Roger Sambrook

Wardened today Sat 25th July 9.30 to 12.15. Dry & mild this morning not many folks about to start with but picked up as the morning wore on eventually meeting just over 40 folks. Walked all paths cutting back many brambles along the canal path as I went,noted brambles have been cut away around sub- station at the start of the E/W path presumably by SSE. Also noted electric fence & pasture pump in place in Ashley Meadow in preparation for the cows being moved next week. The cows were all close to the fence adjacent to the waterway at the side of the permissive path so no trouble locating them today, they seemed to be enjoying the fresh greenery at the side of the watercourse. Not much wildlife about early on, saw a Kingfisher quite close to the cows in the Wester fen and a couple of Great White Egrets from the l/h screen otherwise not much else from the screens. Made my way back via Fishlake Meadows view point,plenty of birds this end today including 9 Swans,cormorants,Black backed gulls and the iceing on the cake an Osprey on the far line of dead trees.