Danube Disaster

My other ploy to extend the summer was a cycle ride along the Danube from Passau to Vienna, of which the first half was a partial success and the second half a major failure.

It started with a couple of days in Munich, during which it was good to see that some areas of the English Garden (e.g. the Werneckwiese) have been preserved as flower meadows.  After a warm day on arrival it had however clouded over and hopes of late butterfly sightings were restricted to numerous small whites, and a fleeting sighting of a possible brown argus.

There were any number of common darters and following the stream southwards, I also encountered a few beautiful demoiselle damselflies and, momentarily re-awakening my fishing instinct, a number of chub, some of which were of a nice size.

Common Darter

Beautiful Demoiselle

Chub

Amusingly, elsewhere in the Garden, a game of coarse cricket was underway.

I also visited the Isarinselfest where there were some mammals behaving in an inappropriate manner.

Mammals behaving badly

Having made it to Passau the next day and sorted out a couple of 'technical difficulties', I set off to the first overnight stay at Schlögen.  The scenery was pleasant but conditions remained overcast I wasn't optimistic about seeing much at all apart some fawns that were in a pen next to the track.

The one flower in bloom that was at all frequent was european goldenrod, which eventually proved productive on closer inspection.  I think the main bee that I was seeing was a furrow bee, though I wouldn't like to speculate as to which kind.

Furrow Bee?

In view of the overcast conditions I was quite pleased to find a common blue nearby, even if slightly tatty.

It rained briefly, but then even then more goldenrod proved a home to a stoical small white waiting for better weather.

Small White

Further along the track, I saw something on another patch that mystified me, having never seen the like before.  Research suggests that it may be form of potter wasp.

Potter Wasp?

As far as I can find out, potter wasps only occur in the south of Britain.

The Danube at the Schlögener Schlinge looked extremely calm as I set out the next day in reasonable weather.  Progress was however halted by a Forestry official who asked me to stop.  The reason for this was soon clear as a medium sized pine tree was felled, partially blocking the road. 

Here she is clearing up the debris:

Försterin

European goldenrod was again productive.  I think this one may be one of the colletes bees, although aware there are other things it could be.

Colletes Bee?

This turned out to be the only sunny day of the whole tour and, after crossing the river at Aschach, I quickly encountered a lovely butterfly meadow with much still in flower.  Here, as well as the small whites that were everywhere (and I don't think I saw any other white species during the whole trip), there were common blues and a number of clouded yellow males, although they never settled.

Most significantly for me was getting some sort of photo of a small blue, having missed out on one in Slovenia in June.

Flower Meadow

Small Blue

There was then a long stretch on the left bank which was bordered by a narrow area of grassland down a bank from the raised cycle track.  Bird's foot trefoil started to crop up and for some while I enjoyed numerous sightings of the same species (though only one more small blue) and a good few appearances by peacock and red admiral, elsewhere infrequent.

Common Blue

It was interesting that all the common blues I saw were males.

European goldenrod managed to throw up another surprise before we hit the outskirts of Linz in the form of (presumably) another obscure wasp and, while taking a break, I thought I had a mini-miner on my knee.  Perhaps more likely it was a flying ant.

Wasp

Ant

So far, so good but by the time I left Linz the next day, it was already raining and it only stopped briefly around the area of Enns, where there was some nice woodland that might have promising.  After that it just got worse and any prospect of nature watching was abandoned as I cycled on determinedly to Tiefenbach.  

The next day (Tiefenbach to Melk) it rained consistently and the temperatures, which had been in the thirties the week before dropped to 9C in some locations.  While I had plenty of waterproofs, it became impossible to dry things overnight.  I had reckoned with the rain but not the low temperatures and frequent coffee stops were essential just to keep my hands warm.

By this time I had decided, by way of a diversion really to see if I could identify at least one bird or butterfly of any kind.  Before Melk I managed one bird - a goosander.

The fifth day was one of increasingly rain and flood barriers had started to appear.  Others gave up the ride altogether and headed for the train stations. I however continued and was amazed to see that there will still swallows flying low over the swollen Danube, which was lapping at some points no more than a foot below the cycle track.  At one point a sculpture I thought I saw above a directional sign transformed into a sparrowhawk and flew off when I was five yards away. 

I eventually reached the destination of Traismauer in a storm, disorientated and struggling to find a poorly signposted guesthouse.  I was so cold I couldn't sign the hotel registration forms before having a shower.  In the evening, my phone received an emergency alert from the Austrian fire brigade warning that the River Krems, which I had fortunately passed, was about to burst its banks. 

What should have been a pleasant ride through attractive scenery had turned into an extreme weather event and survival exercise.  On the last day the cycle route was closed on both sides of the Danube for the final stage to Vienna and it became apparent that no trains were running. It was largely down to the incredibly helpful lady hosting the appropriately named Gasthof zum Schwan,who contacted all the tour organisers, that we managed to hitch a lift via detours to Vienna with the bike rental van.

