Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) As part of the Gloucester Wildfowlers I have to sit a Bird ID coarse, basically this is 5 sunday mornings up at Slimbridge, with the 5th day being an exam... I never realised how many different types of geese there was to be honest. You have the White Fronts Graylags Canadas Pink feet but also you have the following which may or may not fly with some of the above Egyptian Goose Bar Headed Barnacle Brent Snow Emperor Red Breasted not forgetting the Shelduck I have been trying to remember about 10 this week and i will try another 10 next week and hopefully remember all these birds ready for my ID test.. Plus all these Ducks Plus a few others Its hardwork but essential from a protected bird point of view and just think that a couple of years ago i thought it was just a Duck or a Goose how wrong I was Edited November 5, 2009 by Spaniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 That first duck almost looks like its colours have been painted on!!! What a stunning bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 In the hope i don't sound arrogant or ignornant as the case may be, it's good that you are learning what the different breeds of fowl are!! At the moment our club is having trouble with a certain old cow who reckons we are putting off brent geese from nesting on a certain part of the lough where she lives, and she put a complaint in that our members are shooting brent geese because "they dont know the difference when in flight" this couldn't be further from the truth as any of our members are not allowed out without being supervised for the first year for their own safety as well as gaurding against old biddies who read the gaurdain!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 To be honest i think it is a good idea to take the ID course, for us we have the Wetlands Society, Slimbridge right in the middle of our foreshore, so it is very important to understand what is protected etc. The easy fix for all wildfowling clubs i would of thought would be for members to sit some sort of on line ID test before they become full members, which would stop situations like your club is facing...maybe one for the BASC guys to look into Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 That first duck almost looks like its colours have been painted on!!! What a stunning bird! Just think of a orange, but dont say satsuma.....its a mandarin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 To be honest i think it is a good idea to take the ID course, for us we have the Wetlands Society, Slimbridge right in the middle of our foreshore, so it is very important to understand what is protected etc. The easy fix for all wildfowling clubs i would of thought would be for members to sit some sort of on line ID test before they become full members, which would stop situations like your club is facing...maybe one for the BASC guys to look into Hi spaniel, we are all ready jumping through hopes just to please certain individuals, every memeber of our club could identifiy any type of fowl on our shore, as i said i'm not trying to be awkward but if you are for fowling(which in my eyes is the best form of shootinG) Be prepared for everything which you may face. Oh by the way every one in our club is BASC! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 We also do Bag returns every year as i think there was something ref the number of birds being shot once, so this info assists the club also. Got to say i really enjoy the wildfowling just strated to get the Wigeons and Teal in now, also seem to be plenty of Graylags up at Slimbridge last week plus a few White Fronts which was nice to see, just could do with them venturing onto the foreshore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW80 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 We also do Bag returns every year as i think there was something ref the number of birds being shot once, so this info assists the club also. Got to say i really enjoy the wildfowling just strated to get the Wigeons and Teal in now, also seem to be plenty of Graylags up at Slimbridge last week plus a few White Fronts which was nice to see, just could do with them venturing onto the foreshore Hi spaniel mate, glad you enjoy the wildfowling, i'm sorry if i sound a bit crabby, i hope you's get a few wigeon this year, we used to get loads but now it's down to about 3000 a year since the geese have taken over!! Oh by the way we don't shot 3000 a year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 No prob mate, I had my 1st Wigeon last sunday , thank god as its been a bit slow this season so far.......but at least the weather seems to be on the change. But fingers crossed i may eventually get a goose, as i wouldnt mind one for Xmas dinner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Spaniel Almost all the birds in your picturs are protected , but one is a quarry species and one a pest species . