A brief round-up of the events of the last day or two must be headlined by the blocked and jammed gates being cleared and a rather disappointing lack of salmon in what must be considered excellent conditions. The multi-trunked goat willow, my least favourite tree, stuck through the hatch meant I could neither open or close the gate reducing the flow or pressure of water. The only option was to cut and winch the offending timber forcibly through the gate requiring a great deal of wet, slippery, cold and frightening effort. Whilst back and forth to the truck to collect various saws and bars I took the odd ten minutes to catch my breath by watching the bream and roach starting their spawning rituals in the willow and reed roots. It was at least a reassuring sign that the seasons are actually progressing and the recent autumnal storms and floods are just a blip; I hope!

As for the salmon, or lack of them, lets be positive and put the lack of fish down to them being totally single-minded in their haste to run upstream before the water disappears! I would have liked to have seen a resurgence akin to that being enjoyed on the Wye but our fish must be due to arrive next week. I believe Tuesday is the height of the Spring tide by which time the river will have fined down to an almost perfect level so I have even higher hopes for the coming week.

A pleasingly cleared hatch and Brian Marshall out looking for one of these illusive salmon in Ibsley Pool..

The talking point in the valley over the weekend was undoubtedly the number of hirundines and Swifts feeding over the river. The numbers were simply incalculable. Every bend in the river or clump of trees providing a little shelter, times flocks in excess of a hundred birds makes for thousands and thousands. Why they should be gathered in such numbers must presumably be down to the weather preventing them moving further north at the speed they would normally achieve. Thankfully the hatch of flies must have been sufficient to allow them to refuel and gather themselves for the final push to their nest sites as most had gone by today. One other summer visitor that turned up as regular as clockwork was the bank holiday weekend canoeists of the opinion they have a right to go where ever they so wish. Along with the seasonal visits of the cagmag travelling community they are a less than a welcome sight in the valley.

On a much brighter note I must thank Damian and Steve for their efforts in building bridges. Not the philosophical smoothing of group differences but the physical spanning of the muddy ditch at Blashford beside the Island. Despite numerous obstacles and logistical difficulties placed in their way we are now the proud possessors of a fine crossing of that most awkward of ditches. Had conditions been kinder the second ditch would be similarly tamed but the standing water in the meadows prevented tractor and trailer from reaching the spot without churning up the field. I will arrange to deliver the remaining material once the ground firms up a little saving the need for Damian and Steve to repeat the Shackleton sledge re-enactment in dragging the telegraph poles into position.

Thousands of Swallows, Martins and Swifts feeding over the riverand the new ditch crossing at Blashford.

With a river that I am reliably informed has changed from Americano to drinking chocolate on the colour chart we still have some way to go before we have our fly water back. We did see a drop in level of almost a foot overnight yet the pace has been retained and the colour appears determined to hang on. There were several rods out on the banks today and I'm sure any fish entering the river will continue to run which means if you are not out there you most definitely will not be catching. With such high flows I am still endeavouring to keep one or two meadows with livestock in them as dry as possible. With that in mind yesterday afternoon I discovered I had one gate blocked with an assortment of woody debris and the one alongside jammed making any further manipulation of flows a non-starter through that set of gates. The saving grace is that with summer floods I will see a reduction of levels within a day or two. Had we seen a similar situation in the autumn we could be facing three or four months of high flows requiring major engineering to remove the blockage. I did notice that we have one or two rainbow trout being stranded below the blocked gate. It seems only fair that we have a rainbow escape to make up for the stocking of browns the club had delivered to the carriers the day the river rose; goodness only knows where they ended up!

As I peered out of he window at five thirty this morning I realised it wasn't raining, it wasn't blowing and the visibility wasn't half bad; in fact it was looking good enough to get a long delayed breeding bird tetrad out of the way. I didn't even stop for a cup of tea, I dug out the paperwork from my flawless filing system arranged across my desk and headed out the door for the KM in question. This survey had been held up by about a fortnight, add the drought and the recent flood I don't think this years record will be seen as typical. Having said that all the regulars were well represented with the Rooks and Jackdaws perhaps the most obvious but the Goldfinches and Greenfinches seem to be more numerous as were the Cettis. The bird world does seem in a state of shock as a result of the floods but hopefully a settled spell will allow for the balance to be restored. Oddities such as the Godwits currently being chased about the meadows by the Lapwing will move back to the coast or their own breeding grounds and the Lapwing and Redshank will get on with a second brood. Many of the dozen or so pairs of Mutes that had their nests destroyed have already started new sites. Such a speedy rebuild will lead to problems in itself as the new sites will be left high and dry as the water levels drop away in the next week or two, one or two will undoubtedly end up on Reynard's menu. I'm sure we can spare those of our belligerent avian sheep that go to feed the cubs; we currently have over one hundred and seventy five on the estate.

One blocked and one jammed, it looks almost time for a rebuild. A surviving Mute swans nest benefiting from being on an area of meadows kept drier for the livestock. Finally a further shot of the Egyptian goose brood that are still all doing well.

News of the garden nest-box population in that the first House sparrows took to the wing and the Starlings have taken over one of the Swift boxes. The Swifts actually arrived back this evening with the first bird circling the house before disappearing through the two inch by one inch entrance at a speed that had to be seen to be believed. Considering that bird had not touched the ground in the last eight months that was some fine piece of flying and an even more remarkable landing. I will have to add further Swift boxes in the next day or two to make up for the losses to the Starlings. I will have to ensure I have Starling proof entrances on the new boxes. Not that I mind the Starlings, the latest singing male will allow you to walk within two or three feet of him as he announces his presence from the top of our pergola and he's a fine looking bird that all too often we fail to appreciate.

I believe we have just endured the wettest April for over one hundred years which would seem to point to Mother Nature putting right some of the problems created by two of the driest winters. In earlier entries I was musing over what would be required to correct the imbalance in our flows and the sacrifices that such rain would require with a washed out three day event and flooded craft fayre. In reality we enjoyed perfect weather for the horse event and whilst the fayre suffered with poor weather it was far from a wash out. If this April's rain had been ordered it would have been hard to have chosen better. If we were now to see a return to more seasonal conditions we would probably have a perfect river for May; the finest month for salmon on the Avon. We have spring tides on the 8th and the 22nd fingers crossed they bring us the salmon we hope for.

Trees of every description succumbed to the high winds, uprooted, shattered and naturally pollarded. Anyone on the bench would have had a close encounter.

Along with our rain we suffered some extremely strong winds that brought with them a trail of damage. Oaks, beech, birch, larch and particularly the willows with the additional weight of the new seasons growth fell victim. I wrote of the loss of nests to the floods to which we also have to add the Mistle thrush, jackdaw and Blue tits that found their nest sites unceremoniously up ended.

Despite the river being in full flood one or two rods braved the river today.

A river runs through it; now applies equally to our valley as to the delightful story by Norman Maclean so beautifully captured on film by Robert Redford. Still our river slowly drops back but today the Nadder water arrived and the water took on that dead-pan white coffee Americana colour. Not the most attractive shade but usually short lived and hopefully through us by lunchtime. The overspill from the lakes is backed up and brim full. The reed lined channel was proving ideal for a large hen pike, well in excess of twenty pounds and her ambitious escorts to indulge a further round of spawning. Her surging runs through the reeds and the antics of her entourage sending bow waves the length of the channel.

The arrival of the Nadder water.

This evening, as if to prove the colour wasn't creating a problem, I had a call from Colin Morgan letting me know he'd landed our second salmon of the season, an eighteen pound cock fish from Ibsley. Great stuff, well done Colin and I really must get the returns book in the Lodge this weekend!!

Young rabbits everywhere and the first Egyptian goose brood of the year.

As the gaps between the showers grew longer and the gusting wind grew calmer the sun even managed to find time and raise the temperature a degree or two. Making the most of the spring like weather, that is threatening to disappear once more over the weekend, Nature got on with introducing the new generation of residents. Every bank and clearing is littered with young rabbits and the first fledglings are on the wing with Blue tits, Robins, Sparrows and Starlings all out of the nest today. One of those contentious aliens brought her day olds down from the oak in the park when the Egyptian Goose brood hatched. Its an odd introduction to the world when within hours of breaking out of your egg you are dropping twenty feet to the ground. None seemed worse for the experience and mother goose soon shepherded her new arivals on to one of the nearby ponds. At home where we have three House sparrow broods and our first brood of Starlings making louder and louder demands of their parents as launch day draws nearer. The hirundines and Swifts were out over the river today probably enjoying the hatch of Hawthorns flies that were blowing from the bankside cover. In anticipation of the return of my Swifts at home I have removed the covers from their nest-boxes. Covers are made necessary due to the possessive nature of our Sparrows and Starlings who are hopefully too preoccupied with their ever hungry broods to think of squatting in the now open boxes.

A further day of squalls and showers has ensured our rejuvenated river is only slowly dropping and losing its colour. I did spot a couple of salmon rods out braving the conditions this morning on my way to work but it wasn't until four this afternoon I had a call from Peter Dexter to say he was into a fish at Cabbage Garden. I was only just up the road and within minutes I arrived at the pool to see Peter's fish safely in the net, resting before release. A fine cock fish of fifteen pounds taken on a two inch, yellow and orange cascade; well done Peter a super way to kick-off the season. It goes to show that whilst the river was difficult for the fly there is always a chance of a fish; it just has to have your name written on it and don't listen to me when I say it looks tricky.

The mobile camera to the rescue again, Peter Dexter returning his salmon, our first of the year and very welcome. With the water out over the banks it did make returning the fish considerably easier and it went off strongly after five minutes. It does mean I will have to get a returns book in the lodge tomorrow in anticipation of more to come. As I arrived at the pool this pair were eating the new seasons bramble shoots on the far bank of the Trout Stream. I usually see them on the lawn of a nearby property where they are eyeing up the rose garden; its good to know they do actually eat something else!!

