Thursday 24th October

Took advantage of a break in the rain to get in a fishing trip to Bruce's Acre but it proved hard going, perhaps due to colder temeratures and increased brightness. Some splendid prawns did nothing on the feeder and I could only get annoying touches on the pole.  In fact I nearly blanked but things did change once the sun went behind the trees.  After and before missing several bites on meat, I managed to foul hook a beautifully green-coloured barbel with ruddy fins that weighed all of 1.5lbs but size somehow didn't matter and I felt quite jubilant.  This was on an old groat left over in some frozen hemp.  As the only other fish I hooked - another barbel judging by its strong run - got off, the one further highlight of the day was that a merlin flew over the waters.

That is to say it was a merlin if I got it right as it wasn't hanging around for an identity parade, but I know sparrowhawks and kestrels well enough to be confident.  The only area of doubt was that I perceived it to have a pale rump, but it may be I was seeing the side of its underbody as it flashed through the air.  So that was a birdwatching first even if the brevity made it hard to get unduly excited.

Most other anglers seemed to struggle on the day.  On reflection it was a day for smaller baits and finer tackle, so my approach was too crude.  But I had a strong feeling that the presence of groats in the swim attracted barbel.  The other learning point was that I must face up to the fact that I need to try much larger hooks when fishing meat.  The meat was working in the last couple of hours but the bites were lightning fast and the hook always came back bare.

Wednesday 23rd October

Time against me on today's bike ride, so did not find much time for investigation. However there were as always these days goldfinches and several buzzards, plus a couple of sizeable starling roosts in spite of the early time of day and a swan sitting by what was basically a large puddle.  But the most interesting thing I spotted was a group of grey wagtails picking stuff off up the road.  Pied wagtails are always doing this, but this is the first time I've seen greys doing it.

Wednesday 16th October

Deliberately slowed down bike ride to try and see a bit more birdlife. Reasonably rewarded with good close-up of buzzard, a view of male dipper that flew straight under the bridge I was standing on and a very brief sighting of a hovering kestrel. Also saw four yellowhammer in hedgerows between Kirkgunzeon and Beeswing - first sighting for a long time.

Wednesday 9th October

Last week a wet bike ride with few sightings, but did catch a glimpse of late willow warbler in the hedgerow near Old Bridge of Urr. Also field full of greylag geese.

With some time to spare went for a brief ride along the Caledonian Cycle Path (W) the day after and caught a quick sighting of a linnet just past the footpath to the Garden Centre. Several others singing but not easy to see.

On the Friday made a trip to Eskrigg in pursuit of willow tit but again no success although red squirrels plentiful and all the usual suspects were on the feeders including nuthatch and gs woodpecker. Lots of coal tits. Monthly recordings mention willow tit and wood warbler, but not willow warbler (why?).

A few red admirals on the wing on a mild start to autumn this year.  Today they were settling on the road whilst out cycling. Also song thrush in front garden.

Friday 28th September

Mixed fishing expedition to Brooms on swim 8 in calm conditions.  Wasted a couple of hours in the margins to produce only one carp on pellet and a couple of tiddlers. Action was slow enough to notice a small flock of swallows moving in to take flies above the water as the temperature went up to the upper teens in mid-afternoon.

Frustrated, went on the long link feeder at distance using hair-rigged prawns, which produced a run a cast for two hours, but of the ten fish hooked only five were landed - the best approaching 4lb.  Had a slight feeling with this was due to the link between the feeder and the main swivel without being able to explain why.  On 8lb line, these fish made an incredible fight all the way back to the net but kicked free in the final stages.  All caught were commons but one escapee that found the reeds was a mirror.  After one biteless cast, tried the margins again without success, and after one last fish came off on the feeder wondered how many I would have had if I'd stuck to it.

Also saw two dragonflies and an unidentified butterfly.  Sadly the red admiral did not revisit the buddleia which is more or less finished for this year.  It would be nice to see it last into October but clearly unlikely to ever happen.

Wednesday 26th September

Bike ride to Loch Ken Sailing Centre, with again few sightings to note. Possible hen harrier did not hang around long enough to be identified. Five red kites on moorland after Kirkpatrick Durham and eight or ten wagtails on the road at one point. Notably absent were swallows, possibly indicating they have already started off to Africa.

Friday 20th September

Bit of a disastrous session on Queensberry Peg 14 at Brooms, where it drizzled steadily for half the day contrary to forecast.  Started with prawn on feeder thinking to change onto pole late afternoon but only got twitches and one decent run fishing towards the tree in the corner.

So switched to pole early, having found an interesting drop off between two patches of aquatic plants to my right.  Thought meat might work in the colder conditions, but switching to prawn was far more productive and had a couple of commons and a slightly damaged mirror by teatime.

Then it all went wrong.  Started losing fish on the way in and eventually one took the lot with it, having snapped the elastic, which must have been fraying.

Switched inevitably to feeder in the same swim, which if anything accelerated the rate of bites, but still kept losing fish. Part of the problem was the wet wooden planking in front of the peg as I was apprehensive about slipping over. One of them snagged the line on the platform when I was slow to stand up, then another got off as I was gingerly getting the landing net out. Others shed the hook at some point during the fight. Eventually the ide moved in and I packed up.