Saturday, 14 April 2012
Saturday 14th April
Bike ride to Caerlaverock with Mike Lumb. Wildlife incidental but did see some lapwing and a pair of flirting chiffchaffs very close up. Repeated similar trip and saw greenfinch, the first for a long time around here. Did see one on long weekend to Berlin at end of March.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Saturday 24th March
Very warm day with some sun. Far too pleasant to stay in the house, so another bike ride to Poldivan, thinking it might be last chance to see great grey shrike.
Saw much less than I heard, but spotted first chiffchaff of the year in trees by
cycle track, then a few buzzards. Thought I heard a skylark not far out from Locharbriggs.
Most productive area was a lovely run through Amisfield Moor, where the meadow pipits have returned and there were also two male wheatear and a number of what on checking were probably female reed buntings.
On the way past Ae saw the first butterflies of the season. The ones I got a view of were peacocks that have presumably over-wintered. At Poldivan, the shrike was not in evidence, so headed up past Mitchellslacks hoping to see predators. But there were just some more pipits, quite a few curlew and some lapwing starting to display.
On the way back, the shrike was back in position. Hung around just to the south of the clearing as a bloke from Cumbria reckoned he had seen a couple of goshawks. I may have heard them, sounded a bit like a pheasant though. Nothing much on Amisfield Moor, but did hear another chiffchaff before the cycle track turnoff.
A notable absence was the swallow - must be a few in the country by now.
Saw much less than I heard, but spotted first chiffchaff of the year in trees by
cycle track, then a few buzzards. Thought I heard a skylark not far out from Locharbriggs.
Most productive area was a lovely run through Amisfield Moor, where the meadow pipits have returned and there were also two male wheatear and a number of what on checking were probably female reed buntings.
On the way past Ae saw the first butterflies of the season. The ones I got a view of were peacocks that have presumably over-wintered. At Poldivan, the shrike was not in evidence, so headed up past Mitchellslacks hoping to see predators. But there were just some more pipits, quite a few curlew and some lapwing starting to display.
On the way back, the shrike was back in position. Hung around just to the south of the clearing as a bloke from Cumbria reckoned he had seen a couple of goshawks. I may have heard them, sounded a bit like a pheasant though. Nothing much on Amisfield Moor, but did hear another chiffchaff before the cycle track turnoff.
A notable absence was the swallow - must be a few in the country by now.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
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.
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.
Monday, 12 March 2012
12th March
A couple of walks with Alex this week. At Mersehead saw reed bunting, pipits, curlew, ringed plover and 18 shelduck on shore. Still several hundred barnacle geese. Area behind beach towards Southerness looks to be worth investigating.
Caerlaverock Nature Reserve today. Heard woodpecker and several skylarks but no sighting.
Caerlaverock Nature Reserve today. Heard woodpecker and several skylarks but no sighting.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Thursday 1st March
Going over the moors by Shap on train to Lancaster, I saw what I first thought was an early swallow flying adeptly at about 50 ft, except I noticed the tail shape was completely wrong - shaped like a half closed fan with an almost straight edge. All I got otherwise was a dark silhouette as the train sped on and I started to wonder about birds of prey. The main suspect would be a female merlin, but obviously you can't get the train to go back and check.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Wednesday 29th February
Bike Ride to Ruthwell and Caerlaverock. Largely inspired by TV programme on exercise the previous night so more focussed on exercise than wildlife. Did however manage to see tree sparrow in hedge just before the conifers on run in to Clarencefield and 100 whooper swans in field east of Brow Well. Surprised by tree sparrow as haven't seen them in this area before - completely chance sighting while pedalling at a fair rate of knots. Also probable sparrowhawk and a lone curlew at Bankend. Heard several skylarks at Bankend and Caerlaverock Nature Reserve but could not see them. Paused for 20 minutes to look for willow tits but only more long-tailed tits and others showed themselves. Tide was out and many more curlew were on the estuary sands plus something with a brown head that didn't seem to be a shelduck.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Sunday 19th February
Sparrowhawk sat on top of the bushes outside Parkhead Court - a very good place to look for sparrows! I sometimes wonder why I see sparrowhawks so rarely, as if I'm looking for them in the wrong way or mistaking them for something else.
This also reminds me I chanced to see a couple of tufted ducks on the Nith by Troqueer Bridge a couple of weeks ago.
This also reminds me I chanced to see a couple of tufted ducks on the Nith by Troqueer Bridge a couple of weeks ago.
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