I had to find time to jot a few lines after the arrival of the so desperately needed rain. Today as I reset the hatches the water was a surging soup of mud, muck and much of the newly established vegetation that had been scoured from the unnaturally narrowed channel of just a week ago. It was a mega detox in full flow with the detritus and accumulated filth being sent on its way in no uncertain fashion. The feeling of relief was tangible as a fresh and lively river once more occupied the valley. Despite the rain and the gusting wind the majority of the valley occupants were obviously in full support, Blackbirds, warblers and even a lark were in full voice with the Swallows, Martins and newly arrived Swifts enjoying a huge hatch of olives that were emerging from the surface of the main river channel in defiance of the flood. Unfortunately our unseasonal rise in water will not be without its casualties as this years dace fry and newly emerged salmon juveniles will do well to survive such flows. The nests of the Lapwing, Redshank, Coot, Moorhen and Mallard will be suffering as the rising flood swallows them up. Hopefully the many fry sanctuary areas that have been created throughout the estate will come into play and afford them the safe haven they require. Being early in the nesting calendar most of the birds will lay again and with the added cover from crows and magpies afforded by the new seasons growth perhaps may even benefit from the later start. The river had risen over seven deci's, two feet of water had arrived overnight from the forest with the water from the plain arriving to sustain the flow throughout the day. I visited one of the ox-bow sanctuaries that looked the part with the extra water and stands of reeds providing what appeared perfect cover I only hope the fish found them.

The weirpool in fine form with all hatches wide open. The Trout Stream looking as if this weekends tuition might be difficult and the rising water threatening to make moving the livestock necessary.

One event a fortnight ago that I have failed to mention was the annual departure from the river of the salmon smolt as they begin their epic journey downstream to the sea and out across the Atlantic to the rich feeding grounds within the Arctic circle. As they gather above the hatches awaiting the low light levels that signals the start of the next leg of their journey they are joined by tens of thousands of minnows and hundreds of dace. What makes them all shoal in such a fashion I can't decide but judging by the amount of surface activity there is a great deal of excitement in the gathered mass; lets wish them a safe return in two or three years. I have often written on here about the care required when cutting and clearing access paths and margins to minimise the impact on the natural progress of events that is so vital to dependent creatures in Natures scheme of things. The chronological order of natural events has not been arrived at by chance. Very simply; photo-period and temperature provide the triggers for plants to grow and invertebrates time their development to coincide with the food source. Fish and birds time their hatching to coincide with the bounty of the invertebrates. All evolved over millennia and tens of thousands of generations of flora and fauna. Cutting large areas of vegetation thus encouraging unseasonal regrowth has long been my concern and continues to be so. As I travel about the fishery world I see clearing and cutting taking place with scant or absolutely no regard or consideration of the natural processes that anglers and fishery managers so vocally claim to be the guardians. Angling is its own worse enemy with such a selfish and parochial approach, if that simple lesson is beyond so many I hold little hope for the future of our sport. Our activities might seem small beer when considered in the light of natures own efforts to disrupt the natural progression with unseasonal droughts and floods; that is not so. Our efforts are vitally important when creature that share the valley are in many instances failing miserably, our smallest consideration may just be that vital difference between survival and extinction. Just what creatures we attempt to assist is a different matter. Acting as God we decide what deserves to be here and what should go. At what point in time are species deemed to be indigenous and desirable? Today the site of a Ruddy duck on the same body of water as three drake Mandarins served well to illustrate the complexity of that particular question.

Good cover for the warblers, Reed bunting and soft spawning habitat for the carp and tench. An ancient common lime that has had the dead and dangerous limbs removed in an effort to avoid felling the home of the Stock doves, Little owl and bats. On the right the gathering shoals above the hatches awaiting the signal to move off.

It is essential to develop a long term management regime on all fisheries with particular species and their requirements in mind. That will involve the extent and type of tree cover and margin species requiring comprehensive planting and maintenance policies. The long-term nature of such planning is essential in that individuals responsible for the work on many fisheries come and go on a regular basis. All too often we see a complete change of approach or emphasis every time a new face or team arrives on the scene. Nature might be adaptable but not at the speed many fisheries and there management teams appear to change hands these days. If there is a well considered conservation strategy and stocking policy laid down in writing and regularly updated new owners or management teams will be aware of previous efforts and continue them where they have proven sound and gradually adapt them where failings can be witnessed. I choose to promote the species that have been resident in the valley since the development of the water meadow system. Many of those species would have pre-dated the construction of the meadows by millennia their ability to adapt to the artificial regime to my thinking makes them vital to the special atmosphere and ambiance of the Avon Valley.

The flooded meadows will drown many lapwing and Redshank nests. The last photo shows a Swans nest about to go under. As I pressed the shutter on my mobile to take that shot the Cob on the right took a dislike to an otter that was sat on the bank just behind him. He reared up hissing and flapping causing a startled and digruntled otter to do a complete back somersault over the swan into the water; not a show I'm likely to witness too often!!

I must begin by thanking those that have emailed during my sabbatical, fear not, its mostly down to weight of work that I have been unable to keep the diary flowing. Added to the apparently endless workload the onset of Spring always seems to produce, I believe I must have spent too much time in this valley. In common with the river that I have watched disappear as I cross it every day, I have been feeling somewhat under the weather. My case of the vapours has been easily rectified with a change of location a couple of weekends away provided and the distractions of Ruby Turner at Ronnie Scott's. The blues facing our river are not so simply dealt with I fear. The current media scrum concerning the hosepipe ban has now seen the desperate need of rain even become a concern of the Great British public. The development of this desperate situation has been discussed in concerned circles for in excess of a decade yet it takes the threat to a few rose bushes to elevate the debate to the public arena. We are expected to be grateful having seen the review of consents undertaken by the EA that gave rise to a twenty plus mega-litre a day reduction in the abstraction from the chalk aquifers in the headwaters. Whilst grateful for the recognition of the potential risk posed by abstraction the reduction and subsequent low flow cut-offs have done little to sustain the natural flow of the Avon. I stress natural flow, or regime, as this is the mantra currently being trumpeted by the river restoration projects designed to meet WFD requirements. Before we get to restoring the channel and river as perceived by the plethora of consultants that have their noses in the current funding trough I would suggest the natural flow from the chalk should be the starting point. Unlike the dramatically low reservoirs with their exposed shore line that we now see on the daily TV news reports, we do not have such a dramatic sight to focus attention on the reduced level of the groundwater in our aquifers. If any good is to arise from this situation it is perhaps the recognition that it is not an acceptable means of potable water supply to take it from the aquifers before the natural processes of the rivers have made use of it. For those involved in the protection of our riverine environment it would be a sensible primary objective to see ZERO headwater abstraction to restore the natural regime. That would not be well received by the water companies as they look to maximise the use of free filtered headwater and increase out of catchment supply justified under the strategic water networks. As a second objective I think we should have ZERO out-of-catchment supply. That will require a considerable rethink of supply strategy and a considerable decrease in share dividends to the city and overseas owners of our water companies - snowball in hell springs to mind!!

As for day to day life in the valley, the horse trials with all its six hundred plus riders is thankfully behind us and preparations for the thousands of expected visitors this weekend completed a walk by the river was in order mid week. The reappearance of the dace, back from spawning, gladdened the heart There were half a dozen tightly packed shoals in the favoured spots just as if they had never been away, even if they did look a little leaner than when I last looked in on them. Under normal Spring flows I would probably not have been aware of their presence. Sighting them in the low clear water has the benefit of confirming their annual disappearance around the turn of the year, has been reversed without apparent serious loss. With the arrival of Spring as well as the workload we see the arrival of our Summer visitors. I could list a long series of first sightings, Orange tip, Swallow, Cuckoo, yada, yada but whilst its always pleasing to see them arrive each year such annually repeated diary entries don't quite hit the mark with the intended message of my scribbling. Our weather and observation time are the main criteria for variations in such records and if that is taken as read the changes due to man's intervention make for the most interesting aspect. Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here, I'm certainly not against the collection and recording of events and data in the natural world. Monitoring plays a vital role in understanding and unravelling the complexities of our environment. What I object to is monitoring for monitoring's sake. We have asked the EA to cease their monitoring of adult cyprinids through the estate as the data produced and the use to which it is put to by the EA is outweighed by the risk electro fishing poses to our gravid chub and barbel. Chub are probably the most susceptible fish to electro fishing damage and they are currently the saving grace of the Avon fishery. We also know pretty accurately how many and the year classes of cyprinids throughout the estate, it is the reason behind the gaps in species and year classes we wish to see looked into. My recent request to the EA as to the extent of pathogen or parasite information related to our fish produced a complete zero. The location and protection of spawning sites, ZERO, the head difference at barriers to passage for migrating cyprinid and salmonid species, ZERO. Distribution and migration of larval stage cyprinids......... I don't see the value of half a million spent counting salmon entering the river when we know numbers are insufficient to support the fisheries. Better that money was spent knocking down or efficiently by-passing the barrier to passage of all species the structure containing the fish counter represents!!

What of our salmon season to-date? Unsurprisingly there have been half a dozen fish taken at the bottom of the river and we have seen a trickle of fish moving upstream. Just how inclined to take a fly those running fish will be under the current clear water and low flow regime I wouldn't like to say. There is a good sized salmon laying in front of the gates at Ibsley. On my daily visits to the hatches I try and approach that fish without spooking it and have failed miserably on at least half a dozen occasions. The appearance of so much as my forehead over the bank or hatches brings an immediate disappearance into the pool above. If that is an example of the nervous state of the fish; long lines, fine leaders and small flies are the order of the day. I'm told there's also a salmon laying where we removed the tree below Dog Kennel Pool, I've not even managed to see that fish emphasising the need for stealth in the approach to the pools. I suppose the knowledge that fish are with us is of some comfort. Perhaps early and late starts might also increase the odds a little in favour of the angler?

At the end of the coarse season I was discussing with Pete Reading the amount of spraint our ever present otter population was leaving on the banks. With all the hot debate about the implications for our fish populations I would dearly like to see a thorough and ongoing MONITORING of spraint to determine just what our mob are eating. I must have a word with the wildlife trusts or the Game Conservancy to see if anyone would like to find the funding and carry out such an exercise on a chalk stream SSSI with designated species involved!! There is always the risk it may confirm the worst fears of the doom and gloom element of the debate but at least we would have some hard facts to go on. To add to the debate cormorant pellets might be similarly analysed if collected from the roosts which would be extremely interesting. On the subject of Pete Reading I must say well done to Pete and Hugh Miles on the excellent barbel handling video they have produced for the Barbel Society. As we have become accustomed to where Hugh is involved the filming is superb and if you wish to see just what a classic Avon swim looks like have a peek at the link below.

