Reabrook Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I'm aware of the differences in evading capture and committing suicide! And I question your assumption that I am the one with a closed mind. Once again you post tosh and then a very weak argument in its defence. I have nothing against posting tosh we all do it but please stop trying to dress yours up as fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) I used to work in one of the worlds largest collections of waterfowl at Pensthorpe in Norfolk. Something we had to be very careful of that there was no gaps in the dividers sectioning off the rearing pools. Given the chance duck can be just as good as pheasants in commiting suicide. We always lost one or two birds every year who had managed to get their heads wedged between the dividers under water and drowned. We even lost the odd goose that way. Likewise I have had winged duck dive into a thick weed bed. Most break surface again with just their head above the surface , but one or two have been unable to untangle themselves and have drowned. I suspect this is the more likely reason for duck drowning underwater but just becuse I have not seen a duck hold onto weed underwater does not mean it cant happen. Edited September 15, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 (edited) I used to work in one of the worlds largest collections of waterfowl at Pensthorpe in Norfolk. Something we had to be very careful of that there was no gaps in the dividers sectioning off the rearing pools. Given the chance duck can be just as good as pheasants in commiting suicide. We always lost one or two birds every year who had managed to get their heads wedged between the dividers under water and drowned. We even lost the odd goose that way. Likewise I have had winged duck dive into a thick weed bed. Most break surface again with just their head above the surface , but one or two have been unable to untangle themselves and have drowned. I suspect this is the more likely reason for duck drowning underwater but just becuse I have not seen a duck hold onto weed underwater does not mean it cant happen. That's a somewhat more reasoned debate. However a duck holding onto weed in that situation would require a conscious act. Do you believe they have that capacity? Edited September 15, 2014 by Reabrook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I'm aware of the differences in evading capture and committing suicide! And I question your assumption that I am the one with a closed mind. Once again you post tosh and then a very weak argument in its defence. I have nothing against posting tosh we all do it but please stop trying to dress yours up as fact. Yet I make the exact same case as anser2- go figure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 No you have not! You've changed your tune that many times Kent you don't know what case your making. Waste of time trying to have a serious debate with you. My old Nan always said you need a good memory to be a liar And she was right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 You just need to read without adding bits that aint there the thread is still here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 As I said I'm finished with your bull**** however unless you choose to edit them your posts are there for all to se and make up their own mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 no intention I assume most do not add bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) Blank Flight For the first time for a couple of years I had a slow amble out to the major creek where it flows out across the muds. Not that I was expecting much , it’s a bit early in the season for many duck to be using it yet and the weather was to say the least not “fowling weather “ , warm and with a light breeze from the north east. One ray of hope though was the thick mist that had hung about until well after dawn. I had a lazy start not arriving at the back of the marsh until 10 ish , a couple of hours before high tide. I packed half a dozen wigeon decoys and a box of shells along with a flask and set off across the saltings. This section of marsh can be a nightmare with a multitude of small and medium sized creeks forming a maze to be threaded through before reaching the edge of the green. I had hardly set foot on the marsh when I flushed a couple of big flocks of golden plover. Twice they came overhead offering easy shots , but the recent east winds had brought in a number of migrant song birds and the bushes at the back of the marsh had attracted the attentions of a number of birdwatchers. The odds of being seen dropping a few plovers were quite high and I did not want the hassle of being seen shooting waders and a repeat of "Shooting Bobs" problem a few miles along the coast with the police being called and being accused of shooting protected waders so I left them, but made a mental note to return after the plover another day – at dawn. Half way across the marsh I saw the dogs head whip round and angling straight at me were a pair of greylags. I was helpless to do anything about them as they passed 30 yards off as my gun was still in its slip. Finally I reached the creek where I intended to do the tide flight. I was glad to get the load off my back as the slog out had made me pretty warm. The tide was already running up but I had no trouble wading out and setting the decoys out. I had missed the main wader movement , but a steady trickle of curlew kept coming off the mud along with a few redshank. Egrets too fleeing the rising waters. Its amazing how in broad daylight duck can appear from nowhere and true to form one did this morning , landing 70 yards off on the far side of the creek. I froze in my little hide in the hopes it would swim over to my decoys , but she stayed put for some time before lifting and flying a few hundred yards further up the creek. Far out across the mud’s a small flock of wigeon appeared and swung around the flooding saltings in front. Shortly to be followed by a stream of wigeon until there were at least 300 in front. Unfortunately none of them looked like coming up to my position. That was until a trio came from behind swinging wide and landing beyond the decoys , just out of range. Alas the tide quickly drifted they further up the creek . A black raft of duck appeared several hundred strong on the sea. As they got closer they lifted and resolved into wigeon , about 500 of them. The most I have seen so far this season. But again they joined the flock feeding on the salting edge and never gave a chance of a shot. A couple of grey seals bobbed up close by. I am always nervous letting the dog retrieve with big seals near by. However they did not stay long and were later seen ploughing through the shallow water a few hundred yards away sending up huge bow waves, obviously chasing fish over the mudflats. As the tide slackened the wigeon movement stopped , but a single duck came fast and low up the creek heading for the decoys. For a moment I thought my luck was in , but as I rose for the shot I realised it was a merganser. Later in the year they are quite common here , but I have never seen one in mid September before. I hung on for a