Pigeon morning

[anser2]

I had a nice little morning on the pigeons this morning. Only nine birds , but every one a testing shot at the limits of range. A friend who was finding it getting just a bit too much to get out on the foreshore as he is well past his three score years and ten had asked me if there was any chance of taking him into my woods. We met at 9.30 and it was only a short drive to my wood. Well I say wood , its more of a forest covering over a thousand acres and its shear size makes it very difficult to get to terms with the pigeons. However when there is a west wind there is a flight line that runs along the east side of the wood that is often worth a few hours flighting. As we drove up the track pigeons kept lifting out of the trees, the omens looked good for a few birds , but as we approached the edge of the wood our hopes were dashed, the farmer had just moved some cattle onto the adjacent field and with a number of the cows looking in calf there was no way we were going to be able to shoot that side of the wood. For the third year running the acorn crop has failed in the wood , but we did have several patches of beech trees that had a reasonable amount of mast that might be worth trying.

 

We drew a blank on the first patch , but as we walked along the narrow forest rack towards the second patch pigeons started to lift of the ground under the beeches. This looked like a good place to try. No sooner had we set up than the first birds started to return. I had picked a spot beside the beech trees under some huge larches perhaps 60\70 feet high. At least the larch canopy was quite open and I could see many of the pigeons coming before they were overhead. The first bird came sailing over at the very limits of range only to be sent spinning down behind me. Meg my black lab , had a hell of a job to find it in the thick bramble undergrowth , but she got it , though minus a few feathers where she had pulled it out of the clinging briars. My shots disturbed quite a few birds and my mate and I had several shots without swelling the bag very much. For the next couple of hours parties arrowed over head in the stiff wind . If I could spot them early enough I could cope with most of the shots. But if they were overhead before being spotted they made almost impossible shots. It was the sort of shooting were you had to keep alert all the time as birds came overhead from all angles. Not thick and fast , but just frequent enough to keep you on your toes.

 

The weather was perfect , a goods strong west wind and strong sunshine. The wood pigeons showing sharp against the powder blue sky, framed by the golden needles of the larch. One of those mornings it’s a joy to be out in.

 

I seem to be getting the hang of my Franchi S\A at last and was quite pleased to have nine fat pigeons in the bag for 15 shots. Alass my mate was not able to pick up his birds in time and only had one pigeon , but this was his first outing for months and he enjoyed himself , I just hope I can still swing a shotgun when I am his age.

Edited November 19, 2016 by anser2

[kenholland]

you made the effort that's what count's, at least the franchi had a dusting don't forget to take the choke out to clean otherwise it might cease if you don't use it much just a thought.

[anser2]

Ken I do change the chokes frequently as I use the gun for wildfowling as well as pigeon shooting.

[ditchman]

like that......my type of shooting

[JDog]

Good. story.

 

Yesterday there were many hundreds of pigeons on three fields between Thornham and the Titchwell nature reserve. I am sure you will have seen them.

 

Sadly I never saw a waxwing.

[ditchman]

Good. story.

 

Yesterday there were many hundreds of pigeons on three fields between Thornham and the Titchwell nature reserve. I am sure you will have seen them.

 

Sadly I never saw a waxwing.

 

 

is the Lifeboat pub still worth a visit in Thornham..?

 

last time i was there (a regular haunt) we used to fill up on shrimps ..crisps...beef sarnies ...local beer...and gamble on the old shov-a-halfpenny board....we were true proffesionals...always wiped the board down with white spirits before a match..

 

there was another game that was played there....never played it ...one of the benches had a hole in it that was surrounded by lead plate...and involved chucking or flipping pennies in it..............totally beyond us that one..

Edited November 18, 2016 by ditchman

[Cranfield]

That was a good account and a fair return.

I am sure your friend was very pleased to just be out and about on such a nice day.

[Mr.C]

 

 

 

 

there was another game that was played there....never played it ...one of the benches had a hole in it that was surrounded by lead plate...and involved chucking or flipping pennies in it..............totally beyond us that one..

That'll be Toad in the Hole. There's a pub league in Lewes not far from me.

[pigeon controller]

Great report and result. Satisfying shooting at its best. Although I tend to shoot numbers to keep my shooting a dozen good shots beats fifty gliding to the decoys , well done.