Clearing up after Storm Georgina

It has been another morning of odd jobs around the reserve; from stock checking and checking nest boxes, to signage improvements and off site quad bike repairs.

Yesterday's work clearing ditches and the vole pond inlet has proved very successful, and just in time for today's downpours with the top pond still filling at 16:30 and getting close to its normal level.

Elsewhere the water level of the lake is as high as I would want to see it, although the mallards and moorhens seemed to be enjoying themselves and are still showing interest in the duck trap (fingers crossed). 

In hindsight the late afternoon was probably not the best time to be tackling two big willows that had fallen over net rides 2 and 3 as it was surely the wettest part of today.

So much so that both of these images had to be significantly brightened in order to be able to make out what was going on!

Unfortunately rain stopped play late on, but not before I was able to clear both net rides of vegetation in preparation for potential bird ringing this weekend. All that's left to do tomorrow is to remove the brash and the job's a good'un!