For the first time in many days we awake to no rain and no wind.  It's still grey and gloomy and one of those miserable January mornings that seem to sap the enthusiasm for anything.  But not to have a storm raging is very pleasant.

I was up at the Tarn early to check for damage after the recent gales.  All was well and the resident waterfowl seemed in lighter spirits than last week.  The three swans are still present.  The cygnet is now whiter that before Christmas and it won't be long before it get encouragement from the cob to go off and make its own way in the world.

I spent some time down at the duck wall watching for any sign of brownies spawning, but saw nothing.  There are one or two patches of disturbed substrate although the bed here is very bouldery with very little gravel suitable for redd forming.

It might be worth putting a ton or two of gravel on the Tarn side of the wall later in the year to provide suitable breeding habitat, but I would like more evidence that some spawning activity is occurring before trying to interfere.

All the stock fish for the Tarn have now been ordered and the S30 application sent to the EA.  We will put the first batch in on 5 March so that they can settle well before the start of the season.  This early stocking will comprise both rainbow and brown trout and be followed by successive stockings in May, July and August.  The latter will also include a number of brown trout which we hope will over winter and grow on.

Ian