Unfortunately we are still closed due to on-going flooding... The reserve has been closed for almost 3 months now! With water levels never dropping low enough during that period to allow us to  re-open. We're slowly getting back to a state that we would consider 'normal' for this time of year, but the threat of more flooding between now and the end of the winter is ever-present and with deep water still on the Visitor Trail we've not yet been able to carry out a full post-flood audit or clean-up. Things are in motion however: Our work compound area has been cleared of detritus and debris, our storage containers have been de-watered and large quantities of vegetation dumped on the southern boundary footpath have been cleared meaning the whole perimeter footpath can now be walked (bearing in mind there may still be some debris around Phase 3 and a fence is down, but passable, on the eastern boundary of Phase 1).

Water levels have dropped by about 3 metres since the flood peak and wildfowl numbers are coming back up again. Numbers seem to drop off when the whole site is flooded, but where ever the feathered beasties go during the very wet times... they have now made the wise decision of coming back to Langford again. Here are the January WeBS count numbers from Sunday 14th:

P1

P2

P3

Total

Gadwall

4

22

9

35

Little egret

1

5

6

Mallard

10

86

92

188

Pochard

1

8

7

16

Shoveller

2

24

26

Tufted duck

58

94

102

254

Wigeon

5

2

287

294

Canada goose

19

85

104

Greylag goose

6

11

17

Coot

5

10

15

Cormorant

5

35

40

Goldeneye

3

22

25

Great white egret

1

1

2

Mute swan

7

1

8

Teal 

38

410

448

Black-headed gull

20

20

Egyptian goose

1

1

Golden plover

2

2

Grey heron

1

1

Lapwing

29

29

Pintail

9

9

Additionally, today 6 goosander have been reported from Phase 3 and 31 dunlin from the Main Lake.

Some photos taken at the peak of the flooding, starting with a before and after shot from the Beach Hut and finishing with a photo of the bridge coming out of the woodland: