Fisherman Mike Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Spent the Morning driving around the countryside of Glos, Oxon & Wilts and despite seeing lots of lush rape didn't see decent sized bunch of pigeons anywhere in 154 miles of driving. Where have they all gone...and don't say they are still in the woods because I've been looking there also. Three of the landowners whose land I shoot over haven't had to get a gas gun out for the first time in about 20 years and that's unheard of. Even several gamekeepers I know haven't seen any birds in the normal roost woods..one of which annually holds thousands of birds and has done since I was a lad. Very worrying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Lots around here in the woods, had a few good bags roost shooting. Most of the birds i have shot have been stuffed full of ivy berries though, very few have had any rape in the crop even though the wood we have been shooting is bordered by rape fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 They're in Norfolk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 And suffolk,and the cambs/suffolk border, not shooting hundreds but a nice steady amount. As said crops are full of every food under the sun, ivy berries, rape, maize, wheat, bird seed, even ash tree seeds so think they are there, just well spread out. Not seen any huge flocks on rape this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 And Essex..... TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 And Essex..... TEH You've seen lots in Essex??? Near Dunmow I suppose you'll say, then I'll know it's a wind-up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Spent the Morning driving around the countryside of Glos, Oxon & Wilts and despite seeing lots of lush rape didn't see decent sized bunch of pigeons anywhere in 154 miles of driving. Where have they all gone...and don't say they are still in the woods because I've been looking there also. Three of the landowners whose land I shoot over haven't had to get a gas gun out for the first time in about 20 years and that's unheard of. Even several gamekeepers I know haven't seen any birds in the normal roost woods..one of which annually holds thousands of birds and has done since I was a lad. Very worrying. Just the same as I'm finding. Motty says he has them all in Norfolk and can see 1000's in a few miles drive. Either very different local conditions to most of the rest of the country, or else I'll have some of what he's drinking!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 They're in Norfolk. Thought motty would know...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Just the same as I'm finding. Motty says he has them all in Norfolk and can see 1000's in a few miles drive. Either very different local conditions to most of the rest of the country, or else I'll have some of what he's drinking!!! I can second what motty says, i've been seeing big numbers locally, one field has been holding alot of pigeons for a few weeks now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 There's large numbers around here, no woodland permission so I'm pretty much stumped. Decoying is often a waste of time, but I'll give it another go soon, probably this Saturday if they dedicated themselves to the same field for more than a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 I can second what motty says, i've been seeing big numbers locally, one field has been holding alot of pigeons for a few weeks now. Have you seen the amount of pigeons on the maize near the sewage works? At least 2000 on there most days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Have you seen the amount of pigeons on the maize near the sewage works? At least 2000 on there most days. Been there a good few weeks now, i check they are there at least once a week. Not sure who owns it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 I haven't seen many round my way, loads of crows though. Loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 Been there a good few weeks now, i check they are there at least once a week. Not sure who owns it I'm pretty sure who owns it, but I know they have others on there. I enquired about shooting on the rape next door, but was turned down (different farmer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 iv loads of rape fields, and drove past lot of rape fields today,while at work but no pigeons on them at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 worth having a look in the towns and cities too, already seeing a good few birds on sports fields, roundabouts, verges, parks etc presumably feeding on clover. they are on the rape here but there not relying on it for food. it's certainly been a strange year so far, i can't ever remember seeing beechmast in february roost shot pigeons and only last week this was the case and the beechmast was in good nick [not rotten]. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 You've seen lots in Essex??? Near Dunmow I suppose you'll say, then I'll know it's a wind-up!! A friend went to shoot a maze field with around 800 birds on it ( so they had built up just right ) and they disappeared and never came back.... TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigman Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 A friend went to shoot a maze field with around 800 birds on it ( so they had built up just right ) and they disappeared and never came back.... TEH had a similar experiance on some maize stubble last weekend , only thing to return was the ferals I was traveling down a14 near to Burwell on Tuesday and saw a big number on rape and plenty dropping in on it to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 (edited) error Edited February 19, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Have you seen the amount of pigeons on the maize near the sewage works? At least 2000 on there most days. I'm moving to Norfolk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi Kicthrat......Norfolk is a big area and I can only vouch for my patch , normally by now we would have had a spell of hard weather and a lot of our pigeons would have moved from the coast and gone inland a few miles leaveing it fairly quiet , this winter have been different there have been no reason for them to move on. One of our rape fields on the A47 just before you get to Acle have got a flock of Swans numbering over 250 and going by other years they will be there till April ,if you think pigeon are a job to keep off there a doddle compared to Swans the farmers who I know have tried every thing a going ,gas guns ,sirens ,hawks on long poles you name it there most proberley tried it....legalily that is. If any you guys have any surgestings I will pass them on .Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitchrat Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi Kicthrat......Norfolk is a big area and I can only vouch for my patch , normally by now we would have had a spell of hard weather and a lot of our pigeons would have moved from the coast and gone inland a few miles leaveing it fairly quiet , this winter have been different there have been no reason for them to move on. One of our rape fields on the A47 just before you get to Acle have got a flock of Swans numbering over 250 and going by other years they will be there till April ,if you think pigeon are a job to keep off there a doddle compared to Swans the farmers who I know have tried every thing a going ,gas guns ,sirens ,hawks on long poles you name it there most proberley tried it....legalily that is. If any you guys have any surgestings I will pass them on .Thanks for your help. Yes it's a funny winter. I think, all sniping apart (closed season on snipe now?) we can agree that, on avereage, there are less birds than usual, it's been warmer than usual and many parts of the country have had a bumper year for acorns and berries. We should also be able to agree that some very varied local conditions have resulted from the above. Don't know what to do about your swans though, is this another unusual occurence?? Are they eating the rape?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 They're in Norfolk. We've got the lot in Norfolk mate. Swans are a real nuisance. They paddle everything down as much as eat it ( winter barley). There are several parts of the county where they'll be. They take some shifting sometimes, i've known then to virtually sit on a gas gun. Best was is to keep walking them off until the go completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad93 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 They were feeding on the acorns again this morning good group of 50 under two big trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve w Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 Seen about 30 or 40 feeding on a grass field when driving home last night and when I came off the motorway M1 jcn 15 they were dropping out of a wood onto a field of rape right next to the road 100 or so feeding this was about 4.30pm . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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