further hour but nothing came anyway near me , but a little skein of pinks set my pulse racing , but they passed well to the west and headed inland. My forth blank in a row on the coast , but somehow it did not seem that important , just to be there watching the birds made the morning and it was good to know that the wigeon were in good numbers. Just wait until the north wind picks up and the weather is cooler and it will be a different story – I hope. Edited September 16, 2014 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 A great write up as usual. We had very different flights , and indeed very different seasons so far . I saw very little tonight but managed to put another mallard in the game bag , my third flight and my fourth mallard with no blank flight. Last season I did almost 40 flights for three wigeon so I am off to a flyer this year ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Even the blank flight has give you knowledge for future forays so nothing lost Great write up, I could smell the sea air and mud. Figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayano3 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 A great write up as usual. We had very different flights , and indeed very different seasons so far . I saw very little tonight but managed to put another mallard in the game bag , my third flight and my fourth mallard with no blank flight. Last season I did almost 40 flights for three wigeon so I am off to a flyer this year ! You know I need a Zimmer Frame to get to the point of Andersons. Pleased you got one after the 3 mile trek, decent shot too in dimming light. I did wonder if you was in someone's hammock when the first and easier duck come over you. Pleased with my dog for finding it straight away on a blind retrieve. I'm sure your young black dog would have found it but as you said light was fading fast and we could have missed shooting. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Yes its a fair old walk down there alright but worth it when you come back with one in the bag . The only reason I missed the other was because you did not whistle loud enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 "Anser2" ...... Excellent description of a typical days wildfowling on the salt marshes , the reason we go is to put a duck or two in the bag but do it really matters if we get one or we don't, the sights , the smells and the sounds are what keep us going back for more and more and the ones who only measure success by what is in the bag don't normally last for more than a few seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Excellent write up anser2, had another associate members evening last night. No shots from anybody and not even a duck seen, only bird that came anywhere near us was a single cormorant. Hopefully Friday evening should see a bird or 2 added to the bag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I got out on Monday night, walked fully out onto the marsh, about two miles to get to my chosen point. It was well worth it, five shots 3 mallard, happy days! Managed to get a cracking picture of the dog as the sun was going down!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Top photo Fal I was looking at your club site this morning, will drop you a pm if thats ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobshooting Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Anser2", excellent description of wildfowling on the North Norfolk salt marshes. Rewarding no matter what the bag, although it's nice to get one now and then. I was out on Monday, morning flight, had the marsh to myself again,I 've been 4 times so far and on 3 of those occasions there's been no one else out shooting. There are still a lot of Mallard about, but with no wind, AGAIN, they were high, AGAIN. However, this time I had a devious plan, 6 Mallard Decoys, the first time I've used them this year. I've got 14 Mallard decoys, but I never take more than 6, anyone got an idea as to why I bought the other 8 then, because I haven't? One pair came into them and I got them both, took 3 shots mind and they were hovering over the creek.....feet down..... I got over-excited, sigh. My dog picked one up, ran with it to the other, dropped it and then stood there looking at them. It must have been in shock at there being 2 birds down at any one time to my gun. Thankfully they were both dead, because, despite being brilliantly trained by my good self, (yeah, right), it was a while before he would move. Has anyone noticed that using bad language on a recalcitrant canine is of no use whatsoever? This is the same dog, by the way, who is baffled by a duck that goes underwater to escape. Totally surprised, every-time. Every other Mallard, lots as I said, ignored the decoys, you can't make them go where they don't want to go I guess. Also got my first Widgeon of the year, nothing to do with the decoys, I just happened to be between where he started and where he wanted to finish up. His journey didn't work out quite as he had envisaged. Still haven't seen or heard a pink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge hunter Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Excellent write up anser2, had another associate members evening last night. No shots from anybody and not even a duck seen, only bird that came anywhere near us was a single cormorant. Hopefully Friday evening should see a bird or 2 added to the bag! it was a very quiet night mate, still enjoyable though. I can see why you need waders for that particular marsh now though lol, totallt stinking geting on and off the mud lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Sounds as though your flight was more successful than mine Bob. Good one. The tides are comming right to have a go at the mallard on my marsh this weekend and the start of next week so will be trying a dawn flight or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 I will be heading out again in a few mins , need to get that blank flight under my belt before I start thinking its easy I am sure I will soon come crashing down to earth , which will make the next duck / goose all the sweeter. I notice anser 2 that you mentioned the Egrets you saw , Its unbelievable just how common they are now becoming , I will quite often see 30 or more , lovely little birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaniel Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Great write up anser2 it's just great being out there Also nice pic Fal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Yes its a fair old walk down there alright but worth it when you come back with one in the bag . The only reason I missed the other was because you did not whistle loud enough It will be his new teeth, they need time to bed in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Buy him a louder whistle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 It will be his new teeth, they need time to bed in No No No Harry, you've got it all wrong. He has worn out those teeth when he was wolf whistling whilst watch the "parade" when he was on holiday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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