Wild Geese, Beer and Pike

On Friday, I took a drive across the marsh to see what state a couple of drains were in. I'm happy to report that things certainly look a lot better than they did on my last visit. Black Dyke may well need a few more weeks before I feel confident about my bait presentation, yet one of the side drains looked spot on and I immediately hatched a plan to return this morning. As I was so close to Worth Marshes RSPB Res. it seemed silly not to take a wander around the area to see what was on offer. Fortunately, I bumped into my mate Neil and he quickly got me up to speed with what was on offer. I'd already spotted a Great White Egret and he pointed me in the direction of a Black-necked Grebe (the Pegwell bird?) which I duly raised the bins towards. Things then started to get quite exciting as we then got distant views of five adult White-fronted Geese in amongst a small group of Greylags. A Little Egret dropped down onto one of the pools and I spent a while grabbing some shots of a female Stonechat which posed nicely in the gloom.

Neil had other places to be but, before we parted company, gave me the directions for the flock of Pink-footed Geese which had recently arrived on the reserve. I headed off towards the spot, passing another couple of birders who were headed in the opposite direction. A brief exchange suggested that the Pink-feet had flown off, yet I was headed that way, so it made sense to carry on. Just as well, as it turned out, because a few minutes later the unmistakable sound of approaching Pink-footed Geese could be heard and a flock of forty-seven birds came in, from the north, and dropped down onto the field that Neil had spoken about. I actually made an effort to get some, half decent, record shots and whilst doing so was extremely lucky to have five White-fronts fly in to join the flock. 

The light was terrible, from a photographers perspective, yet I was happy enough with what I obtained and headed back towards the van, some two miles away. It was as I reached a corner on the main farm track when I spotted a Cattle Egret amidst a herd of cows. Brilliant, all three egret species within a couple of hours wandering around the East Kent marshes and not something I've managed many times before, even when I was a serious birder!

Friday evening was all about attending The Churchill Tavern for a beer and a catch up with my mate Gareth (Gazza) Craddock. We had so