In reply to Post #199
I don't know what it is but there something nice about the woods this time of year maybe its the leaves changing another year over, you can smell decay all a around you, and can certainly see more when the trees have no foliage. when i was young i would fish the winter through we had no protection in those days i would be away float fishing on the mighty Severn or the little Rea brook the times my line froze to the rod my hands would be frozen but i caught it was mainly roach or chub we really never fished the lakes as most fish would turn off they obviously did feed at times but we never had the cloths of today to protect us i remember fishing this one night with angling Times it would be around 1970 it was on blakemere we fished for the big bream it held, i remember covering our bodies up with a blanket then a piece of canvas it would be late November early December we must of dozed off it was freezing hard i awoke with a start i have never been so cold i was white all over the frost had frozen the canvas solid i looked over at graham he looked like something out of a horror story the canvas looked white and it had frozen some of his hair we both could not stop shaking i said never again but we did and fished Berrington one night in late November the very next year, that was the last time i ever fished a winter night we were both frozen to the bone i remember carrying our tackle back to the car my fingers were that cold i was nearly crying and that was not the end we finished up in bed quite, poorly with flue like systems we could not afford to be away from work we needed the money we had young families and times were still quite hard i certainly did not want the sack but jobs were a bit easier to find in those days but the money was not that good.
I have also shot in terrible weather we would go up in hill country graham and I always got a few invites on some of the pheasant shoots another friend always came with us his name was Rodger he used to beat for us i have been in some terrible storms in those hills the snow soon drifted making walking nearly impossible when you were in the woods standing the snow did not appear to be that much as it could not penetrate through the big fir trees you would get a bit under foot but not much but once out side the woods there could be as much as a foot of snow more where it had drifted i can well remember calling it a day usually about three in the afternoon we have gone back to the cars no way could we get out it would was over a foot deep the farmer would get the tractor and pull us out but the roads were like an ice rink not much gritting done like now a half hour journey would take a couple of hours by the time we had called at the local pub for a glass of malt to warm us up , i was always glad to get in the house and warm myself by the fire but they were great times i have loved every minute and if i had the chance i would do it all over again. well a bit more latter
I don't know what it is but there something nice about the woods this time of year maybe its the leaves changing another year over, you can smell decay all a around you, and can certainly see more when the trees have no foliage. when i was young i would fish the winter through we had no protection in those days i would be away float fishing on the mighty Severn or the little Rea brook the times my line froze to the rod my hands would be frozen but i caught it was mainly roach or chub we really never fished the lakes as most fish would turn off they obviously did feed at times but we never had the cloths of today to protect us i remember fishing this one night with angling Times it would be around 1970 it was on blakemere we fished for the big bream it held, i remember covering our bodies up with a blanket then a piece of canvas it would be late November early December we must of dozed off it was freezing hard i awoke with a start i have never been so cold i was white all over the frost had frozen the canvas solid i looked over at graham he looked like something out of a horror story the canvas looked white and it had frozen some of his hair we both could not stop shaking i said never again but we did and fished Berrington one night in late November the very next year, that was the last time i ever fished a winter night we were both frozen to the bone i remember carrying our tackle back to the car my fingers were that cold i was nearly crying and that was not the end we finished up in bed quite, poorly with flue like systems we could not afford to be away from work we needed the money we had young families and times were still quite hard i certainly did not want the sack but jobs were a bit easier to find in those days but the money was not that good.
I have also shot in terrible weather we would go up in hill country graham and I always got a few invites on some of the pheasant shoots another friend always came with us his name was Rodger he used to beat for us i have been in some terrible storms in those hills the snow soon drifted making walking nearly impossible when you were in the woods standing the snow did not appear to be that much as it could not penetrate through the big fir trees you would get a bit under foot but not much but once out side the woods there could be as much as a foot of snow more where it had drifted i can well remember calling it a day usually about three in the afternoon we have gone back to the cars no way could we get out it would was over a foot deep the farmer would get the tractor and pull us out but the roads were like an ice rink not much gritting done like now a half hour journey would take a couple of hours by the time we had called at the local pub for a glass of malt to warm us up , i was always glad to get in the house and warm myself by the fire but they were great times i have loved every minute and if i had the chance i would do it all over again. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #200
What a day the sky was black with duck all the years we have run our little syndicate i have never seen so many duck they were mostly teal with just a few mallard what a sight, a friend of mine has been reguarly feeding our small duck pool and its been covered in ducks the last few weeks. These ducks have arrived so early it must be the weather conditions abroad most come from Iceland Russia so maybe its the cold conditions that has caused them to migrate a lot earlier than normal they are quite welcome on our small syndicate, there was also a nice show of pheasants that flew very high and fast in the gale force winds a few years ago we used to put down around two thousand birds, but that has finished my health will not allow myself and friends to do the work that it entails we are all mostly old fogeys past our best, but we enjoy one another's company i did not take part yesterday owing to my left hip and back playing up so i sat in my 4-4 and watched the events unfold i or my friend tony has to be there to make sure the day runs smoothly i think our oldest member is nearly eighty years old the youngest is 14 years old he is my mates grandson we are trying to teach him as much about the country side traditions as we possibly can it has changed so much since i was a young man one thing he wont have to do is poach which was a big part of my younger life
