CRAZY… Lincolnshire County Council is resurfacing the path along the Slea between the Leisure Centre and Cogglesford Mill, the footpath will be closed for 5 WEEKs so it must be some substantial work. The footpath does need to be resurfaced but WHY is it being done at the very worst possible time for the Wildlife i.e. during the nesting season. This work could be carried out at MOST times of year so to do it right at this moment shows complete disregard (or ignorance) for any wildlife that may be nesting along here and that sadly includes our DABCHICKS 
I just hope that before any JCB starts its work near them the baby Dabchicks have hatched and are at least 1 week old.
I have asked the Council why they are doing it right in the middle of the nesting season (perhaps they want it done before Water Weekend ?) and they should ring me back within 5 days ? so I will put their answer on here in due course.
It would be GOOD if anyone else that is worried about our Dabchicks and any other wildlife nesting along this stretch asks why the resurfacing work it is being done during the nesting season by ringing the Highways Department on 01522782070
Terry
Hi Terry, I too saw the footpath is closed but did not realise it would be out of commission for so long. I think all the Coots have gone, I saw what I assumed were the 2 parents below the mill on Sunday but not the teenager or chicks. On another subject walking along the Slea (by the bend approaching the mill) this evening I saw a pair of what may have been Tufted Ducks (definately not Mallards) but they flew off as I approached towards the pond / swimming pool area – it would be interesting to know if anyone else saw these.
I thought I saw at least 3 eggs on the Dabchick nest well over a week ago – next time I looked I did not see any eggs at all when the parent briefly got off the nest so I do not know if the first batch failed or they have build the nest up a bit in the meantime.
Regards Graham
Hi Graham, thanks for the update, appreciated as ever.
I should have typed more about what I saw and was told today but I was more concerned about the work on the path. However this morning the 2 adult Coots were with the ‘teenager’ downstream of the Mill and were going further downstream as I left. I dont know why they are there, perhaps the teenager went over the weir and the parents followed ? I was also told that on Saturday at least 4 eggs were seen in the Dabchick nest and ‘possibly’ a fifth. If these are the first/only batch, by my reckoning they should hatch sometime this week.
It would be nice if the ducks you saw were Tuffties
The Council rang me back this afternoon and I will post tomorrow (hopefully) what their response was to my query.
Terry