Getting back in the groove

It has been nearly a month since I last hooked a carp, after initial successes on the new drain, my latter efforts were ruined by an ill-conceived (un-educated ?) baiting campaign by other anglers. No big deal and catalyst for an e-mail exchange with a non angler who has told me of some fish they've seen in another local drain. Their story rings true, although guesstimated size is always dodgy when someone has zero experience with fish in their watery domain. I had a wander down there, earlier this morning, and baited a couple of, likely looking, spots although didn't see any fish myself.
Benno and I have been in conversation about another venue where, although we know the fish are under some angling pressure, there is a very real chance of getting a "chunk". A particle mix is soaking in the slow cooker, prior to a period of gentle heat, and already two large tubs of curried chick peas are in my freezer awaiting the resumption of the campaign. I have been perusing the latest youtube offerings; gleaning a couple of rig presentations which might assist my cause as we move into the cooler months? We've agreed to give it one more month before changing tack and seeking new challenges, Ben has perch as his target whilst I have ideas for a split cane barbel project to keep me amused over the winter period and, of course, there will be a few pike sessions along the way.

A 1920's wooden centre-pin on a Tring Tench rod - bent into a hard fighting pike out on the East Kent marshes.

As is inevitable, after the death of my father, there are events happening which might conspire to put a spanner in the works but, with a bit of luck, these will have minimal impact on my plans as the season progresses? As we say at FSIS "Don't look back, look forwards" Friday morning will see the start of yet another new chapter. Bring it on!

Unsolvable conundrum ?

Q. - What do Redpolls, Crossbills and Yellow Wagtails (I could go on!) have in common?

 A. - Amazing racial variation, much akin to that of Homo sapiens, of which, I have yet to hear a single voice hankering for full specific status for any of those "splits"! I was brought up to look beyond, politically motivated, poison myths of the sensationalized media, thus, still regard racial variation as demonstration of a natural ability to evolve in order to fit into a particular niche, not a reason to go to war! (More God Squad stuff kicking around from my past!)

It has been my distinct pleasure to have looked at Yellow Wagtails, in many guises, for the past thirty years. My initial encounters were with the UK version but, since being with Bev, I've had opportunity to encounter many other racial variants/inter-grades as we've holidayed around the Mediterranean. The simple fact is the more I look the less, I realize, that I know; much in line with those pioneering gull enthusiasts who are pushing the boundaries of their knowledge of a very complex group. Whilst out on my wanderings, last week, I stumbled across a loose flock of 50 - 60 Yellow Wagtails, many of which were rather grey looking juveniles, however there were also a few adult birds, in the mix, and I have to admit that the vast majority had me "stumped"; being so different from the M. f. flavissima that is my "comfort zone" and bench mark. I readily accept that I'm out of practice and birding isn't the hub of my efforts these days, but I still enjoy the experience of learning when such opportunities occur.

I've been down this avenue of thought, several times, in my past blogging, yet still find it beyond comprehension that so many birders think that everything they see has to be defined and fitted into a box of an excel spreadsheet, thus tickable. The Yellow Wagtail complex is as confusing as it possible to be, incredible variation as the species is encountered across the breeding range (again mirroring that of humanity) from east to west. It is a fantastic challenge to test your knowledge and abilities with these superb little birds - just be prepared to admit that you don't know and it really doesn't matter!

Two of the Yellow Wagtails I encountered on my latest folly

Microsoft melt-down

Well, that's all over now and I'm back home in "Blighty". Why did I cease my holiday blogging? You need look no further than the latest "Anniversary Update", by Microsoft, which resulted in a complete loss of all my Wi-Fi abilities and many of my familiar apps - so thanks for nothing!

Egg laying Long-tailed Blue

The final five days of our stay on Kefalonia passed, in a blur, as time seemed to accelerate the closer our departure date came. Bev and I have returned home after one of the best holidays we've ever experienced and that has more to do with our "gang" than the weather or accommodation (which was top drawer!). Leon & Pauline, Craig & Carrie, Steve & Sue and Dan & Louisa provided company and entertainment for our entire stay. It was epic; right up there alongside the Icmeler holidays of our past.

