An RMC Pike

Today, at last, I managed to get a morning session in down on the Royal Military Canal. With just eight days remaining of the English "Pike season" I knew it might be my final chance so, despite the filthy water, I gave it my best shot. Now in March, I knew exactly where I needed to be and because of this left home around 04.30 hrs. I had two baits in the water by 06.15 hrs and the waiting game commenced. Sunrise was 06.31 hrs and I'd already experienced two aborted takes before, at 08.10 hrs, I finally got the bite I wanted.

The set-up which did the trick included one of the ABU "Carbon Specimen" rods fitted with the John Wilson "Heritage" centrepin reel. It was a fantastic scrap and I was a trembling mess when I finally managed to coax my prize over the net chord. It seems crazy that even after all these years, landing a decent fish can still cause such adrenaline rushes. The scales revealed the fish to weigh 18 lbs (and a smidge) thus constituting the largest Pike I've landed this season. Even with a polarizing filter fitted to the kit, my self-takes weren't particularly good. This was not helped by bright sunshine and the fact that the canal has been a filthy mess for the entire winter and, as a result, the Pike appear pale and washed out, 

With a bit of luck, on my side, I might just be able to get another session in before 14th March? If I can't, then I have to admit that today was a very pleasing way to finish my campaign.

Merlin and a conundrum?

Yesterday I took Bruno across to East Blean Woods for our daily stroll and duly added Nuthatch and Treecreeper to my year list. It was pleasant enough, although there were far too many other dog walkers for me to be able to relax. So this morning, I decided that Worth Marshes RSPB would be a better option and after a crazy drive, somehow a lorry had turned on it's side at the roundabout where Richborough Power Station once was, we eventually parked at the stables and began our ramble. It was a beautiful morning, with the sun shining brightly from a cloudless sky. Common Buzzards, Reed Buntings, Skylarks, plus another bunch of usual suspects were seen as we wandered out along the main track. A distant bird, perched atop a Hawthorn bush was worthy of a second glance and turned out to be a very nice adult male Merlin. Great stuff and another addition to the year list!

As we reached the start of the Pinnock Wall I scanned the geese which were in the adjacent field. The bulk were, as to be expected, Greylags but there were also eight Barnacle Geese and another individual which I took to be some type of hybrid? I rattled off a few shots in the hope that I'd got something to use for the blog. We continued with our walk and ended up surveying the area of marsh where the Barn Owls have been hunting and, sure enough, at 10.30 hrs there was an individual quartering the marsh, harassed by a Carrion Crow as it did so. On our return journey we bumped into Neil D and had a brief exchange. I told him about the Merlin & Barn Owl, yet completely omitted the Barnacle Geese - it must be an age thing?

Barnacle Geese with a "Heinz 57" hybrid?

There was something about that hybrid bird which was staring to cause me a few issues. It certainly wasn't of  mixed parentage which I could envisage. Only when I arrived back home and was able to look at the images I'd taken did the penny drop. There's certainly a chance that the bird is actually a "dark morph" Snow Goose and, as such, a bloody good Kent sighting?

What do you think?

I've emailed Neil to let him know about the bird but, as yet, am not 100% confident with the id so will wait for other, more knowledgeable folk, to decide if it is a "dark morph" Snow Goose. Me? I'm just grateful that the camera kit was able to provide some evidence to support my sighting. How I wish that this technology had been available in September 1999 when that Booted Eagle flew in/off at Hope Point.

Just received a reply from Neil with the news that it's a hybrid "wrong'un" ! Just as well I didn't get too excited about the sighting.

March "ring-tail" and stuff

It's been a bit of a weird start to the month as events, beyond the scope of the blog, have impacted upon my ability to get outdoors.A short session down on Minster Marshes, on Saturday, was to provide a superb encounter with a "ring-tailed" Hen Harrier, thus a year tick. Sadly it was always distant so my images were nothing better than record shots, but still better than nothing - just?

This morning I had to take the van, and Bev's Mazda CX3, over to Broadstairs for their annual MOT's, plus the van was in need of a service, so it was never going to be cheap! So it turned out. I dropped the van off at 08.00 hrs, before taking a wander back home along the coastal path. The freezing fog ensured that I saw very little and photographed even less. The car was then driven across at 10.00 hrs, and I was told to take an hour, or so, before returning to pick it up. The sun now having burned off the bulk of the fog, I headed down to Broadstairs Harbour where I hoped to get a few shots of the Purple Sandpipers which over winter down there. I wasn't to be disappointed as I discovered a small group, of seven birds, quite close to the pier.

Back to the garage for 11.00 hrs, only to be told that there were a few "issues" with Bev's car and they'd need another hour before getting things sorted. I headed back along the clifftop path, this time walking east to Winterstoke Steps before returning along the coastal path. Another seven Purple Sandpipers and five Rock Pipits were the best on offer. I grabbed a few shots of one "Rockit" which posed nicely in the sunshine.

On arriving back at the garage, it was good news, as both the van and car had passed the MOT, plus the service had been completed. As there was quite a bit of paperwork (aka the bill) to sort out, I drove Bev's car back home in order for her to drive me back to pick up the van and also pay the guys for their endeavours. Almost £500 later, we were back indoors, the vehicules deemed roadworthy for another twelve months. 