Barbel Society Handling Code

And on the subject of Hugh!! Several years ago Hugh very kindly put together for me a video of under water shots which I sent to the EA asking they evaluate the method as a means of monitoring fish stocks on the Avon without the need to fry our gravid fish. I was hoping the video kit would replace the need to stick a charged anode up the nether regions of our fish. Unfortunately I never did hear the reason behind the reluctance to adopt the potentially fish friendly method? I appreciate the problems of turbidity but as our chalk-streams tend to have at least a couple of months of the year when they are running clear I would have thought the technique was at least worth fully evaluating.

The dace shoals have thankfully returned without apparent loss of numbers. Piles of otter spraint to the extent it has killed the grass, at least finding samples for any analysis will not be difficult. No need to search the spraint to know what the otter that enjoyed this huge eel had been feeding on.

I must admit to having been beside the water for the odd hour during the period of my absence in that I have been desperately trying to finish the margin clearing that should have been completed six weeks ago. The importance of the margins to both rivers and still water is sadly overlooked on many fisheries I visit. If flow is perhaps the major player on rivers light must come a very close second and on still water must be the primary ecological determinant. If we are to have rich bank-side vegetation with dense foliage for invertebrates, hence food source, we have to have light. Left to their own devices wind and water borne seed of willow and alder quickly establish and dominate the flora. Whilst willow car and alder both have important roles in providing; nectar, pollen, seed for food, spawning habitat amongst the root masses and cover, the extent has to be strictly managed to avoid total dominance of a single culture. Many fisheries would perhaps do well to consider the area between the swims and access points as equally important as the swims themselves.

I will just finish by mentioning one or two of those events I claim are not the main thrust of this blog in that I spent a very cold Wednesday morning, as the sun rose to chase away the frost, listening to the Bramblings calling from the tops of the oak and beech trees on the Upper Park. Each Spring the flocks gather in one particular area of woodland on the estate and the sound of dozens and often hundreds of male Brambling "chirrring" as they move through the deciduous woodland, as they head back north to their breeding grounds, is one of the dawn chorus's more dramatic productions. Whatever the state of the river and the state of fishing an appreciation of the backdrop will always guarantee a worthwhile day. The Hobbies are here and the Grannom are hatching excuse enough to get out and enjoy the river.

With the coarse season having escaped me I certainly will not be letting the salmon have such an easy ride, I'm adamant I will get out with the rod in the near future. With the low, low river the next five or six weeks will offer the best chance of a fish, whilst we retain reasonably low water temperatures. You never know we may get a wet summer and the river will get regular top ups but I do not intend to take that risk and will be out and about as soon as possible.

With the low river this winter I have had to hold water on the Hucklesbrook Marsh by holding back the springs that come from the gravel scarp to the east of the valley. The low volume of this source means flooding is a very gradual process if I am to avoid drying sections of the ditches and drains below the hatch. It was not until mid January that I eventually flooded the fields. The intervening couple of months have seen the waders and wildfowl making the most of the scant feeding the marsh provides with many hundreds present on most days. Unfortunately for the birds I have graziers to consider and by mid March we have historically attempted to get the meadows drained and the grass growing in readiness for the arrival of the stock. With the need to get the meadows dry the process of draining is a reversal of the gradual flooding process whereby water is slowly spilled to avoid downstream scouring or silt disturbance. This involves numerous visits to remove and adjust boards to ensure only an inch or two a day is dropped and the area flooded doesn't disappear overnight. This morning as I had an hour before Mother's Day arrangements swung into being I headed for the marsh armed with the scope to see what was still making use of the area. I suppose with the lack of water in the valley I shouldn't have been surprised at the number of birds present. The Curlew spotted me as I arrived, moving a couple of hundred metres further up the marsh announcing my presence to the gathered flock with their beautiful call as they did so. As I set up the scope the Teal and Wigeon abandoned the open marsh and moved into the stands of soft rush where they disappeared without trace other than the continued piping of the Teal. Luckily many of the waders did not consider me a serious threat and continued to feed in the shallow water and silty channels. Thirty or forty Lapwing, a round dozen Redshank, two Ruff, three Green sandpiper, glimpses of the Snipe as they fed on the edge of the soft rush and a first for me in the valley, a Spotted redshank. Add in assorted geese and a pair of Shelduck and it was immediately apparent the summer migrants were equally as pleased to find a little wetland as were our diminishing number of winter visitors. Luckily under the current HLS agreements where the meadows are managed with the avian habitat in mind I have more flexibility in draining down as livestock numbers are restricted during the breeding season of the waders. Today I let the boards remain as they were and left the marsh leaving the the birds to enjoy their breakfast.

Hidden depths of the marsh.

Whilst my tale of birds a plenty might be of interest there is a further message in that story. What the marsh clearly illustrates is that with a little care we are able to manipulate the valley environment for the benefit of its wildlife. This artificial control of habitat applies equally to the river and with care and consideration we can ensure the habitat provided for our fish is similarly beneficial. The crucial element of the equation is care and consideration. Nothing major is embarked upon without enormous consideration, observation and understanding. If we are to undo the damage inflicted on this valley through decades of neglect and dilapidation change is inevitable but rest assured we do not enter into these projects lightly.

Remiss of me to disappear without warning or explanation, I have however been occupied with matters of a fishy nature that have filled the time in the wee small hours that I usually dedicate to scribbling this diary. Before I let you in on what has been distracting me I really should give an account of the end of my coarse season. If I restrict my entry to the fish that I managed to catch I need write no further. I failed to get out for a final visit to either river or still water through my inability to get my priorities in the correct order. As I drive into work each morning, passing the anglers in the car parks getting ready for their day beside the water, I always envy them the day yet manage to put off my own visit a further twenty four hours. Most definitely a case of the ease of availability being my downfall. I did manage the odd stop and chat to those I spotted on my travels about the estate. I always enjoy those chats, it saves the time of me having to set up my rods if I can watch someone else’s rod tip or float for quarter of an hour. I'm like the junky having received my fix I can then get on with the task that is requiring my attention.

As for the fishing others were enjoying for me, I must say we did okay. Despite the changeable weather the river continued to produce good fishing to those prepared to invest a little effort. Before the recent rise in water barbel were showing well with a fish of fifteen plus in a bag of four fish at Ibsley. I also know of an eleven ten and a thirteen plus so we were expecting a perfect end to the season after our rise in water and the addition of a little colour. In reality the week after the rain was a little disappointing in that bright days and cold clear nights soon saw off the benefits of the flush of water and we were back to a low clear river. It was the chub that undoubtedly continued to prove the star attraction with a string of sixes and one or two sevens showing up. There were odd large bream and barbel from the river, plus one or two perch and pike but not the finish I had hoped to see. The season can best be described as going out with a whimper and if the river remains in its current state I fear the salmon season will fare little better. For those wishing to see some pix of Avon fish I thoroughly recommend Phil Smith's blog "Travellingman" In my case it just confirms what I already know in that I really should have been out fishing.

As for the subject that has been occupying my time it all stems from why chub should be in such a dominant position whilst other species such as roach and salmon remain suppressed to the point of non-existent. Lots of half baked theories, that simply do not add up, yet few hard facts. Until some one gets to grips with population dynamics we will be none the wiser. In an effort to expand my understanding of the situation I have been looking at a mixed band of pathogens, infectious agents, that might be having an impact on our fish populations. Bacteria, viruses, fungal infections and parasites, the one immediate effect of all my reading is that I am scratching like a mangy dog. To say there are some ugly little buggers that seem ever present in our river is the understatement of the century. We all know of the big ugly ones such as pomphorryhnchus laevis, that effected our chub through the 60's and 70's. Ligula intestinalis, that is ever present in our still water roach where we have Grebe and Cormorants visiting on a regular basis and the dread of gyrodactylus reaching our shores. There are however many other unpleasant parasites that are a great deal smaller and may have been with us wreaking untold damage for decades. One such group are the myxozoans, a large group of pathogens that impact on their host in a multitude of unpleasant ways. Unfortunately they infect many of our cyprinid fish with roach, chub and dace being on the list of unfortunates that suffer from their attention. The problem is that we can't see them without specialised equipment and they can be transmitted in the water column so it is virtually impossible for a potential host to avoid them. There is discussion that O+ year classes could be fatally impacted by as much as ninety nine percent. Those not killed may suffer muscle mass invasion and restricted growth or reduced fecundity; we simply do not know. If that is the case it doesn't leave a lot for the other agents that act to deplete numbers of our fish. Alas our knowledge of what is occurring on our river is extremely limited. Staff at Cefas down at Weymouth have been incredibly helpful in supplying information related to the action of these parasites nationally. I emailed the local EA to inquire if they had any parasitology data related to our fish on the Hampshire Avon but have yet to received an acknowledgement or any information.

Where is this leading? I'm not sure. We have to look into these potential problems but as yet I don't know by which means. I would like to see Cefas looking specifically at the Avon but that will take a lot of funding and lobbying so no early outcome likely. There are other pathogens and other questions such as transmission between species, impact of aquaculture on pathogen loads, STW chemical, enzyme and pheromone impacts. Huge questions currently without answers and without any one actively seeking the answers on the Avon. I shall continue to wade through this unsavoury primordial soup in an effort to get a fuller understanding for myself. I will be pestering staff at Weymouth who have foolishly made the mistake of offering me assistance and I will be looking for allies in seeking the answers to the expanding list of questions I am compiling. It is becoming a consuming interest that will undoubtedly eat into diary time but I will do my utmost to keep things ticking along and make readers aware of any outcome from my search.

I do not have a photograph to accompany this entry, which is probably just as well as they're the stuff of nightmares. I will finish on a seasonal high note in that those fishing Hucklesbrook in the last week or two will have enjoyed the annual arrival of the Curlews that visit the flooded meadows each Spring on their migration back to their nesting grounds further north. The call of the Curlew must be one of the most haunting , evocative sounds in the bird world and the dozen birds currently on the marsh make a wonderful sound track on these misty mornings; long may they continue to call.