Sunset from the poolside bar

I will get around to putting together some kind of trip report, if the blog material needs bulking up but, in the mean time all I can think about is getting back out with the split cane and catching a carp! Only one small problem with this plan - it's called work!

"Yamass" - nuff sed!

Day nine

Out before 08.00 hrs, this morning, making the most of the cooler conditions following the overnight rain. I felt that this would result in a few grounded migrants if I made the effort to take a look. It was a strange experience walking through the olive groves which were almost devoid of any birdlife save a few Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits. I was struggling to understand how such, seemingly, perfect conditions hadn't resulted is some type of fall? I continued on my way, walking my favoured route, before ending up in an area of open rough scrub and scattered agricultural areas. Immediately I found three juvenile Red - backed Shrikes perched along a single field boundary and a trickle of Red - rumped Swallows passed overhead. All of a sudden there were Spotted Flycatchers perched out in the open where there'd been nothing previously. Sardinian Warblers rattled off their scolding "churr" from atop fence lines and spiky, gorse-like, bushes whilst Crested Larks engaged in energetic chases above the scrub.

A Common Buzzard "mewed" from behind me and I was confronted by a large raptor flying very low towards me. Bloody hell - Honey Buzzard! Over far too quickly, I did my best to rattle off a few shots, using whatever settings were on the camera! More Red - backed Shrikes, Cirl Buntings and pockets of mixed hirundines as I wandered back towards Saoulas, it is a good to be alive day.

Day eight

It's now mid-day and pissing down! Bev and I managed to sleep through a 4.6 earth tremor which occurred at 07.00 hrs (local time) - many of the other guests fearing for their safety. The morning wasn't too bad and allowed me to get out for a short stroll to look for grounded migrants around the olive groves. A definite increase in the Cirl Bunting numbers, with plenty of Wood and Willow Warblers flitting around in the olives. A Red - rumped Swallow gave me chance for some decent images as it preened on the overhead wires. Bird of the morning, however, was not so obliging - a European Roller flying straight through, much too quick for anything other than brief binocular views.

A Little Owl perched briefly on a rooftop directly opposite the poolside bar, yesterday evening and I managed to add Hooded Crow to the list on my walk back this morning. Lots of insect photos to go through with a couple of nice butterflies included.

Day seven

So the first week over already, why doesn't time at work pass as quickly? I had a fantastic morning, strolling west along the coastal strip, checking a couple of olive groves as I went. I was out early, conditions much cooler than recently, it was far easier and much more bearable as a result.
The first olive grove revealed a small fall of Common Redstart and large numbers of Blackbirds, so something had occurred overnight.

I had photographed the moon rising over the eastern flank of Mount Ainos, before we had gone to bed last, thus it must have been the build up of clouds this morning that resulted in the avian arrival. My walk took me past the Fig Trees in a rather flash garden, no Golden O's this morning, but a number of Sub-alps feeding on the over-ripe fruits. My second Grey Wagtail of the trip called loudly as it passed overhead and a Common Buzzard spiralled lazily over the adjacent farmland. I made it as far as the area where I'd discovered the Tawny Pipits earlier and almost immediately flushed a Crested Lark, further exploration revealed another two, plus a pair of Stonechat (eastern race?), a Whinchat, three Red - backed Shrike and a soaring Sparrowhawk.

I could hear a Pheasant in the distance, but it doesn't sit comfortably on the list because I am fairly confident it was housed withing a compound of a small holding. A Firecrest, in some dense roadside vegetation was a nice surprise on my return walk and several Cirl Buntings were singing from the wires, but remained skittish and unapproachable.

Day six

A bit of a write off, I wasn't feeling too pucker and our internet connection went down the pan! Spent quite a bit of my day attempting to keep out of the sun and the toilet! A few bits and bobs, but basically very quiet - just a small Mantis sp. to point the camera at and a couple of Humming-bird Hawks feeding on some pool side Jasmine.

After a short spell in the fridge I photographed this insect on a glass-topped table, hence the reflection.

