of the droppings of thousands of gulls peppering the valley has an obviously raised risk factor.
Its that time of year again. With less than a month before lambing begins its time to move the ewes to the lambing paddocks before they get too heavy to travel the intervening mile or so safely. With Phil ahead and Kevin bringing up the rear we took a steady walk up the hill to the Top Park. The photos show the gentle progress on the level ground through the wood, before a little encouragement on the steep slope of the valley escarpment is needed. Alternatively she may have slowed down as she had spotted that nice patch of fresh, green grass, on the bank and deciding whether she can risk snatching a mouthful as she passes.
With the water remaining out in the fields for weeks desperate measures are called for. It may be very difficult conditions yet the pike continue to oblige with at least two twenty plus being landed yesterday. I put up the photo of the large slack at the bottom of Botney pool just because I was up that end of the Estate and I believe this must be my favourite coarse fishing pool on the river. Its been a long time since I've fished it yet it remains a gloriously inviting pool to trot the nearside with the pin. A little clear for bread but I bet maggot would produce the results! It won't be easy but I really must give it a go before the end of the season.
This is a four acre water meadow that is rewilding due to it being too small to be economically viable. It is now three years since it was last cut and already the vegetation is altering out of all recognition. Course meadow grasses and reeds are now well established. Self-set willow and alder is just becoming established in the rough sward. The ancient course of the old river can clearly be seen marked by the change of vegetation in the foreground of the second and third photograph above.
What this small meadow clearly illustrates is the dramatic change that would quickly overtake the entire water meadow system of the Avon valley if the agricultural demands were removed. The floods of the last four winters may well have excelerated the process but massive change would occurr within very few years.
This also clearly illustrates that as well as the flora, the fauna would also change dramatically. The waders and wildfowl that are deemed the most deserving of protection with the introduction of the conservation designations that have proliferated in the valley and river, will struggle in the rewilded valley. The course, tall vegetation is not suitable for either nesting Lapwing and Redshank, nor the feeding or roosting of wildfowl. The willow and alder will establish and become the food supply for the newly re-established beaver population. Eventually the breakdown of the perched channels will recreate the braided channel system that are the natural habit of the river in the shallow gradient valley. The place would become unrecognisable from what we see today.
Next time you go over the Ibsley Bridge and take a look at that rough paddock and perhaps you'll see it in a different light. A light that is a snapshot of the future of the valley if careful consideration is not given to the intervening centurys that are now seen as the natural shape of the valley. The new farm subsidies and environmental schemes that will shape the future valley need to understand the full implications of the policies.
It would seem that we must accept that the large gull roost on Ibsley Water is likely to be at risk from avian flu. The number of dead an dying, Herring and Black-headed Gulls around the valley is larger than I first thought. Once you start looking for dead and dying birds they seem to be dotted about all over the place. Today, perhaps twenty gulls and a couple more swans were spotted. If such numbers of dead and dying birds are present the pathogens that give rise to the flu must be present throughout the roost. Many of the corpses are first and second year birds, hopefully adults will have developed greater immunity to the virus. We must hope the the disease rapidly runs its course and doesn't devastate the entire roost. I don't know the exact numbers in the roost at present, certainly many thousands, huge numbers to be at risk.
What this does mean is that my advice to avoid contact with dead and dying birds certainly needs heeding. If you are out and about in the valley you will undoubtedly come across dying birds. They can't be helped, they are beyond help, so you just have to leave them well alone.
I am finding the number of dead and dying gulls and swans about the valley slightly disturbing. It may just be that we have exceptionally high numbers of both species regularly useing the valley and natural mortality is more obvious due to the extent of the flooding. The worst case scenario is that it is avian flu, once more showing in the valley. Just in case it is avian flu don't touch any of the ill or dying birds. I'm afraid it is a case of letting nature take it's course. The downside being that many of the corpses are being scavenged by buzzards, kites and raven, I only hope if it is flu the virus is not transmitted.
I must say thanks to Andy Hunt for texting through the whereabouts of a dead kelt today. Oddly, almost three years to the day from when he previousy reported a dead kelt to me for collection from up at Ibsley. Further random information, I have been playing with "Deep Seek" the Chinese AI sensation. Totally astounding and totally scary! Goodness only knows where this is all going to lead. Every aspect of our lives is potentially impacted by these developments and those that are sure to follow. In the hands of a raving lunatic, you don't have to look too far for one of those these days, it is a new world and not necessarily brave.
