Hard and fast from the rear

[GingerCat]

I joined jdog earlier deep in the wolds. The particular field sloped steeply from our left to right. The wind was from our far right and the birds came from the village a couple of miles further on behind. 

The rape we were shooting on had a few patches that the 100 or so birds sitting on wires were dropping into. Conveniently we managed to park nearby so the walk up the hill was mercifully short.

Buried into the hedge we set up with a rotary and flapper. We didn't have to wait long and the first 2 birds flew perfectly into the pattern, both dropping. This continued for the first hour until proceedings ceased. Most came hard and fast from behind us and banked into the wind, a few others came along the hedge from our left. Just to annoy us the odd doddler would appear from nowhere and then accelerate away at great speed. Due to a nearby house we had to wait until they were in the pattern before we could shoot or a good number more would have fallen.

We packed up 2 hours later and moved to another farm not far away. Again we saw somewhere between 80 - 100 birds in a tree having flown along a hedge line. These also dropped down into some patchy rape. 

With just a rotary we set up. Jdog plugged the first one and then it was a struggle to get a bead on them as they flew in from behind again, at pace, turning towards the rotary and trying to get in. Just as abruptly this stoped and the line moved to a far tree on the other side of the field. We gave it another 40 minutes and decided it was too cold and went home. 

Great shooting and good times that are hard to come by on rape. All the birds are soon to be joining my sausage and burger collection. The drillings of beans and whatnot have produced little for either of us so far this year. 

 

[ditchman]

what can i say...what a mouthwatering post title....

[billytheghillie]

Winston will be looking in on this post, and then be disappointed 😥

[JDog]

Blimey. 

It was a disappointing day. I thought we might have shot a few more.

[marsh man]

14 minutes ago, GingerCat said:

I joined jdog earlier deep in the wolds. The particular field sloped steeply from our left to right. The wind was from our far right and the birds came from the village a couple of miles further on behind. 

The rape we were shooting on had a few patches that the 100 or so birds sitting on wires were dropping into. Conveniently we managed to park nearby so the walk up the hill was mercifully short.

Buried into the hedge we set up with a rotary and flapper. We didn't have to wait long and the first 2 birds flew perfectly into the pattern, both dropping. This continued for the first hour until proceedings ceased. Most came hard and fast from behind us and banked into the wind, a few others came along the hedge from our left. Just to annoy us the odd doddler would appear from nowhere and then accelerate away at great speed. Due to a nearby house we had to wait until they were in the pattern before we could shoot or a good number more would have fallen.

We packed up 2 hours later and moved to another farm not far away. Again we saw somewhere between 80 - 100 birds in a tree having flown along a hedge line. These also dropped down into some patchy rape. 

With just a rotary we set up. Jdog plugged the first one and then it was a struggle to get a bead on them as they flew in from behind again, at pace, turning towards the rotary and trying to get in. Just as abruptly this stoped and the line moved to a far tree on the other side of the field. We gave it another 40 minutes and decided it was too cold and went home. 

Great shooting and good times that are hard to come by on rape. All the birds are soon to be joining my sausage and burger collection. The drillings of beans and whatnot have produced little for either of us so far this year. 

 

Good of you both to give it a go and for your troubles enjoyed a bit of sport , with today being dull and cold it was a look only type of day for me , don't mind sitting about in warm weather for a few shots , but dull . light drizzel and cold that's a no no. 

[GingerCat]

The last hour a low cloud swept in and was utterly freezing. I think we did well to stick it out so long. 

[ditchman]

10 minutes ago, JDog said:

Blimey. 

It was a disappointing day. I thought we might have shot a few more.

it must have thrown you off your stroke ...to be suddenly faced, from them taking you from behind....most offputting i must say.....

[pigeon controller]

Well done for being out, it was a cold wind if you were in the shade. The field we shot last week had been hit hard and the birds would fly high over the decoys and swing in from the back of us wrong way to wind which was off putting. Thanks for posting.

[motty]

A good report, as always.

[JDog]

Probably the most exciting part of our day was watching a female sparrow hawk take a wood pigeon, mantle over it and start to devour it alive as they do.

[GingerCat]

41 minutes ago, JDog said:

Probably the most exciting part of our day was watching a female sparrow hawk take a wood pigeon, mantle over it and start to devour it alive as they do.

I think what was more impressive was the rabbit sat 4 feet away whilst the sparrow hawk had lunch. Balls of steel.

Despite the awkward conditions and non co-operative birds it was a thoroughly enjoyable day. It would be boring if they came in as if on rails every time. 

Edited April 8, 2019 by GingerCat