As I have been away enjoying the blues for three days, if that's not an oxymoron, I am a little out of touch. I must just add a very quick update in that I have been informed that congratulations are due to Mr Eric Lipscombe who has landed the first salmon of the season from the Avon down on the Severals. A fish of between twelve and fourteen pounds, from the tail of Firs pool, on a tube and witnessed by owner Mr Derek Goulding. Well done Eric, encouragement if any were needed to get the rods out, particularly after today's rain that may have added an inch or two to the river.

Not a great deal more news on the angling front today I'm afraid. I did drop in at Ibsley and only found two pike anglers, they were the only two I spoke to so I am a day or two behind the times. They had managed two double figure fish and as we spoke a good double lunged at the fry in the swim scattering fish in all directions. There were half a dozen cars in the car park at Ellingham so others must have been out enjoying the sunshine but I didn't get an opportunity to find out how they had fared.

I did call in at the weir down at Ringwood to see how the de-silting of the balancing pond was progressing. It would appear to be going well, which hopefully means the work will be finished within a month. Its unfortunate that the work coincided with the end of the coarse season on the river but unfortunately that is down to the lack of consideration afforded angling within local authority and government circles. I'm not sure where the blame for that lies? The work is certainly preferable to the bloody hippies but a further addition to the already disastrous loss of fishery revenue could have been done without. On balance I think it is with us in the angling fraternity as we are abysmal at representing our own interests despite considerable legislation on our side to aid our case. The very existence of the balancing pond is down to legislation designed to keep our rivers free of pollution. The pond was built to intercept pollution that may arise from incidents on the roundabout and dual carriageway. It may even pick up the drains from the further side of the carriageway no one seemed too sure at our last meeting. What it does highlight is that whilst designed to intercept a major pollution and maintain a balanced head of water in the drain it does not prevent the day to day; tar, rubber, petrol and oil solution that accumulates on our miles and miles of roads from eventually getting into out river systems. If that complaint has a familiar ring to it perhaps, like me, you are an ardent fan of Harry Plunket Greene who in his most beautiful book "Where The Bright Waters Meet" expressed his dismay at the tarring of the roads beside his beloved River Bourne. Our relaxed attitude toward fighting our corner with regard to local authority and government agencies has perhaps also given rise to this accepted practice of waste disposal. I wonder just what the impact of a diesel film on the surface has on our invertebrate population. I appreciate the requirement for sump drains and regular cleaning etcetera but I believe the balancing pond was meant to be on a regular maintenance programme; this is its first attention in forty years!!!!

Clearing out the Ringwood balancing Pond.

Whilst wandering about today I spent some time mulling over the season ahead. Whatever happens now with regard to rainfall and recharge of our desperately low system I think we are to see an early weed season. The current low water is also clear and that means light is able to penetrate to the bed stimulating growth. Where sufficient flow exists in controlled channels the Ranunculus is already looking lush and green as the over wintering beds have sprung into life. There are two ways of looking at the likelihood of heavy weed growth. One is that in the event the rain doesn't arrive we will need every inch of its coffering effect to maintain a head of water and provide cover for the fish in the restricted water available. Alternatively I can already hear the cries of;
"We can't fish the river because its full of weed".
Whilst we may apply for a Waste Management Exemption, that's what you have to have from the EA if you wish to cut weed, what has to be remembered is that summer coarse fishing on the Avon is a comparatively recent innovation and whilst under ideal conditions it is an enjoyable part of our calendar it must never come before the welfare of our river and our fish. Many of the species targeted in the summer may have only spawned days before they become the quarry. In the Avon's historic past in most instances September was the earliest they were fished for and then barbel only down at the Royalty. When the trend of moving barbel about the fisheries with introductions at the Severals, higher in the catchment and over on the Stour the pressure for greater summer access increased. This year we may have to practice a little restraint and allow a potentially stressed system, with all its dependent life forms, a little space. Food for thought perhaps! Lets hope we never reach that situation and Mother Nature manages to balance the books.

Fresh ranunculas below the intake weir.

By way of encouragement, I received an email from Colin Morgan this evening with news of a lost salmon that pulled powerfully and looked deep bodied when it rolled off the hook. Fishing down at Ashley he had already landed a well mended kelt and the lost fish felt different. It may have been a kelt, we will never know but hopefully it was the first signs of a fresh fish in the system.

With the rally on the estate today I stayed well clear. As it was such fine weather I dropped in on the bees and found them making the most of the day.

I had time this afternoon to pay a visit to the meadows to look at the flood levels on which the swans, ducks and geese are spending much of their time. Pleasingly everything was in order so with no broken gates or blocked channels to use up my scarce time I decided to walk the Carrier down to the confluence with the main river. I skirted the flooded section of the meadow and joined the carrier just downstream of the old red brick hump-backed bridge. As I was walking the west side of the stream my view of the water was only patchy as the dry phragmites beds covered most of the bank with only short gaps to afford a glimpse of the fast flowing stream. As I pushed through the reeds I almost trod an a Bittern that grunted his disapproval and flopped of across the field to land in a reed filled oxbow a couple of hundred metres away. I had marked the exact spot it had landed and being too good a photo opportunity to miss I followed, taking a detour around the back of the pool to take best advantage of the light.

Old humped-backed bridge.

My route took me to the river bank some one hundred and fifty metres upstream from where I followed the water toward the landing spot. Half way along the tree covered bank I came upon Roy Williams enjoying a break from his fishing for a cup of tea. Roy had managed six nice chub, nothing massive, all in the four pound bracket but pleasingly deep and chunky young looking fish. Half a dozen good fish on the pin is what I consider to be a good way to spend an hour or two on the Avon; I really must get the rods out soon. Leaving Roy to enjoy his tea I headed, as quietly as possible, to the spot where I had seen the bird land a further fifty meters downstream. As I crept the last ten metres positive I would spot the bird any second, two Water rails were arguing over some unseen treasure, oblivious to my presence but I was determined to get a snap of the Bittern and left them to their dispute. I studied the spot I was sure the bird had landed but couldn't see so much as a feather. Three or four minutes and the rails wandered through followed by a Moorhen but no Bittern. Oh well it was worth a try. Straightening up I took a step onto the dry reeds that snapped and crackled sending the Bittern up into the air from the edge of a clear pool not ten feet to my left. Some you win some you lose.

The bird flew up and headed back upstream over the head of Roy who I hoped might have spotted it as many of the anglers enjoy seeing the birds of the valley. As I passed I asked if he had seen the bird fly by but alas he'd missed it and I left him to his fishing as I intended to fit in a visit to the oxbow on the opposite bank. Ten minutes and I was over the other side looking back as Roy struck into a good fish well down the trot. Perfect, if I couldn't get a Bittern shot for the diary I could get a pic or two of Roy in action.

As good as it gets and great deal easier than photographing Bittern, Roy Williams into a fish whilst trotting the Avon. The second pic records the landing of a two and three quarter pound barbel. Oddly, small barbel are a great deal rarer than double figure fish; it was good to see Roy land this fine little specimen.

As a post script I should just add a follow-up to the rainbow shot of the other day in that I received an email from Brian Marshall who informs me there was a salmon in Gypsy that day. It turned out to be a very well mended kelt that gave Brian raised hopes for a few minutes as it objected to being hooked on its journey back to the coast. Personally I think that kelt was under the faint rainbow on the left, the brighter rainbow surely marked the lie of a fresh Springer!!!!!

Just the briefest of notes as such a day should be recorded. The first brimstone butterfly of the year was drifting down the sunny side of Ellingham Drive and the Lapwing are staking their claims beside the flooded sections out on the water meadows. The sun shone and the fish fed, so lots of smiling faces down on the river today. Barbel into double figures and six pound chub are appearing throughout the fishery from Ashley to Ibsley. I'm surprised I have not seen more anglers out enjoying the conditions. I intend to spend an hour or two in the garage over the weekend and dig out my coarse gear in an effort to get one or two visits in before the end of the season that is fast approaching. It may be a little early to declare Spring to have arrived but today was definitely a step in the right direction.

It seems a long time since I put up the previous entry, not through being busier than normal but the lack of positive news to raise spirits at this dour time. A cold February such as we have just endured has to be my least favourite period of the year. Most months have something to say in their favour but I'm struggling to find anything good to say about the last week or two. With today's change in the weather fingers crossed for a few days warmth and rain to bring a positive end to the coarse season. Those brave soles I've come across in my travels about the river during the last week or two have had chub to thank for saving the duck. Good fish are still being caught on a regular basis but small baits and plenty of time are the prerequisites of success. My idea of a days chubbing, roving about the fishery throwing large lumps of flake and cheese into likely looking holes isn't producing the goods in these low clear conditions.

The salmon pools looking clipped and ready. With the unseasonably low water the summer lies must be worth a look. The traditional early lies such as Ibsley Pool are too shallow to hold fish yet water such as Island Run and Tizards that are normally associated with later fish look spot-on.

I have to admit to being somewhat preoccupied with one or two other distractions one of which was reading my personal diary that I kept prior to the current online version. Interestingly a completely different animal where I was a great deal more candid with my record of daily events. No effort to share or enlighten as is the raison_d’être of the "avondiary"; a far more caustic, venomous and undoubtedly libellous tome but highly amusing from a personal perspective. The online diary has to be overly PC and avoid contentious views that may be mistakenly seen as those of organisations with which I am associated. I endeavour to show the countryside as a working environment as opposed to the bolt on to our urban sprawl, Middle England's playground. I did think about reverting to the written account but on consideration my private ramblings are best kept just that' private; so the online version is to continue.

As for that working environment it has been a case of rushing to get the tree work finished before the sap begins to flow and the buds swell signalling the start of Spring. The section of willow car between the fishing Lodge and the river is being cleared to open up the valley sight lines. Hazel coppicing is in full swing and the marginal regrowth on the lakes has to be strimmed out if we are to retain the open, tended fishery we desire on the coaching and day ticket lakes. I am finally down to one day of strimming to clear the willow regrowth around the lakes at Ibsley, where at this time last year I was up to my knees in mud and shattered willows as we cleared the unmanaged rubbish. Certainly this years strimming and clearing is physically easier but at some future point I still have to get on with the next phase of the clearing. Thankfully the club have weighed in with some help to open up one of the strangled reed beds and I certainly appreciate any help to get on top of that thankless task.

Clearing the margins of lakes that are used as coaching and dayticket waters. The first three shots show the one years growth of alder already closing out the marginal plants such as yellow Flag. If left what is a relatively easy job becomes weeks of intensive cutting and clearing.

