goober Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I was in work,so was only gazing up now and then.saw flocks of mainly 70-1000,at varying altitude and noted more were passing inland than on Sunday.I saw only part of migration today but whenever weather is clear the birds are very high and take some time to spot(usually early when sun is reflecting on their wings).Guess I saw 10-15 thousand,with the later birds lower.also noted that there were flocks passing 1 pm and later which is unusual,maybe pushing on while weather holds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 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 I always thought turtle doves migrated here for the summer not winter ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Report probably refers to birds passing through uk,onto final wintering grounds like pigeon maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shropshirelad Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Interesting observations. I have been watching groups of 100-300 pigeons flying in a westerly direction every morning for the last week, wondering where they are coming from and where they are going. I sat out on sunday morning and estimated about 5000 in total betweeen 7 and 9 am. No apparent return flight in the evening. Makes me wonder why some say pigeons don't migrate, I can't see what else these birds are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Yes,I think a lot of sightings on these forums are down to large numbers travelling down country.it will be interesting to see if numbers fall back again in next week or so.has also been interesting to hear of birds "confused" on direction,could this be birds looking for food?when passing here they are set on a path and have only once seen them land,and this wasn't more than 20 mins. I agree that these birds are from Scandinavia and not native birds and I think this may be the confusion,though this is based on limited info I have researched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subsonicnat Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 You will notice the weather getting colder in these months too, and that is where the answer lies: They will flock in cold weather, as they roost in large numbers too. Thought this was quite obvious to all long time shooters . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Has anyone noticed the large flocks in the last few days?Sunday and Monday were the main flights here with very few Tuesday.I think maybe the migration through here is probably over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 If they have gone south from South Wales there should be reports of huge numbers of birds in North Devon/West Somerset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Has anyone noticed the large flocks in the last few days?Sunday and Monday were the main flights here with very few Tuesday.I think maybe the migration through here is probably over. Saw a good run of them on Monday, possibly 4-500 in groups of 50+, in west sussex, but have not seen another flightline since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 saw a flock of 10 today ............left me in shock..........numbers building nicely now..............i was so impressed i power washed the conservatory............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat bloke Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nicely put ditchman. Still seeing buggar all around my permission . This is depressing, I'm having to spend my weekends with the wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goober Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 If they have gone south from South Wales there should be reports of huge numbers of birds in North Devon/West Somerset. Anyone pw members from these areas noticed large numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 7, 2013 Report Share Posted November 7, 2013 Nicely put ditchman. Still seeing buggar all around my permission . This is depressing, I'm having to spend my weekends with the wife. i would prefer to spend my weekends with someone elses wife at the moment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Quite possibly passage migrants from Northern Europe on their way south. I always thought turtle doves migrated here for the summer not winter ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldfinger Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 Large flock beginning to show here in Notts,feeding on Beach nuts and Acorns at the moments in woods so been shooting flight lines,some been decoying early morning flights but been hard works,all birds shot at present have been stuffed with beach nut and some acorn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael170874 Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 I have two huge woods on my shoot and there's old oaks and beech ,I was sat watching for over an hour as birds were just littering the woodland floor .they where going mad for the beech mast .i could see they preferred this to the acorns .after an hour there were easily over a thousand birds in the wood.this happened about 6 years ago and I recall it was the worst years shooting over my 30 yrs decoying The rape is way too high now with the mild weather in September and with so many acorns ,beech mast I can see another bad year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted November 8, 2013 Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 My house backs directly onto the woods and my missus noticed not me because im not usually up early enough, but first thing in the morning when she goes out with the dog or a run there 100,s flocking up and leaving the woods to destination unknown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2013 (edited) I have two huge woods on my shoot and there's old oaks and beech ,I was sat watching for over an hour as birds were just littering the woodland floor .they where going mad for the beech mast .i could see they preferred this to the acorns .after an hour there were easily over a thousand birds in the wood.this happened about 6 years ago and I recall it was the worst years shooting over my 30 yrs decoying The rape is way too high now with the mild weather in September and with so many acorns ,beech mast I can see another bad year. What are you waiting for? Don't hang around waiting to lug endless amounts of equipment onto a rape field, get in the wood and have some pigeon pie!! Imho, you have more chance of a decent shoot, in, over and around the woods, than sitting out on a field of rape, especially as you've seen a lot of birds there Edited November 8, 2013 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazza9t9 Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Still nothing on my permission at all, however driving to work this morning seen a flock of about 100 flying over a1 just south of whetherby. I tried to direct them further north but they took no notice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael170874 Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 I have thousands here in my woods in Yorkshire sat and watched them all morning today just hoovering up acorns ,beech mast.this is going to be a bad year on the rape.its also very high due to the warm autumn .i remember 6 yrs or so we had a similar explosion of acorns and beech mast and I didn't fire more than 250 cartridges all winter ,all I could do was sit and watch as thousands of birds whent from wood to wood after acorns.i nearly packed in altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 I have thousands here in my woods in Yorkshire sat and watched them all morning today just hoovering up acorns ,beech mast.this is going to be a bad year on the rape.its also very high due to the warm autumn .i remember 6 yrs or so we had a similar explosion of acorns and beech mast and I didn't fire more than 250 cartridges all winter ,all I could do was sit and watch as thousands of birds whent from wood to wood after acorns.i nearly packed in altogether. As per my post 43, if you leave it until trying to decoy them on rape, you will miss the opportunity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Mongrel- Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 Was watching a playing field edged with oaks this afternoon. Probably 250 pigeons dropping in and out hoovering up the acorns....what a depressing sight, I don't think I have oaks on any of my permissions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted November 10, 2013 Report Share Posted November 10, 2013 What are you waiting for? Don't hang around waiting to lug endless amounts of equipment onto a rape field, get in the wood and have some pigeon pie!! Imho, you have more chance of a decent shoot, in, over and around the woods, than sitting out on a field of rape, especially as you've seen a lot of birds there Yeah, dream on pal, there aren't many woods that I know that are available for pigeon shooting right now, because they're full of pheasants who are being molly-coddled by the keepers and who would have your proverbial guts for garters if you so much as set foot in there, let alone started pigeon shooting in there. It's one of those winters for catching up on all of those DIY jobs at home that you've been putting off for years, the pigeons won't be on the rape until Feb 2014, (if at all), so best to earn a few brownie points with the Wife..? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Yeah, dream on pal, there aren't many woods that I know that are available for pigeon shooting right now, because they're full of pheasants who are being molly-coddled by the keepers and who would have your proverbial guts for garters if you so much as set foot in there, let alone started pigeon shooting in there. It's one of those winters for catching up on all of those DIY jobs at home that you've been putting off for years, the pigeons won't be on the rape until Feb 2014, (if at all), so best to earn a few brownie points with the Wife..? Cat. Your woods might not be, but Micheals maybe, and my keepers are fine with it as long as I'm out before the birds go to roost. And largely I will stay on the outer edges anyway as you have a clearer view for a shot, although it goes without saying, you wouldn't stand in a release pen!! Having said all that however, I do tend to mostly use the FAC Air in these situations for many reasons, its quiet, incredibly effective and you can get some cracking bags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick morton Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 hi had a good day on a newly ploughed field picked up 47 in a couple of hours the birds are about more now as the weather is cooling, and i am seeing more and more on the young rape,all so some of my frends are telling me that the birds are on the fields first thing so it may be worth taking a look at day break, cheers mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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