Wildfowler Posted September 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 Last night I had an evening flight on the dyke that we shoot fortnightly. It was 10 by the time I got home (looking for lost birds) so was too knackered to put pics on. I got a Mallard, Tufted and a Teal, but lost a Widgeon which was a little annoying, but think it was probably picked by someone else.... Anyway, my eldest son came with me which was really good. He asked for the first time if he could get a shotgun so he can shoot rabbits and ducks..... I think he's got the bug! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Love seeing the youngsters getting involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Bumper flight today as you can see sorry the pic looks mince, I had to reduce the size several times before it would upload. Just use photobucket, far easier to use, even for someone as IT challenged as me. Loving all the pics here, just waiting to get out myself now. Edit: forgot to say you just copy the img URL for whichever photo and paste it straight into your post, as easy as that, job done Edited September 12, 2012 by The Croc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 (edited) 192 days to go. I had intended to do the morning flight on a Broadland fresh marsh this morning , but when the alarm went off at 3am there was not a breath of wind so rather than do a 40 mile drive in such unfavourable weather i had an extra hour in bed and did a flight on my local saltings. I arrived in good time at the back of the marsh for a change and to my surprise a light west breeze was blowing . Not really enough to upset any duck sitting on the sea , but encouraging. Its been a year since I wound my way across this section of marsh with its many deep winding gullies. More by luck than judgment I reached the creek crossing point smack on in the darkness after a long trek. Already the dawn was starting to show against the distant sandhills, but above me the stars shone brightly. I had intended to cross a big creek some 200 yards wide and flight the far bank , but the night tide had lingered and even though I had chesties on to attempt to wade 200 yards through 4 feet of water with several deeper holes to feel my way around in the darkness seemed unwise. So I settled on the inland side of the creek , but moved a hundred yards to a bend where the duck usually took a short cut. Calling the dog beside me Meg and I settled down to see what the flight would bring. The light grew , with apple green light pushing back the inky darkness of the night. And as it became lighter the first duck started to move. A single mallard passed right over the point where arrived at the creek. Should I move ? I reasoned that I should be in the right place so stayed put. A bunch of 5 followed the same line and then 4 more , sharp black silhouettes against the steadily lighting sky. I was tempted to move again , but I was still expecting duck to come my side of the creek , but that was the end of the little mallard flight. The high thin wisps of cloud above started to turn from grey to pink as the as they caught the first rays of the as yet unseen sun. More birds started to move. Curlew first in a trickle that soon became a flood as pack after pack came down the creek. A few passed within shot , but curlew are wary birds and even though they have been protected for many years that old instinct that told them man was untrustworthy still held sway and most kept well clear. Of all the waders we lost as quarry species its only the curlew that I really miss. They are hard to outwit , hard to hit and when cooked properly very good to eat. Better in fact than many a coastal wigeon. With the curlew came a host of waders , redshanks , godwits and once a greenshank calling as he flew past just above the waves. There were gulls too , hundreds of them pouring in off the sea , heading for the stubbles for a breakfast of worms. I saw the dogs head whip round , staring inland , but for a long while I could see nothing , and then they appeared. 14 pinks , the first I have seen this season on this marsh. They came right overhead , but they were high , too high to even think about rising a gun to. By now the first rays of the sun were streaking the sky above the distant dawn clouds silhouetting them with a golden fringe. The dogs head was up again snapping me out of this glorious sunrise. Geese , in off the sea this time . greylags 8 of them , but though low enough they passed well wide of me. As I watched them disappear inland a rush of wings made me swing around as a dozen wigeon passed over at lightning speed in easy range. How is it that you can stare in the right direction to pick up ducks for ages without seeing anything and the moment you turn your head away they are over you ? Alas I just could not react quick enough and the wigeon swept away unshot at. White bellies shining in the morning light. That was almost the end of the flight. The sun finally topped the distant cloud bathing the saltings in golden light when a tight pack of 20 teal appeared , but they kept well away from my hiding place. It was time to go and though I had not fired a shot it was great to be out on the coast after the long closed season and I enjoyed the flight greatly , nothing in the bag , but a memory to be remembered for the future. There is a lot more to wildfowling than killing birds. Another 5 months to go to get a bird or two. Edited September 12, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Great post anser2! I was right there with you when I read it!!! I couldn't agree more, just to be out and watch the sun rise in some of the last wilderness places left in the uk is special. To get one in the bag is merely a bonus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Great read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Nice write up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Great