Inert still largely absent from Manor farm. 31st March 2023

March is ending on a wet and windy note. Between 40 and 48 hours of rain are predicted, commencing at about 20:00 last night. This is on top of a seeming deluge for the past couple or three weeks.

Spare a thought for the Swiss. Zurich is expected to get over 72 hours of rain.

I grabbed a chance to dodge weather systems, and disappeared down to MGL and Manor farm, yesterday - Thursday. Not my normal day of late, but time and wet weather systems wait for no man.

Inert were absent from Manor farm, though they were very, very active on Chandlers farm. This is their normal pattern during the breeding season.  There are signs, however, that some minor tinkering on Manor farm has taken place. I can't be 100% sure, but I think a small pile of concrete has appeared on the north infill, parallel with the peninsular - but memory does play tricks.

I am 100% certain that Inert have switched off the pump or it has run out or diesel. Whichever, this points to Inert taking their usual 3 month hiatus from Manor farm. 

They have installed two steel plates across the northern edge of the bailey bridge, linking both sides of the Blackwater footpath. You know, I walked straight over the plates without realising they were there. It was only when someone pointed them out to me did I see them! DOH!  Anyway, I'm sure cyclists and walkers will be well pleased with them. It was always interesting negotiating the mud and drop to get across this section of footpath.

Oh, and someone has finally got around to fixing the bailey bridge gate. One half had fallen off its support.  It is back now.

Quite a few birds breeding on Manor farm. In the slide show is one that probably has prompted a phone call to Inert/Cemex to halt restoration; a Little Ringed Plover. Only slight problem is that as water levels rise, safe scrapes may be inundated, stopping this bird from nesting. I think it will cope, as there are lots of humps and bumps for it to nest on. However, as this area is transformed into reed beds and marshy areas, the rough 'post industrial' landscape will disappear, making it difficult, if not impossible for the Little Ringed Plover to find suitable rubbly nesting sites.