A CARP FROM BOMERE YEARS AGO
YOUNG TOM WE ARE TEACHING HIM THE COUNRTY SIDE TRADITIONS
Looking around the lakes yesterday i saw no one fishing i think the carp fishing was not that good this year, why i wonder, i think most of the syndicate live quite some distance from the lake and can not afford to travel to put a little ground bait in it is quite a hard water, well it was when i fished it. I would put in half a bucket hemp three time a week with a handful off bolies on top a little bit often was my motto and it did seem to work and i always fished the margins never putting a bait into the deeper water maybe things have changed over the years most of my fish came at night but one syndicate member told me most come in the day light now so that's one thing that has changed, i was a bit surprised there was no pike anglers on the water as you usually see a few this time of year, i cannot believe how undergrowth is still so thick in the woods the beaters and walking guns said they had quite job getting through the tangle of briers what it really needs is a couple of good frosts to kill it off, we still have a lot of leaves on the trees, but the high winds should bring the rest down . one thing that did please me was the big skeins of geese that came into the old quarry pool they were mostly geylags i think in total i watched at least five hundred birds come in to rest on the pool it wont be long before a few of us have a go at them before the farmers start to complain god knows where all the Canada's have gone i have only seen the odd skein but i have heard stories that there has been a cull on these birds, i hope it is not true but there certainly was far to many in some parts of the country, one such place was Ellesmere where i have been told they made one hell of a mess of the paths that surround the mere, how true it is i don't know but i was also told they were trying to get rid of a few, the one lake i fished at Ellesmere were having lots of problems with the birds and the wardens were *****ing the eggs in season so they would not rear so many young. well thats it for now more latter.
What a day the sky was black with duck all the years we have run our little syndicate i have never seen so many duck they were mostly teal with just a few mallard what a sight, a friend of mine has been reguarly feeding our small duck pool and its been covered in ducks the last few weeks. These ducks have arrived so early it must be the weather conditions abroad most come from Iceland Russia so maybe its the cold conditions that has caused them to migrate a lot earlier than normal they are quite welcome on our small syndicate, there was also a nice show of pheasants that flew very high and fast in the gale force winds a few years ago we used to put down around two thousand birds, but that has finished my health will not allow myself and friends to do the work that it entails we are all mostly old fogeys past our best, but we enjoy one another's company i did not take part yesterday owing to my left hip and back playing up so i sat in my 4-4 and watched the events unfold i or my friend tony has to be there to make sure the day runs smoothly i think our oldest member is nearly eighty years old the youngest is 14 years old he is my mates grandson we are trying to teach him as much about the country side traditions as we possibly can it has changed so much since i was a young man one thing he wont have to do is poach which was a big part of my younger life
A CARP FROM BOMERE YEARS AGO
YOUNG TOM WE ARE TEACHING HIM THE COUNRTY SIDE TRADITIONS
Looking around the lakes yesterday i saw no one fishing i think the carp fishing was not that good this year, why i wonder, i think most of the syndicate live quite some distance from the lake and can not afford to travel to put a little ground bait in it is quite a hard water, well it was when i fished it. I would put in half a bucket hemp three time a week with a handful off bolies on top a little bit often was my motto and it did seem to work and i always fished the margins never putting a bait into the deeper water maybe things have changed over the years most of my fish came at night but one syndicate member told me most come in the day light now so that's one thing that has changed, i was a bit surprised there was no pike anglers on the water as you usually see a few this time of year, i cannot believe how undergrowth is still so thick in the woods the beaters and walking guns said they had quite job getting through the tangle of briers what it really needs is a couple of good frosts to kill it off, we still have a lot of leaves on the trees, but the high winds should bring the rest down . one thing that did please me was the big skeins of geese that came into the old quarry pool they were mostly geylags i think in total i watched at least five hundred birds come in to rest on the pool it wont be long before a few of us have a go at them before the farmers start to complain god knows where all the Canada's have gone i have only seen the odd skein but i have heard stories that there has been a cull on these birds, i hope it is not true but there certainly was far to many in some parts of the country, one such place was Ellesmere where i have been told they made one hell of a mess of the paths that surround the mere, how true it is i don't know but i was also told they were trying to get rid of a few, the one lake i fished at Ellesmere were having lots of problems with the birds and the wardens were *****ing the eggs in season so they would not rear so many young. well thats it for now more latter.
In reply to Post #201
i really wonder what kind of winter we are going to get the amount of fieldfare and Brambling we are seeing huge flocks in Shropshire with a few red wing they all come from northern Europe Scandinavia it must be a lot colder over there to see the amount we are getting here we usually see a few , but not the large flocks we have got now i have already told you about the huge flocks of teal appearing we always see quite a lot of this lovely little bird but not the amount we are seeing now we have also seen a few shelduck which is quite unusual this far in land whether these birds are migrating from Germany and have stopped over to rest on our pools and lakes, One bird i have not seen as yet is the woodcock we usually see quite a number in our woods they usually arrive over night from countries such as Russia and Finland they are a lovely little bird with there beautiful camouflaged plumage which makes it a difficult to observe the dogs usually disturb this bird from thick cover you could easily walk over it as it blends in with the under growth well the gentry used to love to eat this little bird but not enough meat on it for me the species has been in decline for the last few years caused from being over hunted in parts of Europe.