Please remember we are looking for kelts/dead salmon. At this time of year the fish will have finished cutting and be drifting back downstream. All of the males will die and a very small proportion of the hens, just a couple of percent, may make it to the sea and return again next year as second spawners. This is a hen, grilse kelt that was kindly reported to me today. How this one died I am unable to say, other than the throat and stomach were bitten out in an otter like fashion. However and it may well have been just simple exhaustion, it is now safely in the freezer to be picked up by the Uni at the end of the year.
Two pools that you can actually fish in welly-boots. A rare thing in these days! Lake Run and Cabbage Garden both fish beautifully if you just have an hour or two to spare.
Hazel catkins looking well in today's sunshine.
I fished through Ellingham Bridge Pool at lunchtime today as the depth of water on the bank wasn't too daunting. The top half of the pool, down to just above the seat on the opposite bank, remains very difficult with large eddies and upwellings. From the opposite seat, down to the tail 50m downstream of the gate opposite, fished really well. The fly was swinging steadily around and over the gravel shallows on the inside of the bend. The visibility continues to amaze, eight to ten feet, when the sun allowed me to look in on the clean gravel on the bed. The photo shows a trout that grabbed the black and yellow conehead, once more clearly illustrating the benefit of the swing set-up. The trout, along with yesterday's chub, allows me confidence that the fly is fishing well. That confidence is perhaps the most important part of angling. You just have to believe if a fish were there it would have taken the fly. Its just a matter of putting in the hours until a salmon crosses my path.
Ibsley Pool is very "fishable". Even if it remains difficult to reach across the flooded meadows. The tail of the un-named pool, below the old gate, also fished well down to the gate where the valley path turns off to Harbridge.
Provost's is churning through, making presentation hard work. Middle Cabbage fished well through the entire length of the pool. Lower Cabbage, pushing hard but fishable at a pinch. I was out for three hours in this morning's sunshine. Whilst perhaps not the best conditions to catch a salmon it was a lovely morning to be out in the valley. In the middle shot you can see that I use a wading staff. Personal choice but I would strongly recommend the use of a staff whilst the fields remain flooded. At least the water in the meadows is gin clear, enabling you to see where you are placing your feet. If you are concentrating on your feet and not the river!
The Harbridge Bend breakthrough doesn't seem to have had much impact on the flow as yet. I would think the two lies upstream of the fence are unaltered, they remain smooth and deep. Downstream of the fence, opposite the breakthrough, needs more time to see whether the lies will change. The water visibility is in the order of six or seven feet, just perfect for the fly. All we need now are one or two fish in the system.
Just after I took the photo of the pool I had a good take right in the lie above the fence. It didn't take long to realise the culprit wasn't the first Springer of the year but a lunker of a chub. Had I been fishing for them I would have weighed this one. The net its laying on is a Macleans, conservation net that is 26" wide, giving a guide to the size of this fish. Further proof of the advantages of the barbless swing set up is that the hook dropped out of that chub in the net. Its so satisfying to see the fish ready for release without having to handle it any further. Perhaps next time a Springer will be the occupant of the lie!
Well we're off! Despite the water, one or two brave souls headed out to look for an opening day salmon. That's Danny in the photo, as he fished his way down Pile Pool. The water remains very high, although the visibility is good. If you can get a fly near a fish it won't have any trouble seeing it. Good luck to those that venture out and lets hope its not too long before some one is rewarded for their effort.
We had two pairs of Great Crested Grebe sitting during January. One certainly succumbed to the recent storms the other pair faired better hatching two juveniles. They've been about for over a week and look well, fingers crossed they will now survive. Not the finest photo but it does record the early success.
"BRASSED OFF", doesn't seem to cover it! The previous four seasons have all started with the water out in the fields. With the new salmon season starting at the weekend, I was going to lecture the salmon rods about the need to fish regularly, to ensure we see a decent return. I'm afraid I have to agree that turning out to fish the river in this lot is asking a little much. I would estimate that last season we had a rod effort off less than twenty percent of what I would have wished to have seen. It's no good waiting to hear reports of fish if no one is out on the bank catching them.
