On The Up

Here is a quick update on the state of the reserve as of this morning.

The Great Ouse still appears to be within its banks to the rear of the reserve however levels in the lakes have risen appreciably since Sunday.

View from the Near Hide - Bund What Bund?





On the main lake the Bund is completely submerged apart from a few willow wisps poking above the surface and the water has risen about a foot up the banks so that it is lapping at the front of the far hide footings. This will have overwhelmed a number of nests built in the margins although hopefully it is still early enough for most birds to start again without too much loss of eggs.

"I'm sure I left a nest here somewhere"

The most amazing transformation has taken place to the experimental ponds behind the near hide, these are now full (6 weeks ago they were empty) and the water surface is about a foot below the raised boardwalk. The rebuilt holt is now a virtual boathouse whilst only last week there was a good two to three feet drop to the water.

Under the Boardwalk










Whilst not exactly Mavis Grind, the path down to the far hide has become a two metre causeway between the Main Lake and St Peters Lake and much more rain will see the two lakes join in places.

Tern Island is submerged at tree base level which unfortunately, almost certainly means the end for the Oystercatchers nest site.

Tern Island seen from the Far Hide










The council have acted quickly to remove the two trees which had fallen across the paths at the far end of the reserve.

We have also received one or two comments, asking if it is possible for the Council to open the sluices and drain the main lake so as to expose the bund. Unfortunately, the sluices only control a gravity feed from the river to the lake, so it is not possible to use them to reduce water in the lake.

Looks like rain