I loved to fish the river at this time of year when i was younger it was mostly chub and the roach i fished for but we had great days float fishing for The dace this lovely silver fish is really in decline also the roach are not there in the numbers they were, what with cormorants and goo sanders the latter birds are doing terrible damage on the Severn they hunt in big packs i have seen them all in a line across the river and have counted as many as thirty some anglers have called for a cull i would like to see that happen but you would never get the public to agree to such a thing what with otters mink goosanders cormorants its a wonder any fish are caught, the match weights have really suffered over the past few years Even the tributaries have suffered to name a few the river Rea the river tern not so long ago you would see the water vole on the Rea i have spent hours watching this shy animal when i have been fishing now nearly all gone due to the mink we now have the otter back he may move the mink away but what damage will he do to these lovely little rivers there are far to many otters around now they have no predators or hunt to keep them under control i am not getting into any arguments over this animal. Its humans to blame interfering with nature and having little knowledge about the damage they can do. well a bit more latter
i really wonder what kind of winter we are going to get the amount of fieldfare and Brambling we are seeing huge flocks in Shropshire with a few red wing they all come from northern Europe Scandinavia it must be a lot colder over there to see the amount we are getting here we usually see a few , but not the large flocks we have got now i have already told you about the huge flocks of teal appearing we always see quite a lot of this lovely little bird but not the amount we are seeing now we have also seen a few shelduck which is quite unusual this far in land whether these birds are migrating from Germany and have stopped over to rest on our pools and lakes, One bird i have not seen as yet is the woodcock we usually see quite a number in our woods they usually arrive over night from countries such as Russia and Finland they are a lovely little bird with there beautiful camouflaged plumage which makes it a difficult to observe the dogs usually disturb this bird from thick cover you could easily walk over it as it blends in with the under growth well the gentry used to love to eat this little bird but not enough meat on it for me the species has been in decline for the last few years caused from being over hunted in parts of Europe.
I loved to fish the river at this time of year when i was younger it was mostly chub and the roach i fished for but we had great days float fishing for The dace this lovely silver fish is really in decline also the roach are not there in the numbers they were, what with cormorants and goo sanders the latter birds are doing terrible damage on the Severn they hunt in big packs i have seen them all in a line across the river and have counted as many as thirty some anglers have called for a cull i would like to see that happen but you would never get the public to agree to such a thing what with otters mink goosanders cormorants its a wonder any fish are caught, the match weights have really suffered over the past few years Even the tributaries have suffered to name a few the river Rea the river tern not so long ago you would see the water vole on the Rea i have spent hours watching this shy animal when i have been fishing now nearly all gone due to the mink we now have the otter back he may move the mink away but what damage will he do to these lovely little rivers there are far to many otters around now they have no predators or hunt to keep them under control i am not getting into any arguments over this animal. Its humans to blame interfering with nature and having little knowledge about the damage they can do. well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #202
This morning i noticed the birds are feeding heavy from the feeders in my garden i wonder if bad weather is on the way it is surprising what our little feathered friend can tell us regarding snow and ice when i lived in hill country the sheep would give you signs of approaching bad weather by coming down from the tops and lying down under the hedgerows it was a certainty when they did this you would have bad weather on occasions we would have had to dig them out of the deep snow drifts it is really funny how warm they would be under the snow how they breathed under that lot i do not know. when younger i would track the animals in the snow the fox stoats weasels even badgers but most would stay under ground in severe conditions.
I was down the woods on Saturday in the one corner of the field the farmer had left an unopened straw bale the badgers had opened it up and dragged it into the field they were taking it back to there living quarters to use as bedding i followed them down the wood you could see where they had dropped some of the straw on there way back to the set there must be at least twenty badgers, living there probably more a few years back i would go down to watch them at night what a lovely sight to sit and watch them search for worms on a moon light night, we had them quite tame and they would let us get quite close they were so used to seeing us out at night they never really bothered . i am just hopping they will not get annihilated when the farmers shoot them one thing we have in our favour most of the land surrounding the set is arable there is only one farm in the vicinity that has cattle no milkers only bullocks being reared for eating and quite honestly i have never heard him complain about the badgers.
There was only one angler on the big lake on Saturday he had his bivie up i drove past him in my 4-4 but he never came out to see who it was maybe fast asleep it was quite a chilly day my syndicate had a reasonable day the bag was not huge a few ducks and a few pheasants but i was happy every one except myself had a bit of shooting i watched from a distance sitting in my car as i did not want to do much walking. I am really a bit shocked that more anglers are not fishing the lakes as graham and myself had some wonderful days this time of year fishing for the pike we had them to over twenty pounds in the sixties, but i am told they are not in the water like they used to be why i do not know, i do know when it was day ticket some were caught and killed i suppose that was the future stock i removed some of the people killing the fish
by banning them for life but i could not be there all the while so i dont how many more were killed . This was in the late sixties early seventies some were taken to eat so we cant blame polish and such as it was going on in the sixties i have had pike but was not very keen as it tasted quite muddy but in the forties and fifties you would eat most things . as times were very hard . well a bit more latter
This morning i noticed the birds are feeding heavy from the feeders in my garden i wonder if bad weather is on the way it is surprising what our little feathered friend can tell us regarding snow and ice when i lived in hill country the sheep would give you signs of approaching bad weather by coming down from the tops and lying down under the hedgerows it was a certainty when they did this you would have bad weather on occasions we would have had to dig them out of the deep snow drifts it is really funny how warm they would be under the snow how they breathed under that lot i do not know. when younger i would track the animals in the snow the fox stoats weasels even badgers but most would stay under ground in severe conditions.
