Paul taylor Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 (edited) i was forced to go out with the AYA yesterday as my emtech ear plugs came through post and needed trying (any excuse eh) virtually nothing flying about and was sweating to death in hide I'd quickly thrown up so went for a walk in the shade between two high hedges. Spotted a magpie brancher wobbling about on the branches around its nest so that got dispatched, totally un sporting but good pest control as I'd already seen two young uns flying earlier then this Jay made the mistake of flying over the hedge line quite fast and high but I knew what it was straight away and took a snap shot missing with the first but dead in the air with the second. I hope the picture are clear on a laptop they're only taken on my phone. As for the ear plugs, great can still hear ambient noise birds etc reasonably comfy and the guns just a quiet pop now. hope you like. Edited May 16, 2014 by Paul taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 get those feathers on e bay, fly tiers love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Well done Beautiful clever birds, but still need controlling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 stunning bird almost a shame to shoot it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I used to shoot and trap lots, even got a discount at my local shooting fishing shop when they were scarce. They are really hard on nesting birds, we trapped many using a larsen and a dummy nest with eggs placed on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Over the past couple years we've seen a lot more down here in SW Cornwall, before that you'd never see them. Numbers on the rise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 get those feathers on e bay, fly tiers love them Better off putting them in the craft section as millners and jewellery makers pay decent money for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camokid Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 i seen one the other week it must have been 2 years since my last sighting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I live near a forest and have a few trees around the house. I have never seen so many here in Cheshire. had 4 pairs collecting acorns last autumn. One often uses the bird table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fandango Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Shot a pair last week at my holding,, first jays I have seen there in thirteen years,, next day me mate was down and I was telling him I shot a pair,,, when another pair flew over,,,,,, didn't have the gun out the truck or they would have had it as well,,,, we did talk about the fact that they hadn't been seen in my area for quite a while,,,,, though there seems to be a distinct lack of magpies in the area,,, normally have had a few dozen by this time of year,,,,,,,, wonder if they rob the magpies ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 My own personal opinion is that i don't think these birds should be shot,there not exactly a problem like crows etc. Just my opinion thou. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 See my post above. Why do they get attracted to dummy nests with eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Reading some of the posts on thread it seems that the jay seems to be rare in some parts of the country . There plenty of them around in my parish ,I even have two in my garden that need to be sorted . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougall Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 loads of em here in w sussex....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie57 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 My own personal opinion is that i don't think these birds should be shot,there not exactly a problem like crows etc. Just my opinion thou. Neil Very similar in mannerisms to magpies only more weary, one snap of a twig and they're off. These are top nest robbers don't be fooled, but I do agree with camo kid they are stunning birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Very similar in mannerisms to magpies only more weary, one snap of a twig and they're off. These are top nest robbers don't be fooled, but I do agree with camo kid they are stunning bird (Stunning bird) and so few......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 My own personal opinion is that i don't think these birds should be shot,there not exactly a problem like crows etc. Just my opinion thou. Neil They are very much a problem. They are very common where I live and I shoot them whenever they come in range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie_79 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Loads of them in w.kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Stunning birds but not seen any around here for 5 years + If that changes they will be addressed but one pair NO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Did you know that the jay 'is one of the most important natural planters of acorns... and the distribution of several oak species is quite dependent on its presence'? I am not against shooting them but they don't do a bad job do they he he he Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumpy22 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 lots of them here. often see them trying to get into the nest boxes. beautiful but very destructive, like a lot of women Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Reasonable amount on the Wirral.... though slightly off topic! ... Song Thrush massive decline, Mistle Thrush catastrophic decline, seen more Woodpeckers than Mistle Thrushes ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul taylor Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Good to see I've got a few people discussing the topic of jays and I must say I won't be blasting every one I see as there aren't that many around here. However I don't think it would even be an issue with most if they weren't so colourful. Atb P.T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Good to see I've got a few people discussing the topic of jays and I must say I won't be blasting every one I see as there aren't that many around here. However I don't think it would even be an issue with most if they weren't so colourful. Atb P.T Yes your probably right...grey squirrels keep their numbers down as well. Jays burying acorns unknowingly planted the great English Medieval Oakwoods that provided the timber for the English fleet...if it hadn't been for them we would all be speaking Portugese French or Spanish now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimfireboy Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Plenty of jays around here and I shoot them if they present for a shot. They're nice looking birds, but I've no soft spot for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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