Yesterday morning with a day off and the opportunity to get the rods out the prospect of loosing the feeling in my toes, looking for chub or pike, held very little appeal. The fly rod in search of a February salmon and the risk of numb and painful fingers I viewed in a similar light. I must put this down to my age as a decade or two back I would have fished through such conditions without a seconds thought.

Icicles on the Eel Pool hatches.

As it worked out I had a further excuse to avoid the rods in that it was a WeBS day requiring an early start and plenty of walking to keep the blood circulating. If the path tool on Google Earth is to be believed the walk involved some seven miles much of it over frozen hoof marks and tractor ruts which explains my aching calves this morning. The count was interesting in that the icy conditions had moved many of the birds off the lakes and into the valley. In excess of five hundred geese and with the added three hundred and thirty one Mute swans and hundreds of duck the weight of birds is currently quite impressive. One or two rarities in the shape of the Whooper swan and the Bewicks, still with the main Mute herd, continue to attract the dedicated twitchers in an effort to get their year ticks. There were also five Barnacle geese with one of the Canada flocks, whether these are feral or wild birds is almost impossible to say but their presence added to the days interest. There were one or two notable dips on my part as I failed to find the fifteen Golden Plover that had been about all week and the three Smew reported at Ibsley also managed to avoid me. Pity about the Smew as one was a drake and a prettier little duck is hard to imagine. Purely by luck I did manage to stumble on one of the Bittern that are currently stalking about the valley but just how many are currently hiding in the reeds beds is impossible to say with such infrequent visits.

The latest club project progressing well as the new coaching classroom begins to take shape on the site of the old delapidated buildings. The facility is ideally situated to permit coaching on the Trout Stream, Edwards, Crowe and Thompkins pools and the main river. Well done to th eclub for investing in the future of angling.

Still on the bird front last nights slight rise in temperature has signaled the restart of the displaying and nest building. Apart from my sparrow adding to the nest again the sight and perhaps in their case more importantly the sound of three Lesser spotted woodpeckers drumming away in one of the woods brought the woods back into life. These delicate little birds are easily overlooked as they tend to stay high in the canopy this time of year is probably the easiest time to see them. With well in excess of one hundred and twenty Redwing scratching about in the leaf matter, Crossbills flying back and forth in the Scots canopy and the delicate Redpolls taking on the high colour of spring the woods were a nice place to be.

I believe this cold spell to have slowed the galloping onset of Spring that was so apparent a week or two ago. The rush of nest building has almost ceased and the early shoots are now blackened and shrivelled. The Siskin, Goldfinch and Red poll have arrived at the feeders in greater numbers than they have all winter. We have been busy with the tree work that now has a more wintry feel to the task as the cold north wind makes stacking the brash on the fire a welcome task. We are working beside the river where the soft ground does not allow the machine to work safely making the clearing up and burning a hand task reminiscent of bygone days. Being so close to the river I have kept an eye on the passing anglers and whilst only one or two hardy salmon rods arrived to try their luck, to no avail, the chub and pike men have continued to find good specimens tucked away in the pools.

As I write I have my nest-box cam picture of a hen House sparrow in the corner of my second screen. Last week they were carrying material as they started building their nest, this week happy to use as a roost away from the bitterly cold night.

The cold wind has broken up the ice over the larger water bodies but the smaller pools and the shallow water meadows remain locked in an icy grip. The only visitors to the smaller ponds and lakes are the otters who leave their frustrated tracks criss crossing the snow covered ice as they seek a means of finding their food. Strangely despite the larger lakes being free of ice many of the duck are spending their days on the meadows. I assume that grazing is hard at the moment and they extend their grazing into the daytime to find sufficient food to keep them going.

Frustrated otter and over four hundred Wigeon, a hundred plus Teal, dozens of Mallard and one or two Pintail out on the frozen meadows all day.

I must just add congratulations to Richie Martin on the capture of a three pound seven ounce Grayling from the club stretch of the River Frome; fabulous fish well done Richie. Whilst mentioning the club stretch on the Frome, Kevin Styles has asked me to remind members that there is currently no wading due to the exceptionally high number of salmon redds on the stretch; hopefully a good sign for the future.

Despite the snow and ice up country good numbers of anglers managed to get to the Salmon Open Day. Chaiman Ian may greeted everyone before many headed for the Lodge to enjoy the open fire, coffee and burgers served up by club stalwart John Turner. Brin Woodsford and Peter Wildash of The Ringwood & District Branch of the Fly Dressers Guild put on a fine demonstration ofthe art of tying; Brin hiding behind Peter in the photo. Once warmed and greeted everyone headed for the far bank where Kevin Styles can be seen explaining the mysteries of catching salmon on the Avon.

With the truck in dock one or two of those outstanding jobs were on the agenda.

The weather has changed this evening with the air temperature above zero and gentle rain taking the place of the promised snow. If as forecast it is going to blow through by the morning the Salmon Day looks as if it may be lucky. I believe there are some kelts about so I expect someone will get a heart stopping pull tomorrow, fingers crossed the change in weather has persuaded a fresh fish to join in.

With the truck in the garage getting various bits strapped back on I've been grounded when it comes to getting about off-road. If there is a time to be away from the valley with temperatures as low as they were today it would seem as good as any. I did borrow Anne's car to visit the water meadows this evening, to ensure the water was flowing as I had intended to keep an area ice free. The left over barley that had been intended for the flight ponds is now being spread in any free water as a bonus for the wildfowl which have been quick to take advantage. This evening at dusk the Widgeon and Teal just poured into the valley to graze. Impossible to count or even guess at the numbers it is whistling and the sound of wings announcing their mass arrival. In reality numbers on such occasions are irrelevant, suffice to know that the meadows are providing the feeding that the wildfowl are seeking in such severe conditions.

The water meadows proving popular.

My late arrival beside the river did mean I failed to meet any anglers today but I don't imagine many would have braved the cold. I must remember to put a returns book in the lodge to ensure we keep a record of any salmon that are caught. I would like to see the coarse anglers make more use of the lodge, as a meeting place and refuge on days such as today it's ideal. I should remind the salmon rods that Sunday is the club;

Salmon Open Day.

A chance for the salmon anglers to get together to swap information, enjoy a cast or two and enjoy the refinements of the Lodge where I believe the oven will be in use providing sausage sandwiches.

Whilst on the salmon subject, Nigel Bennett has just sent me the two photographs above, which he took further up river than Somerley when the salmon ran upstream on their final push to the redds. Hen on the left, cock fish on the right both in full spawning colour having been in the river for several weeks if not months.

A snippet of news to lift the spirits. Paul emailed to say he met a rod on the bank yesterday that had lost a fish in Hoodies, which looked like a fresh fish. I'm not sure the spirits of the rod involved will have been lifted very far but it at least shows there are one or two fish in the system.

The shooting season comes to an end and the salmon season gets under-way in a seamless progression that has occurred in the countryside for generations. The opening weeks of the salmon season used to be associated with wooden Devon minnows, fished with an ounce of lead on the dropper. High flows necessitated the lump of lead to get down to where the early Springers would be laying in the deep swift flowing pools. Today the rods have method restrictions that have seen the Devon consigned to the annals of history. The rods I met out on the bank who are restricted to fly only didn't need their fast sinking lines to get down to the bottom, a simple sink tip reached most of the holding water. The low, clear water we are experiencing mean any fish that are entering the river will have little difficulty in seeing the fly.

Paul Greenacre proving why he was so successful last season being prepared, with one or two other rods, to brave today's freezing weather to wet a line on opening day.

As I'm sure readers realise we are in desperate need of rain if we are to avoid a serious drought this summer. If we continue as we are the fact the fish will not enter the river is the least of our problems, we will be entering into uncharted territory with regard to how low this river can go. The recharge of the aquifers necessary to sustain our flows through the summer will require weeks of rain. That rain must fall before a rise in minimum temperatures set the new season growth into motion. Once the plants begin to grow they will intercept the water and much will be lost to the groundwater through transpiration. Under what might be considered normal conditions growth is likely to start in six to eight weeks so the rain needs to get a move on. It might mean the looming rally, craft fayre and horse trials become a mud bath but if we have a choice I'll take the mud. I suppose the alternative might be for it to rain throughout the summer up on Salisbury Plain and we enjoy the benefits down here in the lower river, I'm not sure the inhabitants of Salisbury will agree with that solution.

As is always the case with the close of the shooting season the geese re-appeared at the lakes this morning and completely ignored me as I discharged the shotgun over their heads to send the Cormorants on their way. Their disgruntled honking sending me off with a definite flea in the ear as I clambered back into the truck. The cold snap of the last couple of days has frozen the marsh seeing the arrival of two new species; the Blue-arsed swan and the Bent-billed Godwit. Both species looking decidedly less than impressed with the appearance of the ice. Unfortunately one of this years swans probably attempting his first landing on the frozen surface became a crumpled heap with a neatly broken neck; the local foxes will feed well tonight. Sadly two other regulars at Ibsley seem to be suffering from the sudden freeze. Known by various names "Pinky and Perky" "Laurel and Hardy" and one or two other less complimentary names as they scrounge bait from sympathetic anglers, the two inseparable feral mallard hybrids seem to have had a bad night. This morning I found one of the pair hauled out on the bank with an apparently damaged leg and wing and no sign of his long standing partner in crime. I scooped up the casualty and gave him the quick once over which confirmed a damaged leg but no obvious cause. On placing him back on the bank he managed to slip back over the frozen margin and onto the river where he looked a little more comfortable. I'm not sure how long they have been with us on the river at Ibsley, certainly in the region of ten years which would make them long lived in a wild environment. I will be surprised if I see them again for if I can pick him up a fox will soon find him, which was probably the fate of his friend. In an effort to cheer up the wildfowl I have started to flood twenty acres of water meadow that I will ensure continues to flow preventing ice from forming. If the cold spell continues into next week I expect the birds will make good use of ice free channels.

All but the deep central channel frozen over. Four Bewicks finishing the days grazing with a wash and brush up in the little free water they could find at Ibsley Splash. Pinkie? not looking so good!