Day five

It will not take too long to recount my efforts of today. I was still suffering the consequences of my over indulgence during the previous evening whilst awaiting the arrival of Steve. A short stroll along the lower road was to see me in the Olive grove where I first explored on the original holiday. Three Golden Orioles were the undoubted highlight, but there were plenty of other birds to look at and I also need to record the Grey Wagtail that flew over Saoulas yesterday evening, as it was new for the trip!

My efforts with the camera were pitiful, an Icterine Warbler being about the only subject worthy of note.

Day four

It got very messy last night, Leon, Pauline, Bev and I spent a very amusing evening in Sammi's music bar drinking far too much (I didn't think it was possible?) and some in our midst making a spectacle of themselves on the karaoke - really; how old? As a consequence, I didn't get out of bed until after 10.00 hrs, without any plans or enthusiasm, I managed a quick couple of hours, the camera fitted with my 70 - 210 mm macro lens.

A pyralid that I've only ever seen on Gran Canaria previously - Spoladea recurvalis

I struggled, no point in saying it any other way - I'm starting to pay for my over exertions of earlier in the week, plus my body is making a statement about a Mythos overdose!

Day three

If I'd experienced birding like this on the UK East coast it would be a day that went down in the avian history as one of those "once in a lifetime" days. It didn't and it won't, although I have experienced a fantastic morning's birding. If it were about numbers, I would struggle, but the sheer diversity and unexpected  encounters made up for the mass spectacle.
I'd left Saoulas before 08.30 hrs, headed along my regular circuit; it seemed very quiet first off. It wasn't until I'd reached the first accessible Olive grove that things started to pick up. None of the Tree Pipits of yesterday, just a lone Yellow Wagtail and my first Golden Oriole of the trip. Plenty of Wood Warblers were flitting about in the dappled light within the canopy foliage - my photographic attempts being pitiful! A Cirl Bunting was singing, near by, and I watched a couple of Turtle Doves fly over (Sadly there is still a bit of shooting going on locally and I would imagine that these birds are the targets?)

A loose flock of seven birds in an open area of scrub on the southern coastal strip

I'd thought that it would be a "butterfly" day but the birds dictated otherwise. My totals revealing 6 Golden Oriole, 7 Tawny Pipit, 2 Eastern Orphean, 2 Icterine, numerous Wood, Sub - alps, Sards and Cetti's Warblers. Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatchers and Common Buzzards ensuring that there was always something to look at. I don't have a scooby where I ended up, but I'd managed to add Wryneck, Bee-eater, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrike to my list plus a single Northern Wheatear and several Whinchat. I got back to the complex just over four hours after I'd left - it was a fantastic morning - torrential rain in the afternoon, for a brief period; how I love this place!

Day two

Bloody hell - it's hot! The local weather forecast on those fancy telephone apps stating that the temps were around 23C - crap, the locals saying it was closer to 33C, awesome and far too hot for wandering around in the hills. I was out for little more than two hours; Tree Pipits and Yellow Wagtails being conspicuous in the Olive Groves as I walked in the dappled light.

I carried the 70 - 210 lens which I used for the butterflies and bugs, of which there were plenty to practice with.

Saoulas diaries - day one

Bev and I arrived, safely, at "Studios Saoulas" in the small village of Lourdas on the island of Kefalonia. Here, once again, to enjoy the tranquil ambience of this quiet backwater on the southern coast of the island. A small group of familiar faces, already in the bar, were on hand to help us settle into the groove and we slept soundly. The new day dawned, but not as we would have hoped - it was raining, so we started our holiday sheltering in the bar having a light breakfast.

Should have stayed in Ramsgate?

The rain stopped, yet the skies remained threatening, as I went off on my first adventure of this latest Mediterranean sojourn. It was just a loosen-er for my efforts later in the fortnight - this terrain certainly has the ability to test the unfit, and I well qualify for that label. I was away for three and a half hours, walking a familiar route that I'd discovered last year. As no two years are ever the same, so my experience proved. There were fences in places where there were none previously and the lack of water meant a noticeable lack of nectar sources for butterflies and blackberries for the birds. However, my efforts were not in vain, I recorded a nice selection of birds and insects along my route and even managed a few images which made the grade.

They used to be called Sub-alpine Warblers when I thought such things were important

A good passage of Alpine Swifts in these cloudy conditions

A smart little male Common Redstart in a track-side bush

A butterfly I know as African Tiger - photographed previously on Menorca and Corfu.