I think this will be the last long distance cycling tour I do.  As well as this incident, increasing signs of climate change (e.g. also the forest fire that threatened my arrival in Carcasonne in 2019 and the major anticyclone on my trip to Bulgaria) show you cannot rely on predictable weather any more.

Saturday 1st August

A week of interesting bits and pieces...

Last Saturday Malcolm and I took a quick run down to the Caerlaverock Nature Reserve.  The intention had been to attempt the Big Butterfly Count but as we never had 15 continuous minutes of sunshine, the survey conditions were not satisfied so we turned our attention to a bit of tree spotting, during which I managed to remind myself what an alder really looks like.

Strangely, the best spot was on our way out of the pub that evening, when we noticed that there is a large-leaved lime growing in front of the churchyard on St Michael's Street. Shocking in a minor way that I must have walked past it several hundred times without noticing it was there.

As Malcolm has only seen a red squirrel in Wales, we went to Eskrigg Nature Reserve the day after as I reckoned the chances of seeing them there were odds-on. Unfortunately there was a lot of gardening and maintenance work going on round the lake, which clearly intimidated the local birdies from visiting the feeders and no doubt the squirrels as well.

So we took a long perambulation around the reserve seeing nothing worthwhile but sure enough, on returning to the lake the volunteers were away and the squirrels were already invading the feeders, so we had a good long session watching their antics. The curious thing that no birds of any real interest approached the feeders apart from briefly one female nuthatch and a woodpecker. The scene was heavily dominated by a large number of juvenile chaffinches in feeding frenzy mode, which may accounted for the lack of other species.

On the way out we managed another interesting tree spot, which after much discussion we think we identified as a red oak.

On Thursday I went down to Gretna with the bike to check out the River Sark and the Kirtle Water in the hope of perhaps seeing a few chub lazing around. After an enjoyable diversion to the Auld Acquaintance Cairn near the first house in Gretna, I was astounded to see that the Sark was running at a far higher level than when I last visited in wintertime.  So fishspotting was out of the question, but I would have to say that some spots looked incredibly chubby.  I found it hard to believe that the otters have got them all!

So a week of variations which has highlighted for me how much of nature I have not been taking in as a result of ny preoccupation with birdlife, butterflies and fishing.  I have even bought myself a book on wild flowers, about which I know practically nothing, so who knows...

Meanwhile it appears that there are a pair of bee-eaters nesting near Brampton - after I went all the way to Provence last month to see them!

Large-leaved Lime	Red Squirrel Invasion
Red Oak??	River Sark

Tuesday 28th May

Did a walk at Cally Woods on Saturday. Although very attractive it was disappointying as virtually no birdlife seen - just one jay.

So fitted in fishing trip to Brooms amid promise of improving weather.  In fact quite a bit of rain and coole ENE wind. Possibly picked poor swim at NW corner of Bruce's Acre where much reed and tree curtting has taken place.

Nevertheless managed three chub, one of which was going on 1.5lb., two barbel largest about 3.5lb, good skimmer over 1lb and a gudgeon on caster.  Rest all came on corn except second barbel.

Annoyingly a lot of fish came off once hooked - hopefully because of small hook size rather than overtight pole elastic.  Fish certainly could not run much.

Thursday 28th February

Chub fishing trip on Sark, trying a promising under bridge at Corrie's Mill and various snaggy spots on the Sark at Gretna. River now pretty low but no fish sighted and certainly no bite. One passer by mentioned the otter problem, and all the evidence is that the popular view that otters have wiped out the fish may be justified. But what do the otters do when fish supplies have been exhausted? Head into the Solway persumably.

Another lovely, even warmer day but the only notable siting was a pair of dippers on arriving at Gretna. A few starlings gathering as I packed up.

Saturday 29th December

Two attempts  to fish River Sark for chub over the past ten days.  First time the river was running heavy and coloured.  One dipper seen while walking the banks.  Tried to catch Gretna starling roost but only saw a couple of small flocks.

Today pretty much a repeat story, except river was a little lower.  Still struggled to keep bait stable in the hotel swim.  Starlings almost as elusive as before.

Tuesday 18th September

Walked from Annan to Brydekirk and back along both sides of the Annan, mainly looking for chub spots.  Spent a lot of time looking into the water, but not seeing anything.  Although clear, the water very deep in parts, black and unpenetrable.  Only saw a few smaller fish rising.  One or two snaggy areas with trees. Also no signs to indicate the possibility of fishing it for coarse fish or not.

Good however to see a couple of dippers and a couple of very healthy looking grey wagtails.

It seems there are a lot of species in the Annan and I have seen photos of bream and pike caught as well as chub and grayling.  Chub must also be in the Dryfe Water and Water of Milk if they are in both the Annan and the Kinnel Water.

The following Sunday saw a few curlew and lapwing on a fitness bike ride to Caerlaverock, also lapwing from train to work during the week.