This also, of course, threatens the end of the river coarse season that historically often provided the best of the river fishing. The beginning of March occasionally saw the freezing weather of January and February relent and provide a mild week or two just to round off the season perfectly. I always used to save a weeks leave in the hope of the weather gods smiling on us. Through the early years of my fishing if I enjoyed perhaps one in three mild breaks I considered myself lucky. Any attempt at predicting weather patterns these days is a pretty hopeless task. We no longer see the autumn floods arrive in late September or October, before relenting at the turn of the year to be replaced by the cold of January and February. The autumn flush scoured the dying weed and accumulated debris of the summer from the river, in readiness for the gravel spawning species to reach the headwaters and find cleaned gravel beds awaiting them. The cold water of the new year triggered the many temperature related natural events that depend on conditions that have evolved over millennium.
I guess we are seeing the consequences of climate change. When viewed on a world wide contect it might seem small change when compared to the the many millions that will be on the move around the world in the coming years as rivers dry and seas rise. That may be so but it sure as hell pisses me off!
As I'm sure regular readers will know, I seldom put fish on a net photos up. This isn't so much a fish on a net as a fish in a net. Its also one of our new stock, weighing in at 20+ that Barry caught Friday night. Its an unusual photo, perfectly balanced as she rests in the net before release.
Pollarding the willows.
I was going to suggest it was our beavers that had been at the willows. Unfortunately the sight of a beaver up a willow tree, with a chainsaw, might seem a little unlikely!
What ever you may think, or in my case don't think, of Trump and his cohort you have to hand it to him, he gets on with the job. I find trying to get things done in this country akin to wading through treacle. Decision makers hide behind consultants, health and safty and the determining legislation. Each layer involved drag out the work for as long as possible, for obviously reasons. I'm afraid at my age it is simply no longer worth getting involved with the regulators. Certainly with the expectation of achieving anything in a reasonable time scale and cost.
Just what level and in what form should regulation of the agricultural community take? Can the farming community and their agri-chemical companies be trusted to safeguard the environment? I certainly wouldn't like to answer that second question! I do believe many farms are responsible enought to be allowed to manage the environment under their control. If that were so, how is any such management agreement to be rewarded, monitored and what are the consequences for failing to act responsibly and honestly? Key questions in urgent need of answers from Defra. Unfortunately, I believe there's more chance of an ice-age than Defra having the imagination and resolve to bring about the radical change needed.
A further glimpse of some of the pools, that remain high but very fishable. The middle shot is of Lake Run. With the turmoil of the new breakthrough just upstream this section may well prove productive as fish wait to assess what lies ahead. The third shot is one for the coarse rods, showing the big slack in Lower Cabbage. I have cleared the brambles behind, to provide a little more dry ground to sit on. I have also cleared the weedbed below the old disabled platform to make it easier to fish the eddy. I will pollard the willows that can be seen in the background when the water levels drop a little more.
I thought long and hard about putting this shot up as it has the potential to be misinterpreted. The decision was made easier by the ludicrous policy change emanating from No 10, regarding beaver release licensing. If we are to believe the Guardian, No 10 has gone back on the licensing of beaver releases as they consider it a Tory legacy. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! How to upset the environmental lobby in one easy lesson, never let it be said the views of the riverine community stand in the way of politics. It would seem those behind the decision are totally ignorant of what is actually happening across the entire country with regard to the status of beavers. They are showing up on rivers from one side of the country to the other. However they attempt to justify the petty political jiggery-pokery, it doesn't alter the fact they appear out of touch and reinforcing the view this government are no better than the previous bunch living in the rarefied air of the Westminster bubble.
The photo actually shows the beaver activity in one of the over-stood stands of willow beside the river. This activity has proved quite thought provoking when considering the natural state of the river valley. It is the nature of beavers to coppice willow to produce fresh new growth, which is their preferred diet. If there were a natural population density of beavers in the valley, the habitat would look considerably different. The ancient white willows and the multitude of hybridised willow growth would not exist. There would be dense clumps of willow stools with an over story of alders where they could establish. We have not had resident beavers long enough to know what their impact on grey willow, sallow. They do seem to eat a little of the fresher growth and fell larger trees in a similar way as Grey willow but nothing like to the same extent as with white/crack willow. Time will tell how dramatic a change they will bring about. I have to admit to being delighted about their arrival and despite the efforts of No 10 it looks as if they are here to stay.