By mid-day the temperatures soared and the clouds abated, it was bloody hot and I was glad to make it back to the bar for "beer o'clock". A juv Red-backed Shrike appeared on the wires right next to the pool as Bev and I were thinking about lunch - it was a nice start to the trip.

No fishing

Bags are packed and passports at the ready! We're off to Kefalonia for a break from the reality of life in Dumpton. Sye and Yve are house sitting and looking after the aviary whilst we're away and also continuing to clear Dad's place of the accumulation of stuff that still remains.

Just to remind me of what I'll be missing, a Chiffchaff was singing in the garden, early this morning, posing nicely in the bright sunshine for a quick portrait before flitting off along the gardens. I remain hopeful that the technology exists to allow me to continue blogging whilst we're away? Toodle-pip!

Time to move on - already!

I am just back home after my third session of the week - nearly twenty four rod hours and not a single bleep of the alarms! What am I doing wrong? As exciting a challenge as this new drain is, I wasn't expecting to have to compete with other anglers, and their crazy baiting strategies, whilst also attempting to outwit these fish. It's no big deal; as I've stated previously there are hundreds of miles of these drains spread across The Ash Levels and adjoining marshes - I'll go somewhere else. It really is that simple.
As I see it, there are a small number of wild carp in this particular section, some of which are undoubtedly very large. That others (and I don't know who) feel the need to fill in every open spot with bucketfuls of tiger-nuts and maples is beyond me. My two earlier sessions were evening affairs and I knew that I was fishing over uneaten bait, this morning, at 03.30 hrs, I got both my rigs in position as stealthily as I know how. A few chick peas around each hook and I'm on it. It was just gone 07.00 hrs when I reeled in, the most exciting event being a Kingfisher using a rod as a perch, sending the alarm crazy as it attempted to dispatch a stickleback by bashing it upon the sacred cane.
It was only when I had the benefit of daylight that I was able to see the extent of this over zealous baiting policy. My chosen spots looked like they had been pebble-dashed with maize, maples and/or tiger nuts, absolutely pointless carrying on. This type of carp angling is enough of a test when you're in control of the baiting program, it's now been reduced to the equivalent of trying to catch a cow, in a field, on a single blade of grass!

It is a shame, because it is such a nice venue, but when faced with such uneducated behaviour, there's absolutely no point in continued wasted effort. In the "old days" I might have viewed this very differently - almost like a declaration of war! A bivvy in a field and a car in a gateway would have been very easy targets - walking home would have been the enjoyable bit in comparison to what would have been a very costly experience for my tormentors.
Luckily for them, and one of the benefits of growing old, they're only fish and I've caught hundreds and have access to so many other venues where I can continue my split cane campaign for a "thirty" without this nonsensical competition. So whoever you are - carry on - just don't be too surprised if the venue gets leaked as two can play this game, know what I mean?

Carp fishing; my journey

I caught my first, ever, carp from Pixie's Mere (Herts) during a night session after tench - a battery powered bike lamp illuminating my float under which a lump of bread flake was gently resting upon the silty bottom. This was pre - 1973, as I was still at school and had yet to acquire my first "Heron" bite alarm. The fish in question was a small common of two or three pounds and easily subdued by my, glass fibre, 13' Milbro "Enterprise" match rod and Intrepid "Black Prince" reel. The line would probably have been Bayer "Perlon" and the hook, all shiny and silver, from Woolworth's? At the time I remember being thrilled by the capture - carp, after all, were impossible fish to target, such was the powerful myth surrounding the species during this period of my angling journey.
It was. however, a decade later before I captured my first "double" - 9th March 1983! By this time I was employed by Kodak Ltd and had access to one of their social club fisheries, at Water End, just beyond the Hemel catchment, along the road to Lieghton Buzzard and Dagnall. It weighed in at an incredible 11 lbs 4 oz and I was over the moon! My diary reads "Hair rig - size 6 Au lion D'or hook, 8 lbs b.s. Sylcast bronze line with a Rod Hutchinson "Mingle Fruit" boily and using my glass fibre Gerry Savage S/U (stepped up!) 10' carp rod - strangely I haven't recorded the reel model. Although looking at the photos I feel sure that it would have been a Shimano EX 3000 - Leslie's of Luton being the first retail outlet to offer these new, fandango, items. They were a direct competitor for the ABU Cardinal range, not the revolutionary bait-runners that were to follow.

