Fisherman Mike Posted July 25, 2005 Report Share Posted July 25, 2005 I was busy working away this morning at about 10.30 and managed a glance out the window away from the PC. Looking over Gloucester towards the Forest of Dean I saw what can only be described as a swarm of Birds some 3 to 4 thousand strong. I thought at first they were a flock of starlings as there are several large established roost nearby or possibly a big flock of waders up from the Severn estuary, but these dont normally flock up until the winter and then hit the sodden fields from November onwards. As they were loosely flocked I knew they were not either of the above as they did not seem to be moving with the tight turns and waves typical of starlings or waders. On grabbing the Bins from a dash to the car I was absolutely astounded to identify Wood Pigeon, thousands of them flying in great throngs at a very high altitude that they seemed just specs to the human eye. I cant approximate the height of the main body but it was not the normal sort of altitude you would expect to see the birds at. My first thoughts were a misidentification as it could have been racing pigeons just released but there were just unusually huge numbers and a secondary glance confirmed the species. They generally were heading SW from Gloucester following the line of the severn with large flocks breaking off and heading all ways. I stayed late tonight to see if the birds came back the same route to roost in the Forest but no sign of a single bird! I have never in 37 years of bird watching and 30 of Pigeon shooting seen a flock of birds anywhere near as big. Some poor unsuspecting farmers crop is going to get a good hammering somewhere in the SW this week. Please keep your eyes open all and report any sightings in this area. Cheers, FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffs-Shooter Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 Noticed loads of birdson rape stubble right next to Frankley services (M5) yesterday afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remytherussell Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 Well that was a sight, Mike. Never seen that many either. There are some large numbers getting about, had a "bigish day" last Thursday, shot 89 between two of us. The birds were feeding on peas in an adjacent field, several hundred went up when we arrived, but were decoying onto our magnets on a setaside field and a clover field. (No permission on the pea field, someone else has that and they can expect a good day when they get up there) RTR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 How bizzare......................one would expect large numbers during colder month, and perhaps when its scandinavian cousins migrate to the uk. But in the warm summer months when they are breeding..why would they gather in such gigantic flocks??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JONO Posted July 26, 2005 Report Share Posted July 26, 2005 Hi Mike, Shot over pre-combined rape Friday afternoon (lazy farmer didn't cut when he said he would) - managed to pick up 14 of 50 birds and there were several hundred about but nothing compared to what you witnessed! Email me if you fancy meeting up again this summer - your patch or mine?! Best regards Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Bumpkin Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 Been getting a lot in Dorset recently. Shot 375 yesterday afternoon and shot 451 between two of us two days earlier (shared a hide and didn't start until after 1pm). Same field. Laid wheat in Dorset. Think you must be right about them heading to the South West. There were singles and samll groups coming in but quite often there would be a group of a hundred or so :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 29, 2005 Report Share Posted July 29, 2005 What part of Dorset are you in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Bumpkin Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 East, but there have been lots shot elsewhere in the county. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 30, 2005 Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 Wimborne way? Want to sell a day? or swap for driven pheasant day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorset Bumpkin Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Thanks for the offer. At present I have not got any plans to sell any of the shooting. It is an interesting thought though. I have often thought about putting in 5 acre plots of peas purely for the pigeon shooting. With the single farm payment making arable rent a lot less I can see farmers starting to do this. Have you ever thought about renting a field off a farmer and paying him to grow peas?! There are always a lot of pigeons around Wimborne and there was that field near Wimborne last year that got hammered by thousands of them. It is a lot cheaper than pheasant shooting and quite often as much if not more fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 (edited) Give me a call if you do ever want to sell a day I live close to Wimborne and will pay cash. Lots of shooting experience, fully insured, use felt wads only etc, etc. Edited July 31, 2005 by sam f Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plexer Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Sam not sure it's a good idea to put your mobile number in a public post mate pm it to him if you want but I'd edit your post asap if I were you. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted July 31, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Myself and two others shot 226 today over a fresh cut Rape field My part of the bag was 72 The field which is a large 50 acre field just iutside Uley in Glos was alive with Pigeons from first light this morning But although we set up early promised the farmer not to shoot until after 9. The rape was not touched in much of my shooting ground this year but they are certainly hitting it and the wheat stubble now. On the field the other side of the hedge from my hide was a freshly turned over barley stubble field which had been mucked yesterday. Although it stank like blazes it was black with crows, rooks and daws and about 150 gulls. I didnt know which way to point the gun. I have never in 30 odd years of shooting seen birds hitting the stubble fields around here in the numbers they are at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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