Its a bit of a monstrosity…
…but on a positive note it will make it easier to cross the river, on a negative note it blocks the view (worse from the opposite view of the river to this picture) and makes you feel more closed in. Now we just need someone with a welding kit to make sure it will not open for boats (joke) 
Last day of 2008 and I had an excellent view of the Heron right up near the Mill…
…and saw the Dabchick, Stiff Legs and Tube Duck
2008 could have been a good year for the Slea especially as the Dabchicks had 2 broods for the first time that I know off, but I think I will remember 2008 as the saddest year on the Slea because of the ‘pollution’ that caused the Ducks/Dabchicks etc to loose their water proofing (see HERE ) which killed all but 1 of the Dabchicks, some Mallards and Moorhens, we do not know if any of the Tufted Ducks also succumbed 
The Environmental Agency cannot prove what the problem was but if I am right in thinking I know what caused the problem (I am 99% certain I know) then it was almost certainly an accident and the E.A. has said to me that they will have a word with the likely source of the problem. I cannot say much as I have no actual proof but I doubt whether it will happen again.
Terry