Fisherman Mike Posted March 29, 2004 Report Share Posted March 29, 2004 I thought you guys might like details of my sunday shoot. Memorable for reasons other than pigeons.. At 7.30 I was just driving down the lanes from my house (I live in a very rural part of Gloucestershire) when a blackbird shot out of the hedge in front of me promptly followed by a female sparrow hawk in hot pursuit. as it lifted itself over the hedge to my left the Sparrow hawk hit it with such force that feathers shot everywhere and the two birds careered to the ground in front of the now stopped car ( Good Brakes on those Suzukis) After setting up my hide a had a little wait for the first flurries of Pigeon and bagged about 16 in the first 2 hours where upon it went a little quiet and so i settled back in the hide for a cup of coffee. A Male kestrel which had been hunting the scrubland behind me settled about 16 ft above my head I sat motionless for about 10 minutes watching him preen... wonderful, even though a dozen or so woodies had been buzzing the decoys wondering if they wanted to stop in or not. Shot steadily until 12.30 ish and then hit the Doldrums in the afternoon, Sun was warm so I put the gun down and had another cup of coffee and walked to a flight pond 500 yards away in the valley bottom. This was fed by a natural spring bubbling up from the cotswold limestone and the water is fresh and cold.. I thought of a money making venture, then i thought of Coca-Cola and regained my senses. Whilst sat on the side of the pond I watched through my Bins no less than 7 Buzzards wheeling and soaring on the thermals I watched them until they dissapeared from view amazed at their effortless flight. Returning to the hide and waiting for the late afternoon flurry of birds ( Which didnt arrive ) I was allerted by two magpies and several blackbirds bleating out their warning cry and about a minute later a Hen Harrier floated down the edge of the wood to my right and settled on the edge of the pond only to be mobbed by the two maggies and a couple of fearless blackbirds. I have seen Hen Harrier in this area before, several in fact but they normally hunt the margins of the local golf course and estuary. At about 6 having shot a further 5 birds from 4.30 onwards I decided to call it a day. I customarily skan the skies when I leave just out of curiosity to see if the birds know that Im packing up and noticed in the distance a little speck. Being a keen ornithologist and having a trained eye I knew it was not a common bird so I set down my rucksack and got out the bins and focused on this little speck which was no more than a Red Kite which soared slowly towards me in ever increasing circles, before flapping off into the sunset. What a wonderful weekend by all acounts... Shot some pigeon.. got away from the Wife and kids ( For a while) saw 5 different raptors and West ham won at home.. Next time you are out in the field just sit back from time to time and see whats going on in this big beautiful world around us... MAGIC. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMMER BURT Posted March 29, 2004 Report Share Posted March 29, 2004 you want to try living in the fens then,theirs a straw burning power stations on one side then 25000 acres of black soil the other not a tree as far as the eye can see only a14 and m11 motorway's and you think you have got it all,you wont see any thing but crows on the local tip and comerants on the local gravel pit, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2004 Burt, How sad!! I have fished the Fens a few times.. Each area of the Country has its own Characteristics.. Must say though I was born and raised in the Cotswolds and it really is Gods Country... I have travelled a few places but wouldnt want to live anywhere else (Except perhaps NewZealand where the fishing is so good) FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 Sounded like a good day F.M. just as good as getting a big bag of birds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted April 2, 2004 Report Share Posted April 2, 2004 Sounds like one of those magical days mate. I love them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.