We eased into December on the back of a few dry, cooler days with some misty mornings that had the river level slowly dropping back a bit again. But by the end of week one it was more rain and the river level was back on the up again!
There was more chainsaw work this month cutting more firewood, and tidying up some bits of driftwood off the old net green. We also had a last check in at the bee hive, the mouse and winter guards are in place and they are fine for winter feed.
Into week two and storm Bram hit the country, very strong winds and heavy rain lashed the country, once again there was rail disruption, storm damage and a river level that quickly got up over 12 feet on the gauge at our Cargill rod beat. The stormy weather also caused some damage to the big gates down at the Newburgh boatyard; with one section shearing off,
but with some much appreciated help from local Tommy Johnson it was soon all remedied and made secure again.
There were more of the usual winter jobs this month as well as keeping some of the ditches cleared for drainage and keeping a lot of the leaf drop cleared off the paths with the blower.
We are maybe into the dead of winter but there is still movement on the ground with the snowdrops beginning to push through again, the seasons are always moving on.
The seals are working the sides of the river more just now, as the spent kelts that are dropping back down the system after spawning are an easy catch and quick meal for them. We occasionally see the otter, and the white egret can still be seen some days.
The cold hard snap in the last week of the month has seen a lot more movement of Redwing and Fieldfare in our area again, and the feed stations are a lot busier just now. By the last day of the year the river level was steady at just under the three feet mark and the cold snap looks like it will continue into the new year.
Dago
