The start of the month brought more wind and rain, with river levels rising again, so all boats were put up above high water to protect them against the large amounts of drift coming down the system. One of the jobs undertaken on the riverside this month was to fence off an area for putting in a new orchard.
A selection of apple, crab apple, pear, plum, damson and gean were all planted and staked to protect them from deer and rabbits.
By mid-month the spate on the river peaked at a level recorded as the third highest in the last fifty years. This resulted in a lot of localised flooding throughout the region. When river levels dropped back a bit, the net greens got a lot of big drift cleared from them so the wintering birds could get the use of them again.
We have seen an increase in redshank numbers (40+), also more mute swans and a few sightings of whooper swans. The little dabchicks are back with us, also teal and widgeon numbers are up. The big spate also saw a large number of kelts being flushed down into the estuary, which in turn saw an increase in seal activity, as they made light work of catching and feeding on them in their weakened state after spawning.
Before the end of the month, work started on the pathway between Newburgh and Jamesfield. A woodchipper and chainsaws were used to start the clearing and opening up along the route it will follow.
The spate on the river was easing off as the end of the month approached. The weather turned to frost and got much colder, with freezing fog present at times.
Dago.
