shootnfish Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 There's been loads of acorns and berries around here and still is but very few pigeons , seems they have migrated away from plenty of food here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted January 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2014 Hi All Maybe some good news today ! Saw 100s feeding on a field of Rape just off A120 between Dunmow and Stansted Airport the field was blue with woodies. So maybe thsy are now finally feeding on Rape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Hi All Maybe some good news today ! Saw 100s feeding on a field of Rape just off A120 between Dunmow and Stansted Airport the field was blue with woodies. So maybe thsy are now finally feeding on Rape? Yes, there certainly are more about now, but still very unreliable - here today, somewhere else 2 hours later. If you mean the rape fields on the left as you pull off the "New A120" and head for Tesco, yes they have been slowly building up there on colder days for the last couple of weeks. I'll bet they aren't there tomorrow, it's too warm. I'll pass there about 9.00am.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted January 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Yes youve got it the area where i see them is where the dodgy high seat is located about 2 fields back on left from the slip road at the very end of the wood .... Glad someone else has seen them whereabouts r u from ? quote name="kitchrat" post="2410251" timestamp="1389812137"] Yes, there certainly are more about now, but still very unreliable - here today, somewhere else 2 hours later. If you mean the rape fields on the left as you pull off the "New A120" and head for Tesco, yes they have been slowly building up there on colder days for the last couple of weeks. I'll bet they aren't there tomorrow, it's too warm. I'll pass there about 9.00am.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the pelt man Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 I see 1000's round my way all on two of the shoots I beat on, and all still feeding in the woods. Can't wait for the end of the beating season so we can get out roost shooting. PELTY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 i kicked up a huge amount in the woods when i walked the dog earlier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead eye alan Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 i kicked up a huge amount in the woods when i walked the dog earlier This sounds like good news, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Good numbers building up at high wood the rape was blue near great dunmow(a120) also near thaxted !! I've got a few but no big numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yidoharry Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Seen a few flocks in the woods and over the rape in Royston permissions but only 30-40s..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Nothing there on Saturday, but plenty around just south of Great Saling at about 10am.. Yes youve got it the area where i see them is where the dodgy high seat is located about 2 fields back on left from the slip road at the very end of the wood ....Glad someone else has seen themwhereabouts r u from ?quote name="kitchrat" post="2410251" timestamp="1389812137"]Yes, there certainly are more about now, but still very unreliable - here today, somewhere else 2 hours later. If you mean the rape fields on the left as you pull off the "New A120" and head for Tesco, yes they have been slowly building up there on colder days for the last couple of weeks. I'll bet they aren't there tomorrow, it's too warm. I'll pass there about 9.00am.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 They are like trying to pick up mercury with chopsticks round Dunmow right now. See a reasonable lot, clear it with the farmer, then none there next day. I still say we need some winter to get them to concentrate their minds a bit.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 They are like trying to pick up mercury with chopsticks round Dunmow right now. See a reasonable lot, clear it with the farmer, then none there next day. I still say we need some winter to get them to concentrate their minds a bit.... Is it wintery enough today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 No not quite it needs to be 1 1/4 degrees cooler before it reaches the ideal temperature for a mass feeding frenzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Is it wintery enough today? Not here it's not, a bit cooler but quite foggy. All birds just sitting in the trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Not here it's not, a bit cooler but quite foggy. All birds just sitting in the trees. It would make no difference to the birds feeding habits if it was minus 10 or plus 10, they'd still be sat in the trees. I have shot a good few hundred plus bags over rape in late October / early November when the temperature has been very mild in many years past, but this year there is simply so much alternative food around that they simply aren't interested in the rape, which is well down their list of preferred foodstuffs. Whether or not the birds feed on Winter rape has nothing to do with air temperature, despite what many newbies think, it's all about what else is on offer. And in this part of the World they're still ignoring it completely. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blasterjudd Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Yes am fully aware I was out their from first light but the birds just would not decoy ended with a handful plus some rooks all shot over maize cover crops Even the rotary failed to pull them in tried everything to no avail ! I saw hundreds all morning dropping in the wood just next to me so frustrating ........ Nothing there on Saturday, but plenty around just south of Great Saling at about 10am.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 It would make no difference to the birds feeding habits if it was minus 10 or plus 10, they'd still be sat in the trees. I have shot a good few hundred plus bags over rape in late October / early November when the temperature has been very mild in many years past, but this year there is simply so much alternative food around that they simply aren't interested in the rape, which is well down their list of preferred foodstuffs. Whether or not the birds feed on Winter rape has nothing to do with air temperature, despite what many newbies think, it's all about what else is on offer. And in this part of the World they're still ignoring it completely. Cat. Well Cat, we are never going to agree on this % are we? This winter I have studied pigeons in the Dunmow area with a passion (Nothing better to do!) I can almost be certain that if I have to scrape ice off my truck, then I will see small groups on rape, no ice, no eat rape. Foggy or sunny mornings equals a sit in trees day. I know we don't have a lot of birds, too warm in Europe is my theory but I can't prove that one. In the area I have most of my perms, there is not an unusual supply of acorns or berries, just an average year, What we don't have is enough birds to hoover them up. Numbers are building now (note that it's got colder in Europe) and game covers are getting a beating. Less than weeks and we might be able to get a decent bag again. Good luck all.