My very first "double" - 11 lbs 4 oz of Water End magic

Don't be too surprised by all this technical stuff - by this time I was already a member of The Tring Syndicate and captor of many tench in excess of 7 lbs! I was mainstream "speccy hunting"; rubbing shoulders with some of the finest specimen anglers of the era. My journey into carp angling very much a direct consequence of a lengthy angling apprenticeship which incorporated many aspects of watercraft and bank-side etiquette that have long since been forgotten. I was a tench angler, fascinated by the allure of these magnificent fish, smitten with the mighty specimens that inhabited the vastness of Wilstone Reservoir (It's little more than a piss hole in the snow in reality - my re-assessment some 35 years on!) Amongst the other syndicate members was a guy called Lester Strudwick (a founder member of the Carpike Specimen Group) and it was he who told me of the potential of the municipal lake at Stanborough, Welwyn Garden City.

If you've got a silly hair do, just as well have a silly hat?

Stanborough memories - happy daze indeed!
21 lbs 3 oz - 9th November 1983

I spent one entire winter period there (1983 - 4) taking good numbers of decent carp to a PB of 23 lbs 14 oz - a figure which remains unbeaten to this day! Although I did catch a fair number of carp, after this date, as birding became an influence, I lost my way, and quit angling entirely by August 1993, so need to fast forward to May 2011 before anything significant occurs.
We're back from Scotland - my first outing with the rods since 1993! Benno introduces me to Long Shaw Farm and the delights of surface fished bait for the spirited "lean commons" which inhabit the venue. It was the spark which lit the blue touch paper - once again I became an angler - birds, moths and associated subjects becoming, very much, peripheral interests.

A scamp common from Scroggin's Lake at The Marshside Fishery complex

This time round, however, the angling was to be done on my terms. There was absolutely no way I was going to return to the full-on lunacy of big fish chasing that had been such a feature of my previous incarnation. I wanted to enjoy myself, catch a few fish and use tackle which assisted my cause; it having been stored in my loft for the entire eighteen year lapse. The local commercial carp fisheries are able to provide magnificent sport and the simple enjoyment I was after - everyone's a winner?

An "Italian strain" mirror from an East Sussex commercial

Once the novelty of my return, to angling, had worn off - I was, again, itching to target some better fish than those ravenous hoards of  the commercial carp emporiums. Pike, barbel, perch and eels have all been subjected to my attentions - very successfully, before I've focused, once again, on carp angling. There has been a very strange series of events that have combined to get me to this juncture. If it were not for that original campaign, after a twenty pound pike, over the winter of 2011/12, I'd probably be none the wiser? To have discovered that the marshland drainage dykes, of East Kent, held fish of this calibre was a revelation and pivotal to the majority of my angling challenges since (barbel and perch excepted)

That magnificent "fully scaled mirror" - 10.07.2015

It was whilst I was pike angling that I was made aware of the quality tench that these small drains contained. It was with this knowledge, at the forefront of my thinking, that I made a last minute change of plans - I'd originally been going barbel fishing on The Stour, in Canterbury, but had changed my mind after learning of some EA weed cutting and the resultant carnage along the chosen stretch. My first tench session resulted in a single bite - from an 18 lbs 2 oz common carp! Back again, just a few days later and my luck continued with a brace of carp visiting my landing net. One was a 12 lbs+ fully scaled mirror; the other a magnificent wild common of 20 lbs 10 oz - both falling to chick peas, the twenty being my first such fish in thirty - one years!

