The first day of the month saw the start to the duck shooting season, but it was a very quiet river at the top end of the estuary with no wildfowlers out and about. On the same day we saw the first of the teal duck that have arrived back on the river.
With the weather being mostly dry at the start of the month the river level had dropped back to near summer level again. Outside work continued on the cutting programme, with invasive species, pathways and old net greens all getting some attention. Jim Davidson the retired boat builder was also getting on with the wooden bridge that is under construction at the wild life pond, a job that was completed by the end of the month.
By mid- month the weather was back to more rain and showers, the damper conditions seem to have suited some of the fungi that have appeared in various shapes and sizes.
As more birds are moving about on the river, we have seen great crested grebe, dipper, canada geese, and the return of some ringed mute swans that had left us in the spring time after the had over-wintered with us on the estuary.
The birds are enjoying good feeding just now on an abundant crop of fruit and berries, that has filled the hedge-rows along riverside.
As the month was coming to an end we had a visit from the SSPCA, who brought with them 10 mute swans from their Middle-bank Rescue Centre, these birds are part of a release programme and once again they have used the estuary after previous successes at the same site.
The river was back to summer level as the month ended.
Dago