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 O god ye, i have to learn all these plus the ones i can shoot on the list....me being me i have been concerntrating on the ones i can legaly shoot, but last week i found out i have to identify the other protective ones etc as well.....but all adds knowledge in my head which should blow a few cob webs out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 The 5th duck down will catch me out, there is only one of them in slimbridge at present and its a Ferruginous Duck, i mean i cant even say the name although spell it at present Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Half of those are foreign things from the wildfowl collection. I can't see the point in making you learn them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Its because they are at Slimbridge and they may just take flight while being out on the marsh....but there are some really pretty looking ducks there The Ruddy and American wood ducks are well pretty looking birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) Spaniel, I'd be interested in your view of Gloucestershire wildfowlers, they are local to me and I had thought about joining. I spoke to rep at the South West game fair and it seemed a good set up. A few questions, I've never been fowling and I don't have a dog, is that going to be a major problem? Do they have any rabbit/pigeon shooting in the close season? One other thing which puts me off wildfowling a little, is that I've heard some of the quarry species are a bit ropey to eat! I'd rather only shoot something I'm going put on my plate. I'm told pinkfoot is very tasty but that greylag amongst others is like eating an old welly boot! Have I been misinformed? Which species are good to eat and which not? Edited November 5, 2009 by Blunderbuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Spaniel, I'd be interested in your view of Gloucestershire wildfowlers, they are local to me and I had thought about joining. I spoke to rep at the South West game fair and it seemed a good set up. A few questions, I've never been fowling and I don't have a dog, is that going to be a major problem? Do they have any rabbit/pigeon shooting in the close season? One other thing which puts me off wildfowling a little, is that I've heard some of the quarry species are a bit ropey to eat! I'd rather only shoot something I'm going put on my plate. I'm told pinkfoot is very tasty but that greylag amongst others is like eating an old welly boot! Have I been misinformed? Which species are good to eat and which not? This is my 2nd season as an associate member with the GWA and I have to be honest, they are a great team of guys who are very helpful. Im taking my Bird ID in the hope that i will be able to become a full member next year. As an associate you can only go out on the marsh if you are with a full member, i just asked them to email my details and i had quite a few guys ask if i wanted to go out shooting with them.I go out weekly now with one or two guys from the club. I will PM you Tims number as if you are a BASC member you can go out for a flight with Tim i think it will cost you £10 through the BASC permit SCheme this way you get to see if its for you or not. Ref Dog I have Springers but i do not take them with me at present, so you just have to be aware of where the bird is flying before taking a shot, no good shooting over water if you cant retrieve it, plus you will need time to get some experiance of the waters as you know it can be dangerous out there.. Taste well i have no idea, i have only shot Mallard and Wigeon to date and both are very tasty, wigeon got the same taste as pigeon about them IMO....im not sure about Geese to be honest. There is a place todo some game shooting over the Welsh side but never done it to be honest....but on most marshes the majority is no ground game for obvious reasons. For me I cant get out there enough to be honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 What is the deal with Ruddy Duck's these days chaps? I can vaguely recall a DEFRA job for culling them knocking about 2-3 years ago... FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Only ducks which can be taken within season are Mallards Gadwalls Pintail Shoveler Wigeon Teal Pochard Tufted Goldeneye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Spaniel thanks for the details I may give them a shout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry c Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 Can you shoot mandarins? I have seen them hanging with Teal outside a butchers shop!!?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 5, 2009 Report Share Posted November 5, 2009 (edited) Get this: Collins Bird Book You can easily identify them from this superb book. Edited November 5, 2009 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Just think of a orange, but dont say satsuma.....its a mandarin You can shoot them aswell, if you see them they are feral And geese depends on age, old pinks won't be better than a young grey ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 No you can not shoot mandarins. They might be feral , but that does not mean you can shoot them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted November 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Anyway good news was that on Sunday it was my 5th Sunday morning up at Slimbridge and it was test day. Well good news is that I actually passed the test, thank god what a relief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasons gold Posted November 30, 2009 Report Share Posted November 30, 2009 Anyway good news was that on Sunday it was my 5th Sunday morning up at Slimbridge and it was test day. Well good news is that I actually passed the test, thank god what a relief Did you have to identify any of these birds in sillouette, because thats what i had to do when i joined the black water wildfowlers many moons ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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