Salmo Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Greys on the wing in svmcotland now , we’ve got them in 3 different fields now ...... must have been an excellent breeding year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted July 27, 2018 Report Share Posted July 27, 2018 Yep seen quite a few feeding along the Nith and on stubble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Continental Shooter Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 I hope it's been the same for all wildfowl, it's been a beautiful spring/summer so, hatching rates should be higher then previous wet years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 A very mixed picture in my part of Norfolk. The greylag have done badly mainly due to predation and a lot of early mallards have small broods 2-4 ducklings getting on the wing. June broods have done very badly, but those hatched in the recent heat wave are good with several with 10 or more 4 week old ducklings. They will still be a bit small when the season starts though. All my local shoveller have failed and the gadwall only rased a handful of ducklings. Only one brood of tufted duck and the ducklings disappeared in the poor June weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 28, 2018 Report Share Posted July 28, 2018 Noticed yesterday that some of our Greylags have formed a flock of about 100, normally they would be in small family groups at this time of year, i noticed when they were put up by a sea eagle, which seems to upset them more than anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 I’m coming up to the islands shooting in December with my son , if you want / need any ammo up let me know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 (edited) 18 hours ago, anser2 said: A very mixed picture in my part of Norfolk. The greylag have done badly mainly due to predation and a lot of early mallards have small broods 2-4 ducklings getting on the wing. June broods have done very badly, but those hatched in the recent heat wave are good with several with 10 or more 4 week old ducklings. They will still be a bit small when the season starts though. All my local shoveller have failed and the gadwall only rased a handful of ducklings. Only one brood of tufted duck and the ducklings disappeared in the poor June weather. What has been predating the greylags? On the Humber I noticed much reduced productivity when after many successful years the Black Backs 'found the colony. The local RSPB reserve, quite a small one, have reported that the thirteen pairs of marsh harrier they have were feeding their young with lots of goslings. Edited July 29, 2018 by scolopax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 On Loch Leven years ago the RSPB / Loch Leven punctured the greylag eggs to control the numbers .......... ducklings took a hammering from blackback gulls that year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 7 hours ago, Salmo said: I’m coming up to the islands shooting in December with my son , if you want / need any ammo up let me know thanks mate very kind offer, roll my own, which suits very well for the few i use... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 On 27/07/2018 at 22:04, Salmo said: Greys on the wing in svmcotland now , we’ve got them in 3 different fields now ...... must have been an excellent breeding year Will anybody be shooting them just now? 21 hours ago, islandgun said: Noticed yesterday that some of our Greylags have formed a flock of about 100, normally they would be in small family groups at this time of year, i noticed when they were put up by a sea eagle, which seems to upset them more than anything The same fella.Is anyone cracking the greys already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 2 minutes ago, sako751sg said: Will anybody be shooting them just now? I had three right & lefts about 2 a.M. then straight into the lap dancing club to see the girls. (bloody medication) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 I’ve been asked but I won’t do it unless I’m forced too . I will be out on the 1st and 3rd at Canada’s and greys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 Aye,hopefully most folk show restraint and wait till the 1st at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 12 hours ago, sako751sg said: Will anybody be shooting them just now? The same fella.Is anyone cracking the greys already? No one in Harris, but they could well be in the Uist's which would send them here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 I was asked to go to an island and get in with a cull ...... done it before and I gracefully declined ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 On 29/07/2018 at 11:09, scolopax said: What has been predating the greylags? On the Humber I noticed much reduced productivity when after many successful years the Black Backs 'found the colony. The local RSPB reserve, quite a small one, have reported that the thirteen pairs of marsh harrier they have were feeding their young with lots of goslings. of fox predation, but perhaps more important was the Arctic spell of weather in March . Just when the greys are starting to lay they were using their body reserves to survive the cold. We had fewer than normal pairs nest and the broods were small ( max 4) . We have marsh harriers , but saw no evidence of them or any other raptors taking goslings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 On 29/07/2018 at 11:09, scolopax said: What has been predating the greylags? On the Humber I noticed much reduced productivity when after many successful years the Black Backs 'found the colony. The local RSPB reserve, quite a small one, have reported that the thirteen pairs of marsh harrier they have were feeding their young with lots of goslings. So that will be a win/win for the reserves, as they were asking for Greylags to go on the general licence a few ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 3 hours ago, islandgun said: So that will be a win/win for the reserves, as they were asking for Greylags to go on the general licence a few ago Who was it that managed to get Greys on the general up here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Lots are being shot under license . I got a phone call today to go and shoot greys / Canada’s . I did a cull on 2 different islands and shooting geese out of season isn’t my bag , on one island we shot 180 greys in 2 days ........ never again and not for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Just now, Salmo said: Lots are being shot under license . I got a phone call today to go and shoot greys / Canada’s . I did a cull on 2 different islands and shooting geese out of season isn’t my bag , on one island we shot 180 greys in 2 days ........ never again and not for me Under license or under the general license,or are they the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 17 minutes ago, sako751sg said: Who was it that managed to get Greys on the general up here? SNH ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Just now, islandgun said: SNH ? Think thats correct. Dont seem to be many taking it up and hopefully most wait till Sept 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Just now, sako751sg said: Under license or under the general license,or are they the same? I understand its under licence, it is/was relatively easy as a crofter to get a licence to shoot Greylags out of season if they were proven to be damaging crops. Other steps like scaring should have been used first. The Uists have had a heavy cull of Geese with SNH's approval and the local MP's interest. There is a goose management programme in Harris and Lewis where people have signed up. received cartridges and have then been obliged to report bags. the goose meat was to be given to local restaurants to try. Im not sure if that still runs. Personally I prefer to take the occasional goose through the winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmo Posted July 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 The first cull I did was on the isle of Tyree , the numbers were out of control . They were everywhere , now the numbers are controlled by the estate letting goose shooting as a package ....... but it was during the season and no license was required . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 You do know resident Greys are on the general here now though? Only from 1st July to 31st August. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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