turbo33 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 It seems to happen like clockwork round here. The birds seem to disappear for most of September and October. A lot of people say they are in the woods etc, but from my locality, they aren't, they simply vanish. However, last week in October, first week in November, the flocks just appear out of nowhere, just like a switch being flicked. Tuesday not a bird to be seen anywhere. Yesterday, same routes for work and I must have seen 5-7 flocks of 100 or so birds. This morning the same. I wouldn't describe them as being on a flightline, more an explosive flock looking for some direction. Weird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 we have always had birds/flightlines around here thro the year, then the flocks appear when the weather gets cold...but this year they have all dissapeared...just see one and two now and then in the garden or flying across a field ...and thats how its been for 3-4 months....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 At first light this morning I saw the first sizeable flock around here for a long time. There were 200 birds in the flock, they were well up and heading in a straight line for half a mile or so when the flock suddenly turned and went back from whence they came. They did not act like local birds on a flight line and I can only surmise that they were immigrants to the area looking to familiarise themselves with the surroundings - as well as looking for potential food sources of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting2 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 Well haven't seen hardly any birds let alone flocks of them at the local woods here, was starting to think it was going to be a bad winter on the pigeons, but when traveling a few miles to the other woods there are many groups of around seventy flying in and out all day, so only time will tell but this time last year there where more big groups around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coatesy75 Posted October 31, 2013 Report Share Posted October 31, 2013 (edited) Birds are appearing in flocks of 100 + now Edited November 1, 2013 by coatesy75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeon controller Posted November 1, 2013 Report Share Posted November 1, 2013 Driving round in the rain yesterday, I saw two large flocks above two oak woods . They just kept lifting out of the wood circling and dropping back down into the wood. Nothing on crops at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longbower Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 High winds and rain, here in Cheshire, and nothing but seagulls on the fields and in the air. Loads of pigeons around houses and gardens though. Weird??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colc08 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Walking through our woods it's like walking on marbles there is so many acorns. Have never seen anything like it so my guess is if you've got none on your fields then they'll be feasting up in a large oak wood somewhere. Col Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Migration is in full swing. Read a report a day or two ago with good counts of pigeon coming in off the sea good numbers of stock doves also and turtle dove. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 We were out shooting yesterday and, after very few pigeons for weeks if not months we shot 7 during the drives for pheasants - considerable increase in numbers seemingly not local birds as they had no idea which way to fly as the guns went off. Definite influx of maybe 4/500 from somewhere. They seem to be after acorns or roosting very few anywhere else on e.g. turnip crops ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Seem to be a build up in numbers at last,probably migrating birds on their way south/south-west.we should see large numbers overhead over the next few days(Newport/Cardiff).will be interesting to see if numbers die back down again in week or so around areas where they are currently being spotted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 At first light this morning I saw the first sizeable flock around here for a long time. There were 200 birds in the flock, they were well up and heading in a straight line for half a mile or so when the flock suddenly turned and went back from whence they came. They did not act like local birds on a flight line and I can only surmise that they were immigrants to the area looking to familiarise themselves with the surroundings - as well as looking for potential food sources of course. I know you all love my theories but we get groups round here acting just as you decribe JDog. They don't seem to have any objective in mind, just flying about for the sake of it. If you manage to get one down, it's always a young bird. I suggest they are "teenagers" who have just got the keys to their 1st car and are out joyriding. They seem to relish windy days and swirl about almost like starlings at dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 something seems to be happening now.........my mate was at Bunwell shooting over pointers and saw a flock of pigeons hammering a rape field, numbered not less than a thousand...........still nothing near me !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting2 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Out today and managed to get 23 pigeons, groups of between 50-100 flying real low in the wind made for some easy shooting as they where passing between two woods and a spinny. First groups I've seen and there was many of them flying till about three when they returned to the roost wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Out today and managed to get 23 pigeons, groups of between 50-100 flying real low in the wind made for some easy shooting as they where passing between two woods and a spinny. First groups I've seen and there was many of them flying till about three when they returned to the roost wood. like what part of the british isles ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vampire Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Gave up on saturday without a shot,6 birds sitting in a tree,rape is to tall now.just turned round and went home,wa repairing my roof and a flock of at least 50 were on the field out the back,they were then joined by more............i give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 