right up, makes me want tomorrow morning to come even quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Great right up, makes me want tomorrow morning to come even quicker. How did you get on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 How did you get on? A few Mallard about when the tide pushed them off, but all to far away. About 20 teal came over in one go right on first light, but by the time i saw them they were over me. Cracking morning to be out though, the sunrise was breathtaking. Stopped off to have a go at a few crows on a newly ploughed field on the way back, had 14 mixed corvids and 3 pigeons, so at least the twitchy finger has benn sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve0146 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 How did you get on? You been out yet Brian? Spoke to Jim at Escot and seems he had a good opening morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.philmypower. Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Really enjoying reading this thread. Been shooting for years, went on my first goose flight last weekend and I'm hooked, going again sat. Thinking of joining a wildfowling club next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 Really enjoying reading this thread. Been shooting for years, went on my first goose flight last weekend and I'm hooked, going again sat. Thinking of joining a wildfowling club next year. You have got to do it, i describe wildfowling as the marmite of shooting to anybody i take out. If you "get" it you are hooked for life, but if you don't then its like muddy birdwatching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Croc Posted September 13, 2012 Report Share Posted September 13, 2012 You been out yet Brian? Spoke to Jim at Escot and seems he had a good opening morning. No mate not yet, probably not till after the 22nd So that's where all the Geese have gone, Jims shot em all on opening day, :-D I wanted to go to Escot, but was working in Manchester :-( I went down on the 29th, there was around 500 geese on the river, Monday when I drove past there was about 20. They'll be back for when you come up though :-) Flippin iPad, can't get smilies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 I managed to get out last night, only my 2nd trip so far... The geese just were not playing ball, for some reason they did not want to come and say hello and decided to fly off further down the marsh.... Plenty of Teals moving over the ponds and there were mallards coming in also....just a shame that there was no wind. Fingers crossed i will get out over the weekend for a couple of evening flights and see how things go...... But where i am struggling is unloading the gun (Xtreama 2) my old escort was just pull back the bolt and the cartridges came out...im all fingers and thumbs at present so i better get the hand book out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowlingmad Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 some very unsporting pairs of mallard about last night, they had a look at the decoys, didnt like my calling and never came in range. Did manage a gadwall in the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Blanked for the 2nd time this morning. Never pulled the trigger, hardly any duck and next to no geese showing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted September 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 We went for an evening flight last night. There were a couple of skeins of Greys about which I called in but they didn't want to play and remained out of range. Later on 6 Mallard flew over about 9 yards up followed by a small pack of teal at twilight which whizzed straight over head and were gone before i could raise a gun to them. I was treated to a nice Sunset though so it was nice just to be out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Out for morning/tide and evening flights tomorrow, will hopefully put something in the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted September 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 (edited) I'm planning to go for morning flight tomorrow. I'd like to stay for tide flight but the Mrs has a list of jobs for me. I need to do some more on the punt too! Should be done in a couple of weeks now! Edited September 15, 2012 by Wildfowler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Pic from last weekend, didn't get anything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 had a cracking night flight last night, me and my pal went to bit of flood water between 2 lochs. as soon as we got there duck started to move, some coming off the loch heading to a bit of barley that had been cut others coming from the barley to the loch to have a wash and a drink. there was a good stiff south westerly blowing and the birds were coming tail to wind and turning on top of us. it was a frustrating hour of shooting as the birds were out of range then all of a sudden you could poke them with the barrels and when you could have a shot they were a nightmare to see against the hill. after too many shots to mention on here we had 5 mallard, 4 wigeon and a teal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Plenty of Mallard about last night, high and out of range mainly mid way out over water.........more of a dog walk for the Pointer than anything else, nice enough evening though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Nice pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted September 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Nice pics!!! I went this morning... It was muddy bird watching as Silver Pugeon 3 put it. Not a duck or goose in range an not even a nice morning. Never mind, I got the young lab out for the first time and she behaved so not all bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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