I was down the woods on Saturday in the one corner of the field the farmer had left an unopened straw bale the badgers had opened it up and dragged it into the field they were taking it back to there living quarters to use as bedding i followed them down the wood you could see where they had dropped some of the straw on there way back to the set there must be at least twenty badgers, living there probably more a few years back i would go down to watch them at night what a lovely sight to sit and watch them search for worms on a moon light night, we had them quite tame and they would let us get quite close they were so used to seeing us out at night they never really bothered . i am just hopping they will not get annihilated when the farmers shoot them one thing we have in our favour most of the land surrounding the set is arable there is only one farm in the vicinity that has cattle no milkers only bullocks being reared for eating and quite honestly i have never heard him complain about the badgers.
There was only one angler on the big lake on Saturday he had his bivie up i drove past him in my 4-4 but he never came out to see who it was maybe fast asleep it was quite a chilly day my syndicate had a reasonable day the bag was not huge a few ducks and a few pheasants but i was happy every one except myself had a bit of shooting i watched from a distance sitting in my car as i did not want to do much walking. I am really a bit shocked that more anglers are not fishing the lakes as graham and myself had some wonderful days this time of year fishing for the pike we had them to over twenty pounds in the sixties, but i am told they are not in the water like they used to be why i do not know, i do know when it was day ticket some were caught and killed i suppose that was the future stock i removed some of the people killing the fish
by banning them for life but i could not be there all the while so i dont how many more were killed . This was in the late sixties early seventies some were taken to eat so we cant blame polish and such as it was going on in the sixties i have had pike but was not very keen as it tasted quite muddy but in the forties and fifties you would eat most things . as times were very hard . well a bit more latter
In reply to Post #203
i didnt know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
i didnt know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
In reply to Post #204
n reply to Post #203
i didn't know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
hi ralph have not been clear enough only trained shooters will be used i just hope it does not happen maybe some of the farmers will be good enough shots we will have to see, they are trying out inoculations on some farms catching the badgers then injection we will have to wait to see how it works out thanks for the kind words pete
n reply to Post #203
i didn't know that people were allowed to shoot badgers pete, or is it only farmers that are
excellent reading by the way
hi ralph have not been clear enough only trained shooters will be used i just hope it does not happen maybe some of the farmers will be good enough shots we will have to see, they are trying out inoculations on some farms catching the badgers then injection we will have to wait to see how it works out thanks for the kind words pete
In reply to Post #205
Well i have been down our woods today it was absolutely bitter our small duck pool had frozen over the woods were very still and quite i saw very little wild life the odd rabbit scampered by vanishing in the dense undergrowth one thing i am very pleased with was the amount of woodcock that were put up by the dogs they seem to have appeared over night i saw at least eight and that was only in one part of the big wood there was a time a few years ago when you would put up at least fifty or more i think the snow is not to far away it would not surprise me to wake up to a fair covering one of these next mornings i looked across to hill country and they had a small covering of snow i love these winter days it reminds me about the poaching i did in the surrounding woods for the pheasants especially this time of year we could make a bob or two for our back pockets the woods at that time were full of birds it was quite easy to poach a few with the air gun and torch the only worry you had was the game keeper and if you watched him long enough you would soon learn the best time to poach his birds was between seven at night and eleven o'clock he would be away at the pub usually the three fishes on our village i would pop in to make sure have a pint of mild listen to the chat and see if the keeper was there, he would leave his trusted motorcycle around the back of the pub so he may have gone to one of the other pubs on the village.
But if his bike was there i would be away to collect my gun from home you really had to know the woods and the many pathways i would make for his main coverts they were very easy to shoot i strapped the torch to the gun barrel switch it on look up into the trees pick an easy bird aim the gun pull the trigger and down he would come he would flutter around a bit so i would remove all evidence by picking any feathers up, then to the next tree you repeated it a few more times until you had enough birds I carried an old post bag to put the birds in, it could get rather heavy if you shot to many, and by the time you got home you would be tired out i have shot as many as twenty some nights but it was a necessity in those days as times were very hard i would give a few to our neighbors my mother always worried about me getting caught but i would tell here not to worry i can run lot faster than old Gerry the keeper or frank bell and i knew the woods well even if it was dark i knew which tree to clime to hide or which path to run and get away, even the farm at the end of the wood i could hide in the haystack i never once got caught but had a few near escapes over the years i have had a few shots fired over my head but it was worth the effort in those days the humble pheasant fetched a fair price not like today last week i saw them at the market for a pound each to cheap not worth poaching well that's it more latter
Well i have been down our woods today it was absolutely bitter our small duck pool had frozen over the woods were very still and quite i saw very little wild life the odd rabbit scampered by vanishing in the dense undergrowth one thing i am very pleased with was the amount of woodcock that were put up by the dogs they seem to have appeared over night i saw at least eight and that was only in one part of the big wood there was a time a few years ago when you would put up at least fifty or more i think the snow is not to far away it would not surprise me to wake up to a fair covering one of these next mornings i looked across to hill country and they had a small covering of snow i love these winter days it reminds me about the poaching i did in the surrounding woods for the pheasants especially this time of year we could make a bob or two for our back pockets the woods at that time were full of birds it was quite easy to poach a few with the air gun and torch the only worry you had was the game keeper and if you watched him long enough you would soon learn the best time to poach his birds was between seven at night and eleven o'clock he would be away at the pub usually the three fishes on our village i would pop in to make sure have a pint of mild listen to the chat and see if the keeper was there, he would leave his trusted motorcycle around the back of the pub so he may have gone to one of the other pubs on the village.