Tuesday 22nd May

First trip out with Malcolm yesterday. It has finally warmed over the weekend but fish are taking a time to respond.  Followed dubious tip to fish square but all we could get was small perch and one resonable roach bream hybrid.  Apparently things picked up on Queensberry Salix after teatime.  Saw another fox when we came to suss things out on Sunday.

Malcolm's First Carp

Today out with Alex and eventually Vicki as well as Malcolm.  Fish spawning and Alex keen to fish West end although my judgement is that North and South East banks tend to be better.  I was on the pole in the NW corner.  Alex got a couple of carp ledgering near weed and Malcolm missed bites before eventually getting a chub.  Corner was tricky because of lack of space to strike but fish came on nicely.  Eventually Malcolm got a reasonable common on my pole and Vicki got a couple of carp on float fished maggot.  Encouraged Malcolm to try this but all he got was a chub, a small skimmer and a gudgeon.

Meanwhile I was alternating between chub and carp mostly to sweetcorn and missed bites and eventually got a nice 5lb common around 9.00 pm that went round and round as if on a grand prix circuit before swimming straight into the net.  My total was seven carp and five chub but I wasn't getting unduly excited until that last fish as overall carp size was just 2 - 3 lb.  One chub about 13/4lb as against overall 1lb stamp.

Plenty of fish were coming out of SE corner which is main spawning area but unfortunately occupied by noisy locals when we got there. We're pretty convinced that the fish in Brooms get moved around and sold on, which might account for overall low size.  Perhaps time for a new fishing challenge?

Tuesday 13th March

11 degrees  today so first spring fishing trip, although wind off sea sent me back to car for extra pullover by mid afternoon.

A mixed day ending with four barbel, four chub and three common carp (two small) but the frustration was that several decent fish got off and many, many bites were missed.  Alternated with short pole and method feeder but only one serious pull on the latter that looked like a line bite.

The first fish hooked was a decent barbel but appeared to be foul hooked and came off under the pole tip.  Big fish were in the swim for an hour or so around 3.30 pm but all came off early in the fight, including a snap off.  One in particular was going like a train.

I'm starting to have doubts about bacon grill as a bait, as, although popular with  the fish, they seem to have no trouble stealing it however it is hooked.  As on other trips there were any number of lighting bites that were impossible to hit, some of which may have been shot bited from fish looking for hemp.  Worm or meat/worm cocktail was more successful plus one fish on worm/sweetcorn.

The chub moved in heavily towards dusk.  Unlike the barbel, they are nothing like their river equivalents - elongated with soft, slimy flanks and above all soft, flabby mouths.  Nothing like the hard-fighting ones I once caught in the Trent, which were at times impossible to unhook without a disgorger, so tough were their mouths.

Tuesday 4th October

Very belatedly, I got round to my first serious fishing trip since April!

Everyone else was on the feeder at Brooms F1 pond but I stuck with the margins, feeding two swims either side of me on the short pole in swim 11 - and to good effect.

I took one nice mirror and a common on meat to my left but couldn't connect with any bites in the right hand swim as the fish stripped the meat off the hook in lightning quick time.

Switching to worm in the left hand swim I got a barbel, and then a really nice barbel that I reckoned was about five pounds, as it overlapped the large Brooms landing net at both sides:

Barbel

You never really get an idea of size from net photos but I take size 11 wellingtons, so it's over 2' long and took me about 10 minutes to land on the pole.  It was certainly the biggest I've caught.

Switching back to meat and saying to myself that barbel fight harder than carp, I hooked into a juicy mirror with almost no scales that set out to prove me wrong and took even to longer to land.  I estimated that it would have scaled 7lb.

Mirror Carp

On the last cast, I hooked into another big fish that snapped the line as soon as I applied any pressure and, unfortunately, it was a bit too late to tackle up again.  Possibly there was a weakness in the line but using 3.5lb bottom and 5lb above, you'd have thought the elastic would have coped with most things up to 10lb.  My first instinct was that it was a big'un that turned its head at just the wrong moment.

Overall I had ten fish, three mirrors, three commons, three barbel and one chub. Only one carp took worm and only one barbel took meat.  The chub was one of only two fish from the right hand swim when I finally hit one of the lightning bites, raising the question whether chub were responsible all along.

All in all a smashing return and a much better size of fish that was coming in on the feeders.

19th April

Last minute fishing trip with Alex to celebrate my birthday.  Contrary to my belief that last minute trips are a bad idea, this was best visit to Brooms yet.  Fished SE corner of Bruce's acre. Warm day, very slight westerly wind. Catching a chub first cast, I feared we'd be plagued by smaller fish but after that the carp were virtually climbing up the pole.

Must have had nearly 30 (lost count) plus four chub and a decent skimmer.  Most were small commons but also had three decent mirrors and one common that were over 5lb and some tremendous fights.  All fish on double sweetcorn glugged in honey fished just on bottom, which must be the first time at Brooms I've caught all fish on the same bait.

Only one carp seemed to be a definite F1, strengthening our belief that John (owner) moves fish round a lot.  He probably sells the really large ones.

Mirror Carp

Common Carp