JDog Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Even before I had met up with stuy today I had seen a lot of pigeons. When I say a lot I mean a lot. There were lots between Evesham and Tewkesbury, more along the M50 motorway and loads flighting in the countryside between Ross on Wye and the hidden valley where stuy shoots. There are doubters about pigeon migration but there was no doubt about what this lot was doing. In all I estimate that I saw over 5,000. No rotaries, flappers, floaters, peckers, angels, wobblers, dobblers or stand ups, not even stevo with his new .410 or motty with his ten bore and 36 gram cartridges could have brought these down to ground level as they were on a mission. Thankfully not all of the pigeons in this extremely beautiful part of the world were heading for distant lands and there was a decent resident population feeding on some old barley fields. We pushed a good few off but it took a long while for them to return, in fact for almost two hours not one pigeon decoyed and the only ones added to the bag were long or high crossers. Then it all changed and birds did decoy and the shooting got slightly easier. Stuy was two fields away on a different line and from his hide he could see 1,000 birds feeding on a stubble in the distance. This part of the world is not short on pigeons at the moment. We had about the same number of shots and our tallies were similar and together we picked 122 pigeons and 13 crows for a head count of 135. Decoying is not all about pulling the trigger. Today, apart from seeing a lot of pigeons I also saw my first goshawk which was a treat. In addition over the field I was in I saw buzzards, sparrow hawks, peregrine falcons and hundreds of pipits and larks. On the way home I saw a merlin chasing a similar flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pork chop Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Been working in hereford today, must say some lovely looking country.its a wonder we made it to site and not ended up in the hedge bottom.some nice high foxy looking banks and hills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 100% to both of you for tenacity and effort , 100% for observation and reporting to the Massive the vast numbers of " Holidaying" pigeons 100% for the fieldcraft and marksmanship but only 10% for presentation. Joking apart great result and a cracking day well deserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Well you got to see the merlin! Glad you had a good day jdog , it was a bit of test shooting those long crossers! But all in all a good day was had by both of us, I can see some good shooting on the rape this winter and you're welcome anytime john. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flynny Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Nice one JD, I'm in Powys next week( not a million miles away from your part of the world)was going Scotland but wife changed her mind, Good write as per usual, and a well deserved bag, Atb Flynny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Nice one, I saw some high flocked pigeon at work today. They were on a journey for sure. All those birds of prey will keep them stored up! U. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveyg Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Those were PC miles you covered today Jdog,quality bag lads...nice one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 well done lads, that dog looks camera shy though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 A nice report of a good day. Why have you got half a watermelon on your head ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) A nice report of a good day. Why have you got half a watermelon on your head ? I think it is to keep the rain off. Good bag of pigeons. Edited October 22, 2014 by loriusgarrulus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG wales Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Well done to both of good write up aswell jdog . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Pleased to hear you got some good sport after your long journey. Well done stuey for taking the old man out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Nice countryside up that way and a really nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 you get about jdog Essex, Herefordshire, new York paris and Peckham next great day the pair of you I,m in the believer camp also about pigeons migrating Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurchers Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Good going jd and how is the cocker coming on in the hide and retreving cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Good bag and shooting guys Almost on my doorstep jdog always plenty to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 I am a big believer in birds migrating , when you are out as much as me 3 or4 times a week wth recon etc.. and see the numbers moving south its to me anyway a no brainier, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humfmaestro Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 so what happens between Herefordshire and the rest of the south. Am a Cotswolds boy and we do not do big numbers at home. Don't get it; lots of woodland, water, crops. So where do they all go to Stuy?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuy Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Goober is watch thousands crossing the Bristol channel, they travel down through Dorset etc.. and over to the continent france, Portugal, Spain, it's not a new thing, been going on for long time.( some people think it's stems right back thousands of years when the climate was alot colder) but we still have a very healthy local population of woodpigeon here, in hereford anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humfmaestro Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Worked on a farm over in Bedfordshire a few summers and the numbers were silly every yr. Go round the centre of the country, avoiding the best shots clearly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Nice write up and pics Jdog. It's nice to get out and about on different grounds if you can :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Good pictures,the day turned out as you predicted Stuy,Jdog got to see the migration at last. Must say Stuy....... Your cap looks like a swimming cap compared to Jdogs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.