This morning from my bedroom window (infact from my bed if I am honest) at first light I watched a progression of pigeons on a strong flightline. They were coming out of a large mixed woodland a mile east of the village and the line was skirting the edge of the village and passing within sight of my house. The flight was continuous and I estimate that I must have watched 500 pigeons on it until I could bear it no more and I raced out of bed to take the dogs out. Our normal walk intersected the flight line and I must have seen another 300 pigeons whilst walking the dogs. The birds were all very high and they were heading well into the distance before my naked eye lost sight of them. The neighbouring estate has woodland extending to 200 acres, much of which is old oak woodland and I suspect that they were going for the acorns. Unfortunately I am not able to get on that estate as it is heavily shot and the 'keeper rewards his pickers up and beaters with the pigeon shooting which is fair enough. However the next morning of strong winds will find me somewhere under the line on my own ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Mark Avery (yes, him!) has just tweeted this: @MarkAvery: Have seen about 5000 wood pigeons flying inland along Nene valley at Stanwick Lakes in last 15 minutes. #northantsbiirds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 (edited) I've just come back from a stroll round in Hampshire. I arrived at 2.30 and after 40mins drive round the first flock of 50 or so appeared from over the hills and did a fly by, shortly followed by another and another all on exactly the same flight line. I followed them up the road for nearly 2 miles, to see them wheel around in a large arc and go through the whole process again They were joined by more and more birds until it was almost a constant mission of no direction Interestingly, watching the birds, they seem to be craning their necks looking for something and at times seem totally lost and disorientated like they are when its snowing. I managed to pull down 3 of these birds as most were too high at around 50-60 yards. None of them had anything in their crops, and were not at all plump, so I'm fairly convinced these had been travelling for some time. I finished off in the wood to bag just two more, that were big, plump birds.....quite different, with their crops stuffed with acorns. There seemed to be two distinctly different groups of pigeons. The "travellers" and the home dwellers. Neither one wanting to join the others group. The local birds completely ignored these flocks as they were passing by, and made no attempt to join them. All quite interesting to watch, if not frustrating, as they weren't low enough to bag a few more! So it begs the question, do the pigeons we have here (native?) flock up in the winter or are these big flocks a different bird from somewhere else. It would go some way to explaining how winter birds are so un responsive to decoys etc Edited November 4, 2013 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 A good observation turbo33. I believe that the high ones, looking around by craning their necks are immigrants new to the area. They will have largely empty crops because they will have been travelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 A good observation turbo33. I believe that the high ones, looking around by craning their necks are immigrants new to the area. They will have largely empty crops because they will have been travelling. If the ones you observed from your boudoir are behaving like the ones I've been seeing, I'm fairly confident that you were better where you were and missed nothing, save for frustration Maybe it time to invest in some 32" barrels, extra full/extra full and some 36 gram cartridges for this annual pigeon fest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Main Sighting: Woodpigeon 63800 woodpigeon heading west this morning. Mostly following the line of hills (must have been a great view from Penylan) Flocks often very high (as much as 1000m) and not visible without optics.Also a Goshawk enjoying the feast and a late swallow. This was a post from a local bird club.Saw thousands today,all out of range and some mere specs in the sky.they flew much lower yesterday(had 26).birds crops were empty apart from one with acorns and beech mast,but had fat layer on breast and were in good condition. May see more in morning but today was main run I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Main Sighting: Woodpigeon 63800 woodpigeon heading west this morning. Mostly following the line of hills (must have been a great view from Penylan) Flocks often very high (as much as 1000m) and not visible without optics.Also a Goshawk enjoying the feast and a late swallow. This was a post from a local bird club.Saw thousands today,all out of range and some mere specs in the sky.they flew much lower yesterday(had 26).birds crops were empty apart from one with acorns and beech mast,but had fat layer on breast and were in good condition. May see more in morning but today was main run I think. That puts my measly 800 into perspective. If the ones you observed from your boudoir are behaving like the ones I've been seeing, I'm fairly confident that you were better where you were and missed nothing, save for frustration Maybe it time to invest in some 32" barrels, extra full/extra full and some 36 gram cartridges for this annual pigeon fest How wrong you are. I am allowed to go nowhere near the 'boudoir'. I watched this afternoon from 3:00 to 3:45 and not one bird returned along the same lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yes,sounds like I have the best spot(though only for a few days a year!) Fascinating to watch these flocks passing over and also noticed a few sparrow hawks about too. There must be more members seeing these large numbers surely? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yes,sounds like I have the best spot(though only for a few days a year!) Fascinating to watch these flocks passing over and also noticed a few sparrow hawks about too. There must be more members seeing these large numbers surely? I doubt if any pigeon shooters would either look with bare eyes or train their binoculars to see birds at 1000'. How many birds do you think that you saw yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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