JDog Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 For more years than I care to remember I have been invited up to Northumberland for a house party and two days of shooting. This event is eagerly anticipated and the excitement builds in the weeks leading up to the day I leave. On our way up Jasper and I called in at Holy Island where he found a dead seal. I will put up pictures of this encounter at a later stage. With teeth like those it is hardly surprising that they can chomp their way through so many fish. We arrived at the house which is right on the banks of the Tweed, so close that I can throw a stone from the garden into the river and close enough for me to be able to watch from my bedroom a seal, live this time, catching kelts. Other predators included lots of mergansers, cormorants, herons and otters. We were welcomed by a motley assortment of dogs all of which were keen to sniff out their new friend before he took up his weekend residence in the kitchen not far from the AGA alongside the other dogs in their boxes. He was tentative at first then he soon settled down and got on with the others just fine. The first day was split over two farms. There were four guns and a few beaters (what a treat not to be shoe horned into a drive too close together) and we wandered field boundaries and had some drives and we accounted for pheasants, mallard and pigeons. The teal on the bog pond eluded us. Jasper was kept under close control and retrieved his first pheasants and a duck floating dead on the pond. I was very pleased with him. The second day saw us drive right up into the hills of the Lammermuirs into fog initially. It felt as if we had arrived at six in the morning but in reality it was nine. The good number of beaters were already in the yard having been up there some time blanking in some of the woods which we would be shooting. There were six guns on the day. All of the drives went like clockwork and on two in particular the birds were spectacular to say the least and a lot were missed though all were shootable. On the last drive I saw fifteen magpies spiralling upwards out of range of the guns. Clever devils. We walked on Holy Island again this morning before setting off down to Yorkshire. It was a magical few days away. All of the shooting was special. Note, I have never seen so few woodcock. I suspect that they have passed through this area heading south west. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 Sounds like the sort of invitation I could do with , instead I just get weddings , christenings and funerals ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 Enjoyed your post , would have enjoyed the trip even more ..thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 Sounds like a pleasant trip JD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted November 30, 2014 Report Share Posted November 30, 2014 Hi Jdog nice to hear that you enjoyed your visit to my part of the world and had some sport into the bargain. You could hardly fail to notice the scourge of avian predators, and seals, decimating the fish stocks on Tweed. It is sad that the law protects those worthless species but does nothing for the valuable salar, prized for both sporting and culinary properties. Regards Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddaftspaniel Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Great part of the world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted December 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 I could not add the pictures to the original post as I had done it from my phone (whatever next?) Jasper cautiously approaching the seal. The view from my bedroom window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 Wouldn't care if it was raining, looking out that window with a cuppa in me hand and fly rods at the ready! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 Wouldn't care if it was raining, looking out that window with a cuppa in me hand and fly rods at the ready! Boathouse? Blackpwder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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