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Well Cat, we are never going to agree on this % are we? This winter I have studied pigeons in the Dunmow area with a passion (Nothing better to do!) I can almost be certain that if I have to scrape ice off my truck, then I will see small groups on rape, no ice, no eat rape. Foggy or sunny mornings equals a sit in trees day. I know we don't have a lot of birds, too warm in Europe is my theory but I can't prove that one. In the area I have most of my perms, there is not an unusual supply of acorns or berries, just an average year, What we don't have is enough birds to hoover them up. Numbers are building now (note that it's got colder in Europe) and game covers are getting a beating. Less than weeks and we might be able to get a decent bag again. Good luck all.... I drive around Norfolk every day and I have seen thousands of pigeons in many locations ( some really huge amounts) .This has been the case for weeks. The temperature in Europe doesn't seem to be affecting bird numbers here, so it shouldn't be too much different a few miles south. I notice Pigeon Controller has noted good numbers in his area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastair0903 Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I was in France shooting wild boar and after standing in the woods for a day and a half I counted a full 1 wood pigeon ! So they are not in France , on the way back to the airport I spotted a small group of around 50 feeding on a maze stubble , none on the rape ! Sounds like they are all in Norfolk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xplor Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I don't think the number have dropped at all, they are just not interested in the rape yet, I have been out a couple of times in the last week and have shot a few, not one bird had rape in it, They were mostly stuffed with berries, On the drive home I have seen more pigeons in gardens, sat in hedges, on the grassed areas of pavements,I think the pigeons shot were all fighting birds just going back to roost rather than wanting to feed on the rape until all this food source has gone they will not touch the rape, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Silver car parked about 300yds off the road to the right as you go from Grt. Saling down to The Palms, not far from the traveller camp on the road side? The ones I saw were all in the trees and dropping into the three rape fields on the right as you drive up to Grt. Saling from the old 120. Yes am fully aware I was out their from first light but the birds just would not decoy ended with a handful plus some rooks all shot over maize cover cropsEven the rotary failed to pull them in tried everything to no avail !I saw hundreds all morning dropping in the wood just next to me so frustrating ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Had a handful on Friday up near March, Cambs. and all the crops were full of rape and ivy berries. I don't think the number have dropped at all, they are just not interested in the rape yet,I have been out a couple of times in the last week and have shot a few, not one bird had rape in it,They were mostly stuffed with berries, On the drive home I have seen more pigeons in gardens, sat in hedges, on the grassed areas of pavements,I think the pigeons shot were all fighting birds just going back to roost rather than wanting to feed on the rape until all this food source has gone they will not touch the rape, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Silver car parked about 300yds off the road to the right as you go from Grt. Saling down to The Palms, not far from the traveller camp on the road side? The ones I saw were all in the trees and dropping into the three rape fields on the right as you drive up to Grt. Saling from the old 120. Where's this traveller camp?? I was looking at a house in Jasper's Green and wondered why there were a lot of For Sale signs....... I drive around Norfolk every day and I have seen thousands of pigeons in many locations ( some really huge amounts) .This has been the case for weeks. The temperature in Europe doesn't seem to be affecting bird numbers here, so it shouldn't be too much different a few miles south. I notice Pigeon Controller has noted good numbers in his area. Please scare them down to Essex then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 It would make no difference to the birds feeding habits if it was minus 10 or plus 10, they'd still be sat in the trees. I have shot a good few hundred plus bags over rape in late October / early November when the temperature has been very mild in many years past, but this year there is simply so much alternative food around that they simply aren't interested in the rape, which is well down their list of preferred foodstuffs. Whether or not the birds feed on Winter rape has nothing to do with air temperature, despite what many newbies think, it's all about what else is on offer. And in this part of the World they're still ignoring it completely. Cat. well if the temp drops to minus 10 for a few days I will guarantee they won,t just sit in the trees they will have to feed, and if its that cold the ground will be frozen solid, and the acorns and beechmast will be frozen to the ground so they will have to look for any alternative food, I understand its not always the same arund the country habit wise and weather wise but around here the rape shooting suddenly comes to life during a cold spell it always has done, they have hardly touched the rape this winter around these parts not at all mostly but I bet a cold spell turns things around and I,ll post when it does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 well if the temp drops to minus 10 for a few days I will guarantee they won,t just sit in the trees they will have to feed, and if its that cold the ground will be frozen solid, and the acorns and beechmast will be frozen to the ground so they will have to look for any alternative food, I understand its not always the same arund the country habit wise and weather wise but around here the rape shooting suddenly comes to life during a cold spell it always has done, they have hardly touched the rape this winter around these parts not at all mostly but I bet a cold spell turns things around and I,ll post when it does Yes, I'm only too well aware that feeding habits differ from area to area, as you've pointed out before, the rape in your area comes into flower in November, remember... All I can say is that during the seriously cold weather we've had a couple of times around here over the past 5 years, with persistently sub zero temps and prolonged snow cover, the quantity of birds feeding on the rape has declined significantly, I'm convinced they all cleared off to areas of the Country that were snow free, they certainly didn't stick around here. Kitch is coming down to South Herts as soon as it snows to show me how to shoot big bags of suicidal birds over rape during a blizzard, as I've only been at it nearly 40 years and haven't managed it yet.. I hope to find a spot nearby in the woods close to some Ivy covered trees and we'll have a little head count at the end of the day. Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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