The photo below shows the current state of the Ringwood weir parking area, without its traveller encampment. We met with the Highways Agency today to discuss the way ahead with regard to future access. These discussions will be ongoing but what will happen with immediate effect is that there will be two very large concrete blocks placed across the access to the south of the weir. They are being placed there to ensure the area we use as car-parking is kept clear for contractors who are to de-silt the balancing pond; the area behind the new rail fence. The contract is due to start in the next fortnight and run for about six weeks which will mean there will be no parking in the area until the work is finished. There will be pedestrian access to the swims during this time but please use common sense if heavy plant is working on site. The blocks will also ensure no repeat occupation and to prevent further fly tipping which has already taken place. Have patience and hopefully at the end of all this we will be able to arrange a sensible and secure car park once more.

Ringwood Weir free of travellers at last.

I imagine many of you that read the diary have a copy of BB's "The Fisherman's Bedside Book" safely tucked away on your bookshelves. BB captured the best of the best in this inspiring little book that played a major part in my personal angling history always being a guaranteed source of the magic I sought on the bank. The authors of some of the included tales wrote with an ease that transported you to the very bank that gave rise to their epic battles and red letter catches. One such story is titled "One Tail" and is an extract from the Badminton Library, penned by Cholmondeley Pennell recalling his Coarse Fishing adventures. I have mentioned this chapter on previous entries in the diary when looking at extracts from Tizards catches in the estate records back in the 1870's but today it was brought into being in a most graphic sense. The story itself relates how Pennell and his friend Mr Darvall were out on the river with my predecessor Samuel Tizard in one of the small Avon punts in search of pike. On happening upon a veritable monster asleep in the lilies they hatched a dastardly plot to extract the denizen by means of the cunning use of the gaff alone. Suffice to say their scheme came to no good and the destruction of the seat of Tizard's breeks seems but small penalty for such audacity.

The Tizard's Salmon, carved from a hawthorn snag removed from Tizard's Pool, leaping over BB's "The Fisherman's bedside Book"

Old estate maps and early photographs clearly show the boat house that was home to the punt in question but it fell into disrepair and disappeared long ago in the 1930's. Today I had need to visit the section of bank where the old weatherboard boathouse once stood and to my amazement there in a slight depression was the clear out line of an Avon punt. I can well believe this was the very same craft that supported the floating protagonists as they drifted into position to hatch their foul plot against the sleeping adversary. Now but a rusty iron lined gunwale topping the rotting, moss covered timbers standing six inches clear of the surrounding soil. The slight depression was the old boathouse bay, long since silted up and hidden beneath a gnarled crack willow, grown tall and dying back since that craft last took to the water.

First glimpsed on the snowdrop covered bank can clearly be seen as the gunwale of an Avon punt.

The date of the adventure I can't be sure of, a clue in that Tizard died in 1928 at the age of eighty four and is buried in a churchyard but a mile from the site of his punt. The pool that carries his name is but one hundred metres away providing a safe haven for his ghost who now fishes from the boulder revetment I secured the bank with a decade ago. Diaries and records have him as Lord Normanton's Fisherman in the 1870's which would suggest a time well before the First World War. It could be fifty years prior to that time but of no real relevance the magic of that tale is simply timeless.

Nothing to fear from the sight of a dead salmon drifting in the weir pool at Ibsley today; just a kelt, hopefully having successfully fertilized his hens eggs, being washed through the system. Nothing to fear perhaps but I find the sight a little sad. I can't explain why as its as natural a part of the cycle of life and death as could ever be seen in the river. Possibly the once magnificent fish now a pale and washed out ghost of his former self seems harsh? It may simply be the unnaturally inverted head and wall eye where once there was a silver bar of pent up energy driven with a single objective. What ever the reason the sight of him going round and round in the weir pool eddy did nothing to lift the spirits this morning.

The redd count locally was much as expected, struggling into double figures, with the fish hopefully having run through the lower and middle reaches on the well timed flood we enjoyed. The Dockens was too low to allow the fish to run into the forest so the main channel redds at the confluence were well occupied. The second low flow winter in succession to see the fish fail to reach the forest. How many such low flow winters before any distinct forest gene is lost? Three, four and we will not have seen a fish enter the forest for the full span of the generations. The once prolific Linford stream and Hucklesbrook no longer have a spawning salmon population it looks as if the Dockens might be next. A local farmer who has lived on the banks of these stream his entire life told me tales of standing and watching processions of huge fish rushing up the Hucklesbrook and into the forest every Boxing Day as regular as clockwork. Across the concrete fords that mark the forest roads and up to the Latchmoor. "Where your fish boy?" "What you done wiv um all?" Good questions, we're no nearer having an explanation today than we were twenty years ago.

That's why I feel sad at the sight of that salmon!

I've not a great deal of news from the river so I thought I'd just put up a photo of the recently flooded marsh. I dropped the boards into place a week ago and whilst a struggle we have managed to raise the water level sufficiently to give the impression of a marsh. It might not be the most wonderful looking example of a flooded valley but the ducks and geese seem happy to see it and have arrived in good numbers.

The marsh at Hucklesbrook with several hundred geese and even greater numbers of duck. Two Peregrines were worrying the Teal, until a Lapwing that obviously wasn't paying attention was killed by the female that settled in the open field to eat her meal. Snipe, Heron, Pied wagtails by the dozen, it was good to see one small area of the valley looking as it should.

A fragment of fishing news. I did bump into one of our regulars, Kevin Silcott, earlier in the week who had just landed a big five and a six pounds seven ounce chub. What he went on to land that session I don't know but he did tell me it was his seventh chub over six pounds in recent weeks from that particular area of the estate, which ever way you look at it, that is good chub fishing. He had also managed two perch of two and a half pounds but had a suspicion they may have been the same fish as they looked so alike, still, one of those would have pleased me.

Yesterday, on my return from Glastonbury, I had to immediately rush out and do a WeBS count. Not the usual early start before dawn but I hoped to count the evening flights to roost. I had a further complication in that some of the shallow margins which had not seen the sun were still frozen from the hard frost the night before. The count was reasonably good but at the back of my mind I had the nagging doubt that in some cases the birds I was seeing would have been counted elsewhere in the valley. This is why we add our times to the online data collection site to enable those who collate the final figures the opportunity to filter out any such duplications. The other factor that minimises any errors are the frequency of the counts, we soon get to know how many of any species we are likely to see and any peaks or troughs can be allowed for. One family of birds that currently has an extremely high peak does not need any error factors included. The swans in the valley have decided to join us big time with over two hundred and fifty Mute, six Bewicks, two Black swans and the Whooper. For anyone wishing to see them the Bewicks and the Whooper are usually with the Mutes at Harbridge and the Black swans up in the Bickton weir pool.

If you think you have a swan problem there are over two hundred in this field with a further fity seven birds in their territories spread throughout the estate. The Whooper can usually be seen just beyond the first gate along Churchfield Lane, turn right 100m past Harbridge Church, usually eating or preening. The Bewicks tend to be further out in the field, four adults, two juveniles and the pair of Black swans are up in the Bickton weir pool easily seen from the public footpath.

I've been away for a day or two chasing Starlings about on the Somerset levels again. A most enjoyable time, even if I'm getting a little too old to be under canvas at minus four degrees as we endured Friday night. We did see an incredible number of Starlings but the hawks and harriers necessary to encourage the murmurations that provide the amazing displays failed to materialise. Coincidently what I did notice were the number of anglers out on the banks of the River Brue and some of the large rhynes. The expectations are not perhaps those that fish the Avon, small roach, perch and bream by our class certainly but bites non the less and what appears to be a healthy head of fish, certainly in most of the old workings. Its been a long time since I have watched clouds of fry spraying into the air as they were chased by shoals of perch on such a scale as I watched Friday evening at Shapwick. The state of our river and the concerns of those that feel so passionately about it were to the forefront last week with the CAC general meeting held at Somerley.

The mysterious Tor at Glastonbury overlooking the nature reserves of the Somerset levels. An early start before the swans were up and if you look closely you can see a fraction of the countless numbers of Starlings that stream in over the Tor in the evenings and leave just after first light.

Answering the questions raised from the floor of the meeting is an unenviable task for the committee but it does provide a focus for further attention. As a bystander at the back I must say I, almost, enjoyed the meeting, its always interesting to hear the views of those that feel so passionately; even if it subsequently transpires, in my role of river manager, I am personally responsible for most of what ails the entire Avon. It added a little tension to the meeting to be accused of being responsible for this years marginal weed growth (Apium nodiflorum - I'll say no more) the number of Cormorants and the increase in otters. Oh if only I had such powers but alas I can't lay claim to such influence. To believe myself, the club or any one else for that matter, should be responsible for cutting the marginal growth under such a flow regime for a personally perceived fishery benefit shows a remarkable lack of understanding of natural safety mechanisms. The committee did kindly allow me the opportunity to speak and dispel one or two myths surrounding the state of the river. Whilst I agree with some of the raised issues, elements of the fish population within the Avon, Roach, Salmon, Dace strugggling but equally others are buoyant in some areas and missing in others. Chub as an example in number and weights certainly surpassing anything I have witnessed on the Avon since I first fished the White Horse waters back in 1964. It isn't a problem unique to The Avon, rivers across the land are suffering population imbalances. Certainly from the estate's point of view if individual angler wish to clear themselves a swim , feel free. I should caution that the club must be happy with such arrangements and any cutting is done sympathetically and in accordance with all land drainage and conservation statutory requirements. I would also point out that the cover provided by the marginal growth this summer has given sanctuary to a large proportion of the fish population when they have been exposed to such low, clear water.

As for Cormorants and Goosander the fish have been exposed to, you cannot encourage people to break the law; who's counting, who's going to know, I can't count, shoot em, shoot em all, shoot the buggers. I despair, its all been tried before and all it does is show the angling fraternity is incapable of providing factually based argument to support their justified claims. I would also respectfully suggest that some one just might be counting and some one just might know, especially when we have police officers who are equally supportive and passionate about the river and one just happened to be sat next to me during that meeting. With a local coastal population in the region of 800 birds, able to move inland to occupy any vacant habitat, that illegal route will be along haul. The limited number that are licensed for culling has no appreciable impact when confronted with the numbers we see on the Avon. Change will only occur when the habitat that encourages the inland colonisation of Cormorants and Goosander and gives rise to the detrimental impact on the EU designated species within the conservation areas is recognised and removed.

