The bird target this winter has to be the waxwing. Next fishing target a river chub. Research suggests that they are not as frequent on the Annan as they once were, but have come back a bit in the Sark and Kirtle Water.
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Saturday 15th September
Did a 'bikebirding' effort round Glenkiln loop hoping to see 16 species excepting crows and gulls (which were strangely absent anyway) rather than trying to actually spot anything. In the end only 14 as wren repeatedly heard not seen, as were a jay and a curlew. For the record: wood pigeon, sparrow, chaffinch, house martin, meadow pipit, swallow (loads of), blackbird, chaffinch, black swan, greylag goose, buzzard, blue tit, starling, goldfinch. Didn't count mallard or mute swan as too common.
The bird target this winter has to be the waxwing. Next fishing target a river chub. Research suggests that they are not as frequent on the Annan as they once were, but have come back a bit in the Sark and Kirtle Water.
The bird target this winter has to be the waxwing. Next fishing target a river chub. Research suggests that they are not as frequent on the Annan as they once were, but have come back a bit in the Sark and Kirtle Water.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Wednesday 5th September
On the basis of a dry couple of days and a good weather forecast, decided to give the Mill Loch a try to see if I could catch a bream. Still most parts on North bank inaccessible without platform so ended
up fishing in the path swim next to two blokes from Yorkshire who had put a lot of bait in but seemed to be fishing a long way out.
Pretty soon started catching small roach on glugged sweetcorn but bites dried up during the afternoon despite liners. Eventually got an eel of about 2.5 lb on worm. After Yorkshire blokes packed up (having not bagged up) had a good fish on the corn rod but snapped off as trace was only 2lb. Just as sun went down got another on the same rod and landed it. About 18” long so probably 4.5lb. Shortly after got another skimmer on the other rod on corn. Hung on for a bit as dusk fell but no further bites. Since the objective was simply to catch a bream at a location I've never had one from before, I was well pleased. Also a lovely day - moderate sunshine in my face all day - in spite of a wasp sting while reaching for biscuits and the collapse of yet another fishing chair.
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| Nice Bream |
Pretty soon started catching small roach on glugged sweetcorn but bites dried up during the afternoon despite liners. Eventually got an eel of about 2.5 lb on worm. After Yorkshire blokes packed up (having not bagged up) had a good fish on the corn rod but snapped off as trace was only 2lb. Just as sun went down got another on the same rod and landed it. About 18” long so probably 4.5lb. Shortly after got another skimmer on the other rod on corn. Hung on for a bit as dusk fell but no further bites. Since the objective was simply to catch a bream at a location I've never had one from before, I was well pleased. Also a lovely day - moderate sunshine in my face all day - in spite of a wasp sting while reaching for biscuits and the collapse of yet another fishing chair.
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Sunday 2nd September
Drove to Mill Loch to check out fishing possibilities. North side flooded and not much getting caught. West end is getting silted up. An area where I once caught a pike is unfishable.
Went on to Kelhead to see if any better. Almost unrecognisable from the time I last fished there four or five years ago. Most of the quarry inaccessible. Pipe swim approach completely flooded. New trees all over next to bank. Two blokes fishing at corner but only two other swims further up accessible. Typography of the bankside almost unrecognisable. Think I'll go for Mill Loch if at all, as at least the water seems to be running off well. Did see a few willow warblers around Mill Loch and a greater spotted woodpecker at Kelhead.
On a brighter note there is now a glut of peacock butterflies on the buddleia, so at least one butterfly has done well. Unfortunately Jennifer's cat has eaten a couple. Also a good few small tortoiseshells but still no red admiral.
Went on to Kelhead to see if any better. Almost unrecognisable from the time I last fished there four or five years ago. Most of the quarry inaccessible. Pipe swim approach completely flooded. New trees all over next to bank. Two blokes fishing at corner but only two other swims further up accessible. Typography of the bankside almost unrecognisable. Think I'll go for Mill Loch if at all, as at least the water seems to be running off well. Did see a few willow warblers around Mill Loch and a greater spotted woodpecker at Kelhead.