My first twenty on the split canes - a very enjoyable experience 

And so we are right up to date - the 2016/17 season and where I'm at now? Not much has changed in my expectations, but there is one major new factor involved in this whole caper - I'm now using split cane Mk IV rods, as designed by Dick Walker and manufactured by B. James & Son, London in 1957! I had one purchased for me, by my family to celebrate my 60th birthday - I got a second just to ensure I was able to "look the part" should I find myself in carp angling territory. When I'd stopped dribbling, I promised my family that I would catch a "thirty" on their rod - it is now my single most important challenge as I see it.  A thirty is not such a big fish in 2016, but it is, yet I've set my sights on a wild fish from the East Kent drains or a remote stretch of the RMC. Either which way I want it to be a wild fish with no documented history, of capture, and the resultant name. There are many hundreds of miles of these dykes spread over the Ash Levels and surrounding marshes - surely my time will come?

A split cane Mk IV, a Mitchell 300 and a couple of chick peas - how will it end?

Almost there

It has been a hectic weekend, spent with my brothers, Tim & Simon, plus Bev, Sarah and Benno, attempting to clear my father's house of a lifetimes accumulated "junk"! Not a unique situation by any stretch - I'm sure that we're all guilty of this same hoarding behaviour; don't throw it away it might come in useful? Just how many egg cups can one person need? Any how, slowly we are getting through it and will have it completed within a couple more visits, all being well. Once done, we will be able to move on, a line drawn under this particular chapter in our lives.

Juvenile Red-backed Shrike - Corfu 

As I sit in my study, looking out over the maize crop beyond the garden hedge, there are large groups of swallows milling about, awaiting roost time. It's the Autumn and that's for sure - the time of mellow fruitfulness and dew sodden dawns; a magical time of year when the spectacle of mass migration is available to anyone with a mind to look. I am fascinated by this period, although I can't honestly claim it to be my favourite, because I'm not too sure I have one? Each season has its' own draw from my perspective. There is, however, one very special event that will be taking place across the entire UK over the next few days - kids are going back to school after the summer break. Bloody great, time for Bev and I to head for the sunshine of the Eastern Mediterranean. Once again, Kefalonia beckons and we can't wait - this is a holiday we've really earned. The beauty of our timing is two fold, no (very few) kids and peak avian migration through the region - it's a scenario made in heaven for us two. As long as the sun shines, Bev is in her element, I simply require the freedom to wander and see what I can find. Happy days. This will be our tenth visit to the Eastern Med, Corfu, Halkadiki, Icmeler (Turkey) and Kefalonia have provided us with some fantastic experiences and opportunities to meet with other like-minded souls. I don't think I'd ever want to live in the area but, I cannot deny the enjoyment I derive from time spent looking at the wildlife to be discovered whilst on my rambles in this very special habitat.

Pied Flycatcher - Northdown Park, Margate

I have no plans or targets, for this latest sojourn, I just want to have a break from work and the mundane routine of everyday existence. I'm not at all unhappy with my lot, but a change is, as they say, good as a rest? No fishing gear for a fortnight, so cameras and binoculars at the ready - I am hopeful that the technology exists to be able to continue blogging whilst in these foreign climes. We'll see!

Wryneck - North Foreland
Always a bonus bird during any Autumn session in the UK - go to the Eastern Med they're a gimme!

September dawn

Off out again, at 02.30 hrs this morning, headed for another session on the new drain. I had both rods fishing on my chosen spots, munga introduced plus a few freebies, by 03.45 hrs. It was deathly still, but the stars were partially hidden by a thin veil of high cloud - no satellites or shooting stars today! The air temperature registered 14 C on the car display, but I'd put on a couple of extra layers in readiness for the dawn, when the mist rises over the marshlands and temperatures take a dive. It felt good, I'm sure fellow anglers know what I mean, and I was confident of some action. At 04.55 hrs I had a liner on the right hand rod, within five minutes the indicator smashed up to the butt and I was in. A fabulous scrap on my ancient relics, but the same outcome as I slid my prize over the rim of the landing net. I might not have the eloquence to describe the thrill of playing a fish on a split cane rod, but I do know it is impossible to beat the experience!

The basic statistics revealed a weight of 14 lbs 12 oz, my photos showing just how angry this fish was; dorsal fin erect and full of attitude. I carried on fishing until 07.00 hrs without further action, my camera getting an airing as I attempted to capture the magnificence of the dawn horizon prior to the regulation fish shots. A cracking morning - Bev reckons I'm getting the hang of this fishing lark!