The other aspect that is in urgent need of rectifying is the removal of Cormorants from Schedule 2. Part II of the Wildlife & Countryside Act and the subsequent failure to include it on the General Licence for the control of pests. Chapter 69, Schedule 2. Part II. Listed birds which could be killed or taken by authorised persons, or ‘pest birds’. As far as I can discover Cormorants were removed from Part II in 1992. As it was seen by the EU that Britain had not correctly transposed the Birds Directive into domestic legislation by including them. Unfortunately unlike Crows, Woodpigeons etcetera, Cormorants were never transferred to the General Licence that currently permits the killing of such pest species. Its all a little convoluted but I am still trying to discover how they could have been removed and if my interpretation is in fact correct. If it was not just an arbitrary stroke of the pen that removed them then there must have been a consultation process. If that were the case who represented the interests of the fishery owners and users and what case did they make at the time. I certainly cannot remember being consulted and at that time I was a self employed fishery manager, running Somerley and several other waters, which would have raised my interest had the information come my way. That's my interpretation of how we now have protected species, alien to the valley, devastating SSSI/SAC hence EU designated species in the Avon. All we have to do now is to persuade the EU Environment Commission that the current practice within the valley of attracting species, alien to the local habitat, to a completely artificially created environment, that subsequently adversely impact on EU designated species, is illegal under the Habitats Directive.

Once the EU accepts the illegality of the mentioned goings-on it is for Natural England to implement the removal of the habitat that provides these pests with sanctuary. Unfortunately our Natural England officers feel the creation of a totally alien habitat within and abutting the SSSI can be justified because the Little Ringed Plover, Schedule I protected species, can be encouraged to nest there. No consideration of the fact that Little ringed plovers or the artificial shingle banks they require to nest on are similarly totally alien to the Avon Valley. As I've said before if you were to introduce a diploid brown trout, a naturally occurring species with us, into the river you would risk prosecution under the same legislation, as there is a theoretical belief that they may compete with the EU designated salmon parr. Nothing proven, just a hypothesis, yet the proof of Cormorant and Goosander predation of salmonids is extensive.

I went on to criticise the Angling Trust for the extremely bad science being adopted in their Cormorant survey. Their approach to Cormorants is fundamentally flawed and has the potential to actually work against the case for greater control if demands can been proven to be based on flawed evidence. It will take the professionals arrayed against the angling interests seconds to point out the risk of duplication and lack of coordination and ridicule the entire process. The numbers are known, there is sufficient carefully collected data to support the need for change to the approach currently adopted by Defra, all it needs is the correct levers to set the process in motion. To implement those levers such as examining the EU legislation related to the deliberate damage to an EU designated species and the actions the regulators have taken to minimise such risk. Also the case for compensation if legislation is adversely impacting on the livelihoods of people employed in the fishery world. Compensation is a little more difficult to establish in that the removal from the quarry list as outlined above must have involved consultation with fishery representatives. If those said representatives agreed the removal without raising the question of compensation raising it now will be difficult. This argument also applies to the case for compensation for loss of stock through the protection of otters that are now giving rise to similar concern as they cause such havoc on may fisheries.

Back to the problem of fishery management and the unusual weed growth in such low flows as we have endured this year. Unfortunately its not just this year we are seeing a change in the riverine natural regime that in the last couple of decades has undergone nine or ten of the warmest years since records began. How that can be managed from the fishery perspective to provide conditions more akin to what might be considered normal I have no idea. The management of club or any other river fishery for that matter is a complex process. The subject was raised by those allocating blame for the current state of the Avon and whilst I agree we have population crashes in certain species others seem to be thriving under the new conditions. I similarly agree it can be very frustrating especially for a roach and salmon angler but if you are frustrated as an angler how do you think it feels to have all the other aspects of the river valley in equal disarray. We have to balance the demands of farmers, conservationist, wildfowlers, mineral extraction and water abstraction along with the anglers. As they say it is impossible to please all the people all of the time; broad shoulders are a pre requisite of the job!! Its no good barrack room lawyers jumping up on their hind legs and blaming all and sundry without factual backing and perhaps of more importantly factually based alternatives. Even more frustrating are knee jerk policies adopted by management groups to appease, pacify and mollify such ill founded rants.

What does come as a constant source of amazement to me is that with all the young graduates being turned out from establishments such as Sparsholt into a sector with with a paucity of jobs we do not see groups getting together and forming their own companies to provide a service for the clubs. Not consultancy but hands on - consultants are all too readily found in all walks of life where they recycle your own information and sell it back to you at an exorbitant and grossly inflated price. The services would have to include business plans related to venue objectives. Short term plan - fishery targets, stock, maintenance, access, work program/Mid term stocking policy, conservation objectives. Long term, land management, conservation, stocking, rearing and sales programme. The list is endless and currently being asked of volunteers. There is a wealth of talent out there why aren't they offering the clubs these services? As for any young person thinking such a business would provide them with an unlimited source of fishing - you are in the wrong job! If you can provide the clubs with an attractive plan your time will be well catered for in achieving it. Perhaps the key to financing such a plan would be through the sale of surplus fish stocks on a shared percentage basis with the client. Food for thought for some of the up and coming stars in the fishery world. Unfortunately business plans and computers will play a far greater part in your future that your rods but it would be an interesting way to scratch a living. One word of caution, which shouldn't be necessary if you have the qualities for such a role. The future of angling has to be based on conservation, habitat and environment. Angling has to fit in with the wider requirements of our riverine environment the narrow blinkered approach is no longer acceptable.

The sunset at Ellingham is half a mile upstream of the sunrise I included yesterday. It was on the shallows in the photograph I bumped into Ron Davy who had caught six Grayling and three trout on the fly. The presence of Grayling would seem to belie any water quality problems. If that is the case what element of the missing species - salmon/roach - lifestyle is involved; food, temperature, flow. Roach don't suffer high seas predation?

A midday entry as I have an AGM to attend this evening being held at Old Somerley over the "rickety" bridge at Ellingham and I'll probably be late home. I cross the bridge most mornings on my way into work and today the scene looked particularly wonderful as a fiery sunrise back lit the mist rising from the river. Definitely good for the sole and a reminder, if ever I need one, of the reason I do my job. I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to work in such a an environment and whilst the hidden problems of my job may not be immediately apparent to readers it is such surroundings and atmosphere that compensate.

Sunrise at Ellingham and the view of Harbridge Church across Edward's Pool on a still morning.

We seem to be in the midst of an alien invasion, not I hasten to add - to avoid a mass panic at Ibsley - the Orsen Wells, War of the Worlds type, more your every day feathered variety. We currently have a Dark-eyed Junco up in the Forest and a Ferruginous duck at Blashford. Add the Egyptian geese, mandarin wood ducks, the Spanish sparrow over the other side of the forest, Australian Black swans nesting and I'm not sure if the American Whistling swan Dave Stone slapped a ring on is still up on the Wylye but what we have, for want of a better term, is a right old mix. There's also a Ruddy duck about but I'm a little reluctant to mention that for fear of an further invasion of the Defra navy to cull it. I see Defra have extended the six and a half million pounds of public money funded cull in the belief of total eradication "we will exterminate" sounds familiar? Defra will have to watch their step if they are picking on the poor old Ruddy just because he's a Yank that might be interpreted as institutional racism and we all know where that ends. Thinking ahead I could save the public purse a fortune, I'll just pop the old twelve bore in the truck and go and blast that Yankee Junco and the Spanish sparrow that is giving rise to hybridisation concerns. I wonder how the gathered mass of twitchers would view my public spirited action? "JOKE" Back to the visitors and you will have seen I added the Whooper swan to the list along with the Siberian Bewicks which does make a dull year in the valley, due to lack of water, a little more interesting.

Having fallen across a very minor track we finally got to deal with the oak that I had included in a previous entry. Fairly straight forward, the only complications due to its size and the swampy nature of the ground either side of the track.. I put the photo up to illustrate one of my pet hates in that the blue streaks that can be seen on the cut section result from someone in the dim and distant past having driven cut nails into the tree to support a fence. The dastardly deed probably took place one hundred years ago, as can be seen from the depth within the tree, the tannic acid reacts with the ferrous metal leaving the blue trace in the timber. Why my dislike for the nailing fences and signs to trees, apart from the obvious disfigurement of a living plant, it costs us a great deal of money. The one hundred plus cubic feet of oak has been rendered virtually worthless as no sawmill is willing to purchase a baulk of timber with metal in it as it will take the edge off a valuable band saw blade. (Odd in that I'm metric in almost everything I do, having been trained by the Ordnance Survey that took the decision to go metric in 1966, yet I still think in terms of cubic feet for timber) The first thing any buyer looking at the tree will do is go over the baulk with a small metal detector and an indication of hidden metal will render it only fit for logwood. The moral of this story. Please do not fix your signs and fences to living trees.

The blue stains betray the secret of hidden metal.

I was quiet correct in anticipating a number of fallen trees awaiting my return, there seemed to be timber laying in all directions.. Access being the main priority it wasn't until quite late this afternoon I had the opportunity to head out across the water-meadows to clear branches from one of the hatches that was causing flooding. It was one of those trips that almost didn't happen as I was feeling desperately tired having cleared my way through several large casualties of the storm and the prospect of a soaking if things went awry didn't hold much appeal. As it was the afternoon had high cloud and good light, enough to persuaded me the walk would be a pleasant way to unwind. As the meadows are too wet to drive it did mean carrying the chainsaw over my shoulder for half a mile, having first ensured it was fuelled and oiled as there's nothing more exasperating than having to make a second trip for the sake of an egg cup full of two stroke.

As I crossed the first carrier I almost stumbled over the six Bewicks that are currently in the valley. I changed tack a few degrees to ensure they could see I was not heading in their directions and the stretched necks soon relaxed and resumed their grazing. They were with half a dozen Greylags and a small groups of Mutes all of which had been alarmed at my sudden appearance over the old hump backed bridge yet in a way I am unable to define they were able to decide I did not present a threat. Considering that the geese are still in season and likely to be shot at for a further three weeks allowing me to walk by within fifty metres is peculiar behaviour to say the least. Can they tell the difference between a chainsaw and a shotgun? Frightening thought, perhaps one of those questions best left unanswered.