On a brighter note there is now a glut of peacock butterflies on the buddleia, so at least one butterfly has done well. Unfortunately Jennifer's cat has eaten a couple. Also a good few small tortoiseshells but still no red admiral.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Tuesday 28th August
Bike ride to and around Ae Forest, hoping to hear Green Woodpecker. Didn't, so ended up focussing on bike ride navigation and very little seen. Buzzards on Amisfield Moor but nothing else today, just one or two pipits heard. Main event was a jay in garden at end of moor.
In the forest, took ages to even see a willow warbler. Heard possible redpoll. Didn't bother much on way back - getting windy.
A fortnight ago, I also did a walk from Mossdale down to the old Ken Viaduct checking for green woodpeckers, having read a discussion group entry suggesting they had been there in numbers. In fact there was no sign at all, which has set me thinking that they move around a fair bit.
However there was a small consolation in this flock of (presumably farmed) red deer lurking behind the bog.
In the forest, took ages to even see a willow warbler. Heard possible redpoll. Didn't bother much on way back - getting windy.
A fortnight ago, I also did a walk from Mossdale down to the old Ken Viaduct checking for green woodpeckers, having read a discussion group entry suggesting they had been there in numbers. In fact there was no sign at all, which has set me thinking that they move around a fair bit.
However there was a small consolation in this flock of (presumably farmed) red deer lurking behind the bog.
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| Red Deer |
Friday, 10 August 2012
Friday 10th August
Bike run to Caerlaverock Wildlife Reserve and quick lookaround, ideally for willow tit. Remarkably quiet. Took a while to see even any willow warblers. Notably, no noise from chiffchaffs nor indeed on previous two trips - as if they've already packed up and left. Quite a few dragonflies and the odd meadow brown. Meanwhile, small tortoiseshells increasing in number on buddleia and even saw one peacock.
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Tuesday 31st July
Following tip re green woodpecker location, took walk along road from Mossdale to Lock Ken old viaduct and back via route of paddy line.
Very pleasant and various contrasting sightings, although no green woodpecker. One bird constantly
screeching near loch was most likely a jay.
Red kite (inevitably) and extremely tranquil herd or red deer including male with antlers that were presumably part of venison farm. Many chaffinch, meadow pipit on farm wall, greenfinches in garden and nuthatch on feeder. Walking into woods large number of juvenile coal tits mainly that went into trees right above my head. I could have reached them with a cricket bat and have never seen birds unwittingly approach so near. Willow warblers, treecreeper and long-tailed tit in trees on train line.
On the way back stopped off at Knowetop Lochs and saw one ringlet and one scotch argus, plus signs of fish life in lower loch again - tempting to try fishing for them as no 'no fishing sign'.
Very pleasant and various contrasting sightings, although no green woodpecker. One bird constantly
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| Red Deer |
Red kite (inevitably) and extremely tranquil herd or red deer including male with antlers that were presumably part of venison farm. Many chaffinch, meadow pipit on farm wall, greenfinches in garden and nuthatch on feeder. Walking into woods large number of juvenile coal tits mainly that went into trees right above my head. I could have reached them with a cricket bat and have never seen birds unwittingly approach so near. Willow warblers, treecreeper and long-tailed tit in trees on train line.
On the way back stopped off at Knowetop Lochs and saw one ringlet and one scotch argus, plus signs of fish life in lower loch again - tempting to try fishing for them as no 'no fishing sign'.
Saturday, 28 July 2012
Saturday 28th July
Yes it took me that long to get back out again due to worst July weather for forty years. Walk on brown trail (including butterfly reserve) at Mabie Forest. Surprisingly little heard or seen the whole way. Some newts in the pond and a dragonfly. A couple of coal tits. Possible redpoll calling. Six ringlets and a sightly delapidated meadow brown, one red deer. Weather mixed. Otherwise have had juvenile sparrowhawk in garden but all butterflies on buddleia have been small tortoiseshells and few enough of them.
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