Terry P Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Just got back from walking the dog at the local marsh. In my bleery eyed state I thought I was hearing things, after a quick scan with the bino's I was buzzing to see nine wigeon happily swimming around with the mallard. They really did put a spring in my step. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Failed breeders perhaps? Apparently many waders are also back on their wintering grounds already. I did hear there were a few Widgeon about on another Welsh Estuary I visit but not seen or heard any on the Severn. That is very early though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitty tree Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 hello fella. seen a few near where we shoot . could be very early birds arriving or residents . also seen a couple in april Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Could be failed breeders, there were 23 there this morning. Out of interest I went back through my diaries of when I used to shoot there and I had wigeon six out of the ten 1st's, we have a fair few lakes on the island, do wigeon breed in the uk as i've hever heard of any breeding pairs around here. Lovely to hear though,just the tonic for a monday morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Small numbers of wigeon starting to arrive on the N Norfolk coast. They are not unusual here in late August ( last season we had 80 on the marsh on Sep 4th ) and most are adult males or juveniles with the adult females not arriving in numbers for another 8 weeks. Like Terry I often bag a wigeon on the first morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoggy Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Not seen any on the Nene Washes yet......but generally there is the odd one come late Aug. With the main percentage arriving mid/late Oct. Although last year was quite exceptional with the main percentage arriving very very late!!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 first few arriving on the Exe estuary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesneale89 Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Pink foot geese have already started arriving at lindisfarne , mostly yearlings around 400-600 I think so far bit early though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchie the white hunter Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Seen a few hundred graylag on the loch last week will not be long cant wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Shot a pink on 5th September last year which I thought was really early. Haven't seen any yet but fingers crossed. What sort of breeding year was it for the ducks? I'm guessing bad because the weather wasn't great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) The mallard breeding season has been poor in Norfolk , but a few late broods showing now , but all very young and will not be flying by the start of the season. James I am curious to know what makes you think the Lindisfarn pinks are yearlings ? Any year old pinks should be in exactly the same plumage\size as the adults and any of this years young will be in company of their parents. Edited August 21, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 The mallard breeding season has been poor in Norfolk , but a few late broods showing now , but all very young and will not be flying by the start of the season. James I am curious to know what makes you think the Lindisfarn pinks are yearlings ? Any year old pinks should be in exactly the same plumage\size as the adults and any of this years young will be in company of their parents. Thanks anser2. Thought the mallard season wasn't great. I didn't notice the comment about yearlings. I would have thought they would be very similar to adultsby now. I've only ever noticed once I've shot one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Heard my first wigeon this morning when i was out with the dogs, couldn't see it as it was still pretty dark. I have noticed a few groups of Mandarin flying about lately, and i saw 2 north carolina tree ducks on the canal not far from the marsh last weekend. Should make the idenification fun on the 1st! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Heard my first wigeon this morning when i was out with the dogs, couldn't see it as it was still pretty dark. I have noticed a few groups of Mandarin flying about lately, and i saw 2 north carolina tree ducks on the canal not far from the marsh last weekend. Should make the idenification fun on the 1st! The Mandarin seem to have had a half decent season and are showing up around my area in big numbers. We had a pack of 30+ over us at the end of last season. Always difficult to tell with the widgeon in your area SP3. Are they new arrivals or something just popped out for a fly about?lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 If you shot a mandarin duck by ACCIDENT, would it be illegal for it to then be stuffed by a taxidermist? Or would you just have to eat it? Only curious though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 If you shot any duck not on the quarry list ( mandarin are not on it ) its illeagal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 If you shot any duck not on the quarry list ( mandarin are not on it ) its illeagal. Yeah I get that bit. But obviously if it was an accident and it was dead by this point, would you be ok to get it stuffed? Or can they not stuff it as it would be protected and killed illegally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 The Mandarin seem to have had a half decent season and are showing up around my area in big numbers. We had a pack of 30+ over us at the end of last season. Always difficult to tell with the widgeon in your area SP3. Are they new arrivals or something just popped out for a fly about?lol Good question, i only heard 2 cock wigeon calls more than likely the same bird. Could be 1 from up the road but was there last week and didn't see any on the reserve. Only 1 i saw was on the rushy pen and appears to be resident. I will look on the positive side and say it was the first of many to arrive for the 1st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Good question, i only heard 2 cock wigeon calls more than likely the same bird. Could be 1 from up the road but was there last week and didn't see any on the reserve. Only 1 i saw was on the rushy pen and appears to be resident. I will look on the positive side and say it was the first of many to arrive for the 1st Can you have a word and ask them to be a little earlier this year. The wait was really getting to me last season!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Can you have a word and ask them to be a little earlier this year. The wait was really getting to me last season!! By the time they arrived, i had forgotten how to fire the gun and was wondering if ducks might be invisible!! Fingers crossed for a wet/cold and windy winter (but not so cold the ban comes in!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bows Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 Has anyone seen any more wigeon turning up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchie the white hunter Posted August 25, 2012 Report Share Posted August 25, 2012 By the time they arrived, i had forgotten how to fire the gun and was wondering if ducks might be invisible!! Fingers crossed for a wet/cold and windy winter (but not so cold the ban comes in!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillmouse Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Just had a pack of wigeon overhead at the top of the Wensum. Plenty growling and wheeoooing as they passed so a decent number but couldn't see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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