But if his bike was there i would be away to collect my gun from home you really had to know the woods and the many pathways i would make for his main coverts they were very easy to shoot i strapped the torch to the gun barrel switch it on look up into the trees pick an easy bird aim the gun pull the trigger and down he would come he would flutter around a bit so i would remove all evidence by picking any feathers up, then to the next tree you repeated it a few more times until you had enough birds I carried an old post bag to put the birds in, it could get rather heavy if you shot to many, and by the time you got home you would be tired out i have shot as many as twenty some nights but it was a necessity in those days as times were very hard i would give a few to our neighbors my mother always worried about me getting caught but i would tell here not to worry i can run lot faster than old Gerry the keeper or frank bell and i knew the woods well even if it was dark i knew which tree to clime to hide or which path to run and get away, even the farm at the end of the wood i could hide in the haystack i never once got caught but had a few near escapes over the years i have had a few shots fired over my head but it was worth the effort in those days the humble pheasant fetched a fair price not like today last week i saw them at the market for a pound each to cheap not worth poaching well that's it more latter
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but deffo wasnt one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a fieldfare
but it wasnt , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
ralph
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but deffo wasnt one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a fieldfare
but it wasnt , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
ralph
In reply to Post #207
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
hi Ralph not being rude a magpie does not have blue in his plumage i think what you saw was a jay beautiful bird full of colour there is one other that has a bit of blue but not as big as a black bird it is the haw finch it has bluish on its back his wings are a blackish with a bluish back and has white wing tips and white tips on the tail they are quite a big finch and a lovely looking bird def not a fieldfair. hope that helps a bit Pete.
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
thanks,
hi Ralph not being rude a magpie does not have blue in his plumage i think what you saw was a jay beautiful bird full of colour there is one other that has a bit of blue but not as big as a black bird it is the haw finch it has bluish on its back his wings are a blackish with a bluish back and has white wing tips and white tips on the tail they are quite a big finch and a lovely looking bird def not a fieldfair. hope that helps a bit Pete.
In reply to Post #206
Some local guy asked if i would continue my stories my answer was very simple as long as you all enjoy what i write i will continue, i have not done all i would like to have this year owing to my health i have been struggling to walk owing to my breathing and my back complaint i am now waiting to see a specialist for my back problem which is called senosis, i have just had a scan on my lungs unfortunately i have emphysema caused by me smoking a pipe for over forty years i have not smoked for at least four years but the damage has been done and walking to fast and to far really makes me struggle to breath but i am not ready for old nick just yet i am waiting now to see another specialist and things can be done but there is no cure so if you smoke please pack it up as i would not like to see you all like me.
Well that's enough of that lets get on with my stories heavy snow is forecast for Shropshire tonight followed by heavy rain we certainly need the rain some of our lakes need a big top up i have never seen them so low the ground is still very hard in our area and the recent rain has just not soaked in. Getting back to the wild life going down to my syndicate last Saturday i followed a little Merlin he flew a foot off the ground then skimmed the hedge row to my right and landed in a gate way and allowed me to stop and watch him i was only about maybe a yard from him he was a male with his bluish grey back he just stayed where he was and only took to flight when i put my window down but for me it was a privilege to have seen him this is not the first time i have seen this little hunter and it is always in the same lane. Another bird that has shown up on our shoot is a hen harrier it is a female and she is by her self with no male, how long she will stay i don't know maybe she is only resting coming down from the hill country to the lowlands as food is more available IE rabbits and small birds i just hope English nature does not see the bird as all and sundry may be rolling up to watch her after all it is a triple ssi site even my syndicate has to watch what we do although we have a good re-pore with them and really get on well together they like to see us around as our feeders do feed other birds as well as our pheasants.
The river Severn is bank height it must have rained quite hard in wales i would not mind having ago for the barbel as some real biggies come out in the winter my friend the bailiff has had a few doubles already i think the biggest was over twelve pounds ill have to look for the photos he sent me but he slipped putting back the big one, and ended up in bed hurting his back quite severely i think he is now back in circulation but have not seen him for a couple of months well the foxes should now be mating for all you night anglers you should now hear the vixen calling and the dog answering with with a sharp bark, she will have now chosen the earth she will have her cubs in at a latter date and will lie in this earth on her own out of the bad weather keeping her self warm the cubs will be born early march april not to far away, i hate these dark nights when i poached they were a great help but now i am getting old i prefer the light nights if any one wants to ask any questions regarding wild life please do i am only to glad to help and answer what i can . well that's it for now more latter.
