Early Morning Surprise!!
Posted: 27th Jan 2013
It feels like deep winter at the moment with the ever changing weather being very unpredictable each week, from snow to ice, rain with strong winds, but next week is forcast wet and mild? We shall see.
I have been treated 2 mornings on the trot with a Barn Owl flying off the wood shed roof at the break of dawn when I let the "Wookie" out, he then glides over the field in front of the house circling the whole perimetre of the hedgerow, just before slipping over the tree line like a ghost, just magical and does it get any better than that? Maybe a a nice scaley 40lb in the net I guess!!!
Also this morning while doing my rounds a male Hen Harrier shot no more than 10 yards in front of me as I approached the shower block, which was a rare treat of late. Apart from that it's quiet at present with the resident Herons & Great White Egrets working the lake margins, and everything else remaining elusive with this grotty weather.
The back bay water level is still dropping and hopefully this week I can finish the job with removing the fish and strengthing the spit before I leave the whole area for drying over the spring. I will take a few pictures this week so you can get a feel for the work planned, but like I have been saying for the last two weeks it's all weather dependent at the moment and I will need to strike soon so I can to finish the job.
Very little signs of fish at the moment and I do think the carp in the 7 acre lake have built enough fat reserves towards the backend of 2012 to allow them to hold up in a dormant state until water temps start to increase slightly, I will then start to add feed to their diet in early spring to give them an immunoboost before the season kicks off, but until then I can leave them in peace in their winter slumber.
It will be time to stick the waders on tomorrow morning and get on the lake bed to clear a few areas to allow the remaining 12" of water to exit, and you all know how much I like getting in at the deep end and covered in S--t, or was that SILT!!!
Back soon when something to report.
Over & Out
Team Sanctuary.