After a coffee and a bite to eat, I took Bruno for a wander across Worth Marshes RSPB. We didn't arrive until after 14.00 hrs, yet there were two Barn Owls hunting over that same section of marsh as I'd seen them on my last three visits. In glorious sunshine I was content to stand and wait for that photographic opportunity to arise. It did, and I was well happy with what I managed to capture.

"Deja vu" - bloody Groundhog Day!

It was almost noon when Bruno and I headed out onto Worth Marshes RSPB Res. We were late on parade due to the bitingly cold NW wind, early doors, and the simple fact that I had to do the Tesco run as we'd almost run out of food. Almost as soon as we turned the bend, which allows the first clear view over the marsh, I spotted the Barn Owl hunting over exactly the same area as it had been on Tuesday. My initial attempts at grabbing some shots was thwarted when a passing dog walker (doing absolutely nothing untoward) caused Bruno to go into meltdown mode and the owl had to take a back seat whilst I sorted him out. The situation quickly calmed down as the other guy and his two Jack Russells continued on their way, leaving me to watch a now, very distant owl hunting besides the railway line on the far side of the marsh. Admitting defeat, we then continued on our own walk, following the main track down to Hacklinge Pumping Station. We then took a left turn, along a side track which allows views across towards the old Betteshanger coal tip. A nice detour, although not particularly rewarding today.

A sub-adult Grey Heron provided some target practice for
the camera kit.

We'd already been out well over an hour, at this point, so we did an about turn and headed back towards the van, this time walking beside The Roaring Gutter, yet with a similar lack of excitement. It was only as we reached the section of The Pinnock Wall besides the reserve that it became apparent that the Barn Owl was still active around the same spot. We got tucked in using some brambles for cover and, after a few minutes, I did manage to grab a few more shots of this day time hunter.

By the time we got back to the bungalow, we'd been out almost three hours and Bruno was absolutely knackered. Another very enjoyable outing all the same.

A leisurely stroll

As a member of C&DAA I have vehicular access along a gated, private, track down to the club lakes (farm irrigation reservoirs) out on Minster Marshes. So, whilst I've not picked up a rod in well over a week, I have been able to visit the site in order to take Bruno for his morning stroll, just for a change of scenery. The weather forecast wasn't good, for today, and the onset of heavy rain was expected before mid-day. It was, therefore, just before 09.00 hrs we began our walk this morning. This particular area, adjacent to the club fisheries, is currently under threat from a power line project by The National Grid. I'm not 100% up to speed with the ins and outs of the scheme, but do know that it revolves around the need to link off-shore wind farms with our domestic power networks. "Green Energy" has to be the way forward?My mate George, the gamekeeper, has been instrumental in launching "Save Minster Marshes" in the hope that any environmental impact will be kept to the absolute minimum. All I can say is that I see both sides of the issue, but have decided to offer George, and his supporters, whatever assistance I can with a desire that a sensible conclusion can be reached.

Bruno and I were out on the marsh for nearly two hours, slowly wandering the set-a-side fields as I kept regular updates in my notebook. I recorded forty-one species today and that was with a few glaring omissions. No Corn Bunting, Kestrel or Cormorants! There was plenty to keep me entertained, as we made our way around the area. I've already offered to do some breeding bird survey work and today was happy to listen to five Song Thrushes and four Cetti's Warblers in full song as they seek to establish territories for the upcoming breeding season. Loads of Sky Larks along the route and the Tree Sparrow flock now numbers in excess of forty birds - absolutely nuts!

Two stand out records, from today, were a calling Water Rail and an adult Red Kite, headed north, both of which were new species for me out on Minster Marshes. 

Afternoon delight

The weather has been all over the place, just recently, so it wasn't until around 11.30 hrs that Bruno and I jumped in the van and headed over to Worth Marshes RSPB Res for our daily wander. Even when we arrived there was still rain in the air with ominous cloud cover to the south. There are no two ways about it? Bruno's arrival has been catalyst to my birding efforts, of late. The reserve was rather quiet and what I did see was totally predictable. We walked the Pinnock Wall, then The Roaring Gutter as far as the Hacklinge Pumping Station, before retracing our steps. In no great hurry, we'd been out for nearly two hours as the intermittent rain continued to cause problems with my binos and camera kit. We couldn't have been more than 600m from the van when I spotted a Barn Owl hunting over the marsh we'd just passed. Quickly retracing our steps, I was able to have a play with camera kit, whilst Bruno sniffed for mice in the adjacent vegetation.

A really nice surprise, given the time of day, and yet another demonstration of the ridiculous  advances in image capture technology that allows a "point and press" blogger to obtain such pleasing results.

Set-a-side stroll

For our stroll, this morning, Bruno and I went out onto Minster Marshes because we weren't likely to encounter any other dog-walkers. Binos, camera kit close to hand, and a note book in my pocket we took a very leisurely meander around the area knowing that all interesting sightings would be passed on to the "Save Minster Marshes" database. Yellowhammers and Corn Bunting duly obliged, as did a displaying male Marsh Harrier and a surprise Little Grebe on one of the drains. Two pairs of Stonechats were also encountered along the way and we also flushed a pair of Grey Partridges just before stumbling upon the Tree Sparrow flock again.

The absolute minimum count was thirty-one individuals and there might have been many more because they were extremely flighty and, hence, difficult to count. Once again I am indebted to the technology within my Canon set-up, which allowed me to obtain images which are far superior to anything I've achieved previously.

There is a very noticeable increase in Skylark numbers, and activity, around the area so all in all, a very enjoyable morning's wander.