Some local guy asked if i would continue my stories my answer was very simple as long as you all enjoy what i write i will continue, i have not done all i would like to have this year owing to my health i have been struggling to walk owing to my breathing and my back complaint i am now waiting to see a specialist for my back problem which is called senosis, i have just had a scan on my lungs unfortunately i have emphysema caused by me smoking a pipe for over forty years i have not smoked for at least four years but the damage has been done and walking to fast and to far really makes me struggle to breath but i am not ready for old nick just yet i am waiting now to see another specialist and things can be done but there is no cure so if you smoke please pack it up as i would not like to see you all like me.
Well that's enough of that lets get on with my stories heavy snow is forecast for Shropshire tonight followed by heavy rain we certainly need the rain some of our lakes need a big top up i have never seen them so low the ground is still very hard in our area and the recent rain has just not soaked in. Getting back to the wild life going down to my syndicate last Saturday i followed a little Merlin he flew a foot off the ground then skimmed the hedge row to my right and landed in a gate way and allowed me to stop and watch him i was only about maybe a yard from him he was a male with his bluish grey back he just stayed where he was and only took to flight when i put my window down but for me it was a privilege to have seen him this is not the first time i have seen this little hunter and it is always in the same lane. Another bird that has shown up on our shoot is a hen harrier it is a female and she is by her self with no male, how long she will stay i don't know maybe she is only resting coming down from the hill country to the lowlands as food is more available IE rabbits and small birds i just hope English nature does not see the bird as all and sundry may be rolling up to watch her after all it is a triple ssi site even my syndicate has to watch what we do although we have a good re-pore with them and really get on well together they like to see us around as our feeders do feed other birds as well as our pheasants.
The river Severn is bank height it must have rained quite hard in wales i would not mind having ago for the barbel as some real biggies come out in the winter my friend the bailiff has had a few doubles already i think the biggest was over twelve pounds ill have to look for the photos he sent me but he slipped putting back the big one, and ended up in bed hurting his back quite severely i think he is now back in circulation but have not seen him for a couple of months well the foxes should now be mating for all you night anglers you should now hear the vixen calling and the dog answering with with a sharp bark, she will have now chosen the earth she will have her cubs in at a latter date and will lie in this earth on her own out of the bad weather keeping her self warm the cubs will be born early march april not to far away, i hate these dark nights when i poached they were a great help but now i am getting old i prefer the light nights if any one wants to ask any questions regarding wild life please do i am only to glad to help and answer what i can . well that's it for now more latter.
In reply to Post #208
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
hi ralph feel i must apologize to you concerning the blue in the magpie, the amount i have caught over the years in the larson. for the local farmers i should have known better, it does indeed have iridescent blue green sheen on its black wings infact talking to a member on here it could even of been a young magpie that you saw once again i apologize .
In reply to Post #206
hi pete , spotted a bird round my way a while ago , about the same size as
a blackbird . it had black blue and white feathers, bit like the blue on a magpie
but defoe wasn't one of them. spoke to a game keeper who told me it was a field-fare
but it wasn't , just wondered if you had any idea what it would have been
hi ralph feel i must apologize to you concerning the blue in the magpie, the amount i have caught over the years in the larson. for the local farmers i should have known better, it does indeed have iridescent blue green sheen on its black wings infact talking to a member on here it could even of been a young magpie that you saw once again i apologize .
In reply to Post #210
As i stood in the woods i remembered the time i poached the woods and stream belonging to the condover estate the keeper was old frank bell although dead for many years his house still stands and the big wood known to the locals as bells wood is still there old frank chased me on more then one occasion with the police and under keepers joining in i was fishing this one night when i heard the barking of dogs and the voices of approaching men i ran the field beside the stream and decided i would cross the water fall to the other side belonging to condover blind school but i fell in it was not that deep only about three feet but it felt very cold and i shivered from head to foot it was two in the morning. I made for the river bridge staying to the side of the stream i knew it would hide any scent from the approaching dogs up into the wood i went hiding the rod and fish then up this big old fir and that is where i stayed i watching as the keepers and police passed under this big tree i giggled to my self not aloud i could hear them talking as they followed the dogs further down stream i could see from the torches they used it was Sgt landers and also pc sharp Stan who i was freinds with in latter life, they soon returned and gave in for the night i stayed up that tree for at least another hour until things had settled down picking up my rod and fish on the way home i picked up my bike which i had hidden in condover i had one job to do before returning home, i got on my bike still very wet and took two trout and tied them on old bells gate it was my way of saying thank you i still wonder if he had them for break fast that old fir i hid up still stands to this very day and looks the same as it did all those years ago i could not clime it now but i have my memories of times long ago.