Its that ruddy duck again. Actually its a Ruddy Shelduck, the one that thinks its an Egyptian Goose. Its turned up again in the company of a pair of Egyptian's, as it has for the previous three or four years. There are one or two odd looking Egyptian geese about but I can't see any traits of this bird showing, so I guess he just likes the company!
Pile Pool looking smart and ready for the off on 1st February for the new salmon season.
A dramatic sunrise this morning, highlighting the gulls yet to leave the roost out on the floods.
Up and downstream of the bridge looking equally as dramatic. Red sky in the morning and all that, I wonder what lies in store for us!
WeBS day today and with the valley for the most part still underwater, a tricky count. The shot above included a mixed flock of Tits, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs feeding in the reedbed at the base of the willow. There was also a large dog otter in the reeds upsetting the coot flock that was sheltering in there. As for the count, nothing of particular note other perhaps than the large number of Lapwing, over 600 loafing out in the water meadows, where the water was shallow enough.
One record I was quite surprised to see today is that the Great crested grebe is still sitting. With all the recent rain and cold I thought they would have abandoned their early first attempt.
One record that was missing was the Lesser Scaup that has been on the Estate for a week or two. I can't say I am too unhappy to see the back of it as it seems to attract some of the less desireable box-tickers of the bird world.
Still busy looking for an extension to the lodge.
As many of you will be aware, I have been away for a couple of days. I'm back in harness now and normal service has resumed. That's not me on the see-saw by the way!
For anyone thinking of visiting the Avon Valley in the next day or two, beware! The first shot is looking northeast from Fools Corner, along the Avon Valley Path toward Ibsley. The middle shot looking south from the lakes at Blashford. The third, north from the lakes, with the House in the distance across the flood. To add insult to injury, we are forecast heavy rain Wednesday and Friday. If we are within the banks by 1st February, at the start of the salmon season, it will be a bloody miracle! Any rods making plans for the new season ensure you have plenty of T18 leaders!
A frosty start along the fishing road, on my way to work this morning.
Ibsley Pool with the frost on the meadows beyond. Fingers crossed the pool remains at the current level for another month. A great height to present a fly over the lie at the tail of the pool. The weirpool is still running high with more heavy rain forecast for Sunday. We really are in the the lap of the gods when it comes to what will await us on 1st February.
I predict 2025 will be the year of the beaver on the Hampshire Avon.
Just how they got here I wouldn't like to speculate but they are certainly here now and I hope, here to stay.
As many of you will know I am a great believer in circle hooks for certain methods of fishing. In sea fishing they have several advantages for such species as bream, conger and shark. More and more these days I have been trying them on the lakes and rivers. I have long fished my dead-baits for pike on single circles fished on what is in fact a hair-rig, with the hook an inch or two clear of the bait. This allows the hook to articulate and move freely ensuring it comes into contact with the scissors or side of the mouth as it is ejected or tightened as the fish takes. I have found that deep hooked fish are very rare indeed and tooth and gill rake damage is similarly reduced. If a fish is missed on lifting into the resistance, no striking with circles, simply let the bait drop back down and usually the fish will follow and soon pick up the bait again. My salmon fishing is also done with straight eyed circles, fished on swing flies that also have the advantage of no strike being necessary, simply tighten into the fish. Most of the fish caught on the fly at Somerley are now caught on similarly presented flies.
In light of my preference for circles, I decided to do a little experimenting with lures. I have recently been changing some of my lures from trebles, which I dislike intently, to single barbless circles fished as assist hooks. The theory is the long assist mounts will allow the hook to articulate clear of the lure body once the fish has taken. I have changed the assist cord mounts to plastic coated wire, in the hope the rigidity of the wire will keep the hooks clear of the body. The jury is still out as to the effectiveness of my approach but early signs are definitely encouraging. Today I ended up moving over a dozen jacks between four and twelve pounds. Most came short, probably due to the clarity of the water, two hit and didn't connect and I landed two. The shot above shows the adapted lure.
Showing the perfect hook position of the single circle.
A fine pair of drakes, part of the dozen or so Goosander that can usually be found on either Meadow or Kings-Vincents. A shot Paul Lloyd took on his last visit out on Sibley's Point.
It looks as if the position of this trail camera may be blown! I have them set all over the place looking for various creatures about the Estate.
It makes it clearer just what the fella above thought of the camera.