For readers of a "swanny" nature there is a Whooper up at Harbridge with the main Mute flock. One amongst one hundred and fifty to two hundred Mutes, finding one Whooper may present somewhat of a problem. Just look for what appears to be a thumping great Bewick and that'll probably be him!

Trees down all over the place, unfortunately some are well down the priority list for removal.

Leaving them to their grazing I headed out across the open meadow towards the hatch in need of attention. The far side of the meadow becomes wetter with dense clumps of sedge poking through several shallow pools that lie beside the carrier that forms the border. As I cross the rough ground I usually flush good numbers of Snipe yet today not one. I was wondering where they had disappeared to when around the end of a phragmites bed, two hundred metres further down the carrier, appeared a fine male Hen harrier. The blue grey plumage of his back and wings contrasting with the black tips certainly gives a striking appearance as he quartered the rough ground and sedge pools ten feet above the ground, heading slowly in my direction. He had tacked twice and was still over a hundred metres away when he became aware of my presence and no repeat of the earlier trusting response. An immediate change of direction and a rapid increase in height as he made off eastward, towards the roosts in the Forest. I have frequently seen them quartering these meadows for what I can only believe to be in search of the Snipe. The Snipe's response to his presence is usually to sit tight and use their natural camouflage to outwit him, hence none being prepared to move when I walked the through earlier. Occasionally I find a few tell tale feathers showing the Harrier has his day. Whatever brings him to the valley his presence certainly lifts the day from my perspective of casual observer; I doubt the Snipe look so kindly on his visits.

I've been away from the valley for a day or two and as my year has started with a stubborn head cold I felt a walk in this mornings sunshine might improve my current perspective on life. As my return to work Monday will be to a catalogue of trees to be cleared according to priority and governed by the endurance levels of my back, leaving little time to deal with many riverine issues, I decided to take the lure rod with me. Not a serious pike expedition but a pleasant way to wile away a couple of hours; rod, slung net, plus a box of lures and the artery forceps in the coat pocket. As it was so bright I wasn't expecting action from the off, which proved just so, with little to put a bend in the rod apart from my unerring ability to hit a snag a twenty metres!

I slowly made my way downstream as the valley wildlife came to life, prepared to believe the storms have gone their way and today was a day to catch up on the call of Spring that had been on hold for a few days. Across the river, up on the Park, the harsh croaking of the Ravens whilst down at the heronry primitive, Jurassic screeching as the birds staked claim to this years nest site. The swans are paired off and spitefully defending their territories; woe betide any trespasser from the grazing flocks corralled at various spots throughout the estate. The Geese are noisily calling a they fly in pairs up and down the valley yet the wildfowl on the lakes look a little uncertain of the time of year. Small numbers of duck lazily preening; Pintail, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted, Teal and Wigeon, uncertain whether the winter is over and they should leave for the breeding grounds or to sit tight in the event there is a further freeze-up in the coming months. Water rail and Kingfisher seem a little more certain out enjoying the day as much as I was as an unusual count of eleven Green sandpiper would point to their migration already underway.

Two pike plus the sight of a roebuck swimming the river added to a very enjoyable walk. Roe swim the river as part of his everyday routine to reach the grazing. This is the three legged buck spotted last Spring when the stalkers were with us, benefitting from a mild winter.

A somewhat belated happy, healthy and peaceful New Year to all who may happen upon these ramblings. The last week or two have been a little chaotic hence the lack of entries but with Christmas and new Year behind us and some decent rain swelling the river things seem to be getting back to normal. With today's pace of life the escape afforded by our rivers is becoming ever more important and the protection of their delicate environment ever more crucial so lets hope for a more seasonally recognisable year ahead than that just past.

I'm not sure if its my age or years are actually becoming more unsettled as I get older. We had a cold start to January which was the tail end of the early winter which had arrived in November 09. The six weeks of freezing conditions had locked the water up in the frozen land and the resulting low rivers levels, prior to the salmon spawning in the first week of the year, meant we had more fish than normal cutting in the lower river. With twenty five pairs with us it at least provided the opportunity to have a look at the stock at close quarters. It was extremely encouraging to discover that there were more large three winter fish than I had expected with at least half a dozen fish well in excess of twenty pounds with one particular monster providing a glimpse of by-gone times. A similar tale was told by those that had managed to find fish in the upper river with some exceptionally large fish in evidence.

The cold weather brought us one or two unexpected bonuses in the form of the Waxwing invasion and the flocks of finches that were happy to find our laden bird tables . It is just one of the endless conundrums that Nature presents us with when the cold weather brings us the delight of the birds but is perhaps not in their best interests. We must be content in the knowledge we helped when we could and hope not to see them again leaving the Waxwings safe in their northern latitudes and our more delicate species, Dartfords, Cettis Goldcrests, Kingfishers and the like, safe from the ravages of the snow and ice. We did get a brief respite from the cold through late January and February which produced scenes more recognisable as the Avon in winter. The water spilled into the fields and the wildfowl quickly followed to enjoy the vast new areas of grazing. The wader numbers slowly rose but came to a shuddering halt as the rain ceased and the water returned to the channels.

The salmon season got under way and it was with the memory of those spawning giants filed away within the old cranium the 2011 season seemed to hold the promise of one such fish seizing my fly. It was in mid February whilst we were engaged on the clearing of the derelict willow car at Ibsley that Jim Foster landed the first salmon of the season. From the tail of Ibsley Pool I had a grandstand seat on the opposite bank and time to drive over the bridge to record the event on film. Alas the dream of my denizen was short lived, the rains that did eventually arrive in mid January failed to replenish the groundwater springs under the aquifers of the Plain. The result was the river flow soon dropped to levels that signalled trouble ahead. By mid April the the writing was on the wall that fish were reluctant to run through the lower river. By mid May and the start of the spinning it was all over, a low listless river held very little attraction to the salmon or the salmon angler. Fish continued to creep through and those with the desire to pester them with the shrimp once June arrived still found the odd fish but they were reluctant to chase a fly under such dire conditions. The poor run once more brought up the subject of barriers to passage that have given rise to concerns since at least 1958 when rows about the water abstraction weirs raged in the publications of the time. I'm not sure the removal of the weirs that give rise to barriers would have improved the fishing a great deal. Salmon fishing in a low flow river is never a joyous practice; weed and temperature would remain, reason enough to leave the fish in peace. Should changes such as those introduced on the River Test be introduced on the Lower Avon it would probably be of financial benefit to the fisheries. I'm not sure however it would be the best policy we could introduce if we were serious about protecting Avon salmon; perhaps a subject for the future not a review of the past.

The low flows provided many challenges for all the anglers yet probably resulted in an improvement on the previous season for the large barbel. It was essential to locate the fish if success was to result, many of the swims so popular at normal river flows held few fish and the chuck and chance it approach proved unproductive. For those who took the time to locate the fish rewards were good. They were tightly shoaled in areas of heavy weed and cover, once found they were reluctant to abandon their hideouts offering prolonged periods of actions before they tired and became reluctant to feed. The chub fishing once more continued to be the main stay of the river fishery, amazing catches of fish to high sevens; make the most of them I can't believe they will be with us forever. The autumn has seen the Perch appear from their shadowy pools with the Avon three pounder being a realistic target throughout the fishery and one I hope to see this coming Spring.

The lakes have been as reliable as ever with a string of large carp, tench and bream from the waters throughout the valley. The continued production of these super sized fish has undergone a hiccup in that the impact of a burgeoning otter population is having its inevitable consequences. This will eventually lead to many changes in the way angling is enjoyed by participants and viewed by onlookers. There will be many extremely difficult debates before we all reach a satisfactory state of coexistence, this looks like a very interesting year ahead.

Whilst we see many of the indigenous species of the valley such as our salmon and roach continue to crash. The species associated with the more recently established agricultural regime of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, deemed in need of protection within the conservation designations, Lapwing, Redshank Snipe, etc. similarly decline. What can best be described as the new regime; Gulls, Geese, Goosander and numerous other introductions go from strength to strength. How this equates with the declared intentions of the plethora of conservation designations I have yet to establish; if it comes to that so do many of the people supposedly implementing the legislation.

What can be taken forward in a positive slant on all of this is very hard to say, apart from perhaps an increased biodiversity is deemed desirable in the view of the regulators. It is with very mixed views I watch the progress of the valley as my heart lies with the roach and the salmon but my common sense tells me a we are only part way through the process of change. It is being driven by artificial production of food and acceptance of the changes to our historic regime as the norm. We see our regulatory authority accepting and even promoting the change whilst the regime that was originally intended for protection is quietly forgotten. Do we accept the inevitable and let the changes to the historic regime role over us or do we point out the illogical nature of the process? If we accept this change I have even more difficulty in seeing why it is just anglers that are taxed to the tune of twenty eight million a year only to be considered amongst the also rans.

What will the valley bring us in the coming year to add to today's oak, a sadly elephantine feeling of loss as one of several trees that decided they had had enough of being buffeted in the gusting wind lies grey and crumpled. Or the strangely attractive seat that arrived in the hatches, as a buzzard tried to do a Peregrine impersonation overhead chasing the Starlings like some avian bait ball.

This chocolate box portrayal of our countryside is required to reach the viewing figures demanded by our broadcasters to feed-up the never ending slop we face on our televisions today . The novelty and the bizarre attracts the interest and support of Middle England hence the sponsorship and the air time. The mundane and the basic building blocks of the working environment hold little attraction, it has to be a rare breed or fit snugly on Kate Humbles lap and I don't mean Chris Packham. The development of our natural environment to satisfy voyeuristic urges to peek, poke and photograph seems at odds with a truly natural ecology but alas that seems the future deemed desirable by our regulators.

Not a great deal to write-up but it was good to see the traditional Boxing Day angling trip being upheld in fine fashion with many anglers out on the banks enjoying the mild weather. Results seem to have been variable, I know of two good bags of chub, several good carp with a river fish of over 23 pounds, perch over three and odds and ends of pike but nothing huge that I am aware of. Many of the anglers trotting maggot were plagued by minnows with just odds and ends of grayling, chub, with pleasingly several small roach.

A shot taken through the lens of my polaroids showing two pairs of salmon cutting at Ellingham. The second pair is imemdiately beyond the cutting hen, just below the trailing branches.