I was really frightened this one night i thought i was going to be caught i had been shooting a few pheasants with my trusted air gun and torch when i heard a shout i have got you this time bloody hell it was old bell and not by himself he had others with him including the police the estate was surrounded by a big stone wall i ran the path out of the wood and over the wall hiding the rods and birds on the way crossed the adjoining road into the field jumping into the ditch it was dry thank god i could hear the shouts in the distance i ran the ditch coming out by the farm known as the green now belonging to Jim Davies it did not take me long to clime the bales in the barn and cover my self up it was not long before i could hear voices god they were at the farm, why i don't know but i heard them call the chase off and they returned the way they had come i was shaking with excitement my adrenaline must have been sky high i gave it an hour for things to settle then collected my gun and birds from the undergrowth picked up my bike i had hidden it in condover and started for home i arrived on the out skirts of the village only to see the police land rover blocking off any access to my house, the crafty bug;;; had twigged it may be me so i turned left into the field arriving at the back of my house over the hedge went my bike followed by me through the hole in the hedge it was not the first time i had used this way to get home i put the pheasant in the shed i was awoken in the morning by a knock on the door my mother answered it was the Sgt where was i mum said in bed before he could answer she said all night it was now six in the morning mum was not amused about being got up so early away they went they could not prove a thing don't make me tell lies again she said as she was a very honest women but it was all forgotten when eating the pheasants for Sunday dinner. well that it for now more latter
As i stood in the woods i remembered the time i poached the woods and stream belonging to the condover estate the keeper was old frank bell although dead for many years his house still stands and the big wood known to the locals as bells wood is still there old frank chased me on more then one occasion with the police and under keepers joining in i was fishing this one night when i heard the barking of dogs and the voices of approaching men i ran the field beside the stream and decided i would cross the water fall to the other side belonging to condover blind school but i fell in it was not that deep only about three feet but it felt very cold and i shivered from head to foot it was two in the morning. I made for the river bridge staying to the side of the stream i knew it would hide any scent from the approaching dogs up into the wood i went hiding the rod and fish then up this big old fir and that is where i stayed i watching as the keepers and police passed under this big tree i giggled to my self not aloud i could hear them talking as they followed the dogs further down stream i could see from the torches they used it was Sgt landers and also pc sharp Stan who i was freinds with in latter life, they soon returned and gave in for the night i stayed up that tree for at least another hour until things had settled down picking up my rod and fish on the way home i picked up my bike which i had hidden in condover i had one job to do before returning home, i got on my bike still very wet and took two trout and tied them on old bells gate it was my way of saying thank you i still wonder if he had them for break fast that old fir i hid up still stands to this very day and looks the same as it did all those years ago i could not clime it now but i have my memories of times long ago.
I was really frightened this one night i thought i was going to be caught i had been shooting a few pheasants with my trusted air gun and torch when i heard a shout i have got you this time bloody hell it was old bell and not by himself he had others with him including the police the estate was surrounded by a big stone wall i ran the path out of the wood and over the wall hiding the rods and birds on the way crossed the adjoining road into the field jumping into the ditch it was dry thank god i could hear the shouts in the distance i ran the ditch coming out by the farm known as the green now belonging to Jim Davies it did not take me long to clime the bales in the barn and cover my self up it was not long before i could hear voices god they were at the farm, why i don't know but i heard them call the chase off and they returned the way they had come i was shaking with excitement my adrenaline must have been sky high i gave it an hour for things to settle then collected my gun and birds from the undergrowth picked up my bike i had hidden it in condover and started for home i arrived on the out skirts of the village only to see the police land rover blocking off any access to my house, the crafty bug;;; had twigged it may be me so i turned left into the field arriving at the back of my house over the hedge went my bike followed by me through the hole in the hedge it was not the first time i had used this way to get home i put the pheasant in the shed i was awoken in the morning by a knock on the door my mother answered it was the Sgt where was i mum said in bed before he could answer she said all night it was now six in the morning mum was not amused about being got up so early away they went they could not prove a thing don't make me tell lies again she said as she was a very honest women but it was all forgotten when eating the pheasants for Sunday dinner. well that it for now more latter
In reply to Post #211
"At solstice, the woods were bright in a snowy way, the sky pearl gray above the stately maples and gnarled burr oaks. An Alaskan marooned in the urban Midwest, it took me years to find this nearby patch of relatively undisturbed land where I can sense the power of wildness. Now I go there often, watching the seasons unfold their changeful unchanging patterns in the increasingly familiar forest.
I especially like to walk among the sleeping trees in the half-lit silence of winter dawns. The trail I follow winds and twists, new patches of mixed woodland appearing at every turn. That morning, I reached a point where the path turns sharply left to follow a small ravine. In spring, ephemeral ponds—lively with salamanders, loud with frogs—form in the creases of the forest there. But in frozen winter, I expected nothing beyond silence and wind.
So I did not see them at first, three deer beside three empty larches. When I made them out—gray-dun hides against a gray-dun world—they were motionless, white tails aloft like flags of distress. I stopped in my tracks, thinking how lucky I was to meet the animal my Celtic forebears called the spirit of wildness on that auspicious day."
May i wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and very happy new year
"At solstice, the woods were bright in a snowy way, the sky pearl gray above the stately maples and gnarled burr oaks. An Alaskan marooned in the urban Midwest, it took me years to find this nearby patch of relatively undisturbed land where I can sense the power of wildness. Now I go there often, watching the seasons unfold their changeful unchanging patterns in the increasingly familiar forest.
I especially like to walk among the sleeping trees in the half-lit silence of winter dawns. The trail I follow winds and twists, new patches of mixed woodland appearing at every turn. That morning, I reached a point where the path turns sharply left to follow a small ravine. In spring, ephemeral ponds—lively with salamanders, loud with frogs—form in the creases of the forest there. But in frozen winter, I expected nothing beyond silence and wind.
So I did not see them at first, three deer beside three empty larches. When I made them out—gray-dun hides against a gray-dun world—they were motionless, white tails aloft like flags of distress. I stopped in my tracks, thinking how lucky I was to meet the animal my Celtic forebears called the spirit of wildness on that auspicious day."
May i wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and very happy new year
In reply to Post #212
It was the night before Christmas as we made our way across the fields the frost glistened on the grass leaving our tracks for all to see the sky above was covered in twinkling stars the moon cast shadows over the distant fields but i had promised our friends a couple of birds apiece i could not let them down the year was around 1959 things were still quite hard i had taken a friend with me tonight his name was jack a wily youngster who was no stranger to breaking the odd law but as we walked he seemed on edge whats up jack i said, whim get caught shooting the birds from these woods, there was a little bit of gypsy in our jack and he was very dark skinned i had never seen him frightened before no jack i said they will all be at the pub they will not expect any poaching to night he answered Na i suppose not but what about the ghosts that haunt the big lake there is only two ghosts tonight jack that's you and me i have poached these woods for years and have never seen out.
On we went towards the distant wood but our jack was not saying much he seemed a bit down and quite what about the ghostly bells that come from the lake Pete, i had heard this story before and said to jack its been made up by the keepers to keep the likes of us away i don't know about that Pete my grandad heard them years ago god jack i have never seen you so scared pull yourself together there's nowt in those woods that will hurt you, we climbed the fence into the wood and made our way under the canopy of trees to the main covert there was ice on the side of the big lake my ears tingled from the cold, you can hold the light jack ill shoot the buggers it was not long before we had a few nice birds in the bag, for once it was quite nice to have company we have got more than we want jack lets call at the compases one of the local pubs and raffle a couple of birds with the domino's what if Gerry in there bugger him its Xmas they will soon go, Gerry will be at the fishes, we started to walk back through the woods when the bloody bells chimed out jack took one look at me and was gone leaving the bag with the birds behind i was doubled up laughing it was the bells from condover church calling the faithful for midnight communion. Poor old jack before i caught up with him he had made it to the railway line did yer hear them ghostly bells Pete i had to laugh no jack they were from condover church i must admit the lake being in a valley made the bells seem if the came from the lake we made our way home across the fields funny i could not get jack to come again he was deeply superstitious and really believed he had heard the ghostly bells of Bomere woods. well that it for now have a peaceful christmas and an happy new year more latter
It was the night before Christmas as we made our way across the fields the frost glistened on the grass leaving our tracks for all to see the sky above was covered in twinkling stars the moon cast shadows over the distant fields but i had promised our friends a couple of birds apiece i could not let them down the year was around 1959 things were still quite hard i had taken a friend with me tonight his name was jack a wily youngster who was no stranger to breaking the odd law but as we walked he seemed on edge whats up jack i said, whim get caught shooting the birds from these woods, there was a little bit of gypsy in our jack and he was very dark skinned i had never seen him frightened before no jack i said they will all be at the pub they will not expect any poaching to night he answered Na i suppose not but what about the ghosts that haunt the big lake there is only two ghosts tonight jack that's you and me i have poached these woods for years and have never seen out.
On we went towards the distant wood but our jack was not saying much he seemed a bit down and quite what about the ghostly bells that come from the lake Pete, i had heard this story before and said to jack its been made up by the keepers to keep the likes of us away i don't know about that Pete my grandad heard them years ago god jack i have never seen you so scared pull yourself together there's nowt in those woods that will hurt you, we climbed the fence into the wood and made our way under the canopy of trees to the main covert there was ice on the side of the big lake my ears tingled from the cold, you can hold the light jack ill shoot the buggers it was not long before we had a few nice birds in the bag, for once it was quite nice to have company we have got more than we want jack lets call at the compases one of the local pubs and raffle a couple of birds with the domino's what if Gerry in there bugger him its Xmas they will soon go, Gerry will be at the fishes, we started to walk back through the woods when the bloody bells chimed out jack took one look at me and was gone leaving the bag with the birds behind i was doubled up laughing it was the bells from condover church calling the faithful for midnight communion. Poor old jack before i caught up with him he had made it to the railway line did yer hear them ghostly bells Pete i had to laugh no jack they were from condover church i must admit the lake being in a valley made the bells seem if the came from the lake we made our way home across the fields funny i could not get jack to come again he was deeply superstitious and really believed he had heard the ghostly bells of Bomere woods. well that it for now have a peaceful christmas and an happy new year more latter
In reply to Post #212
Merry xmas to you an yours Pete.,
Thank you for the reads..
Merry xmas to you an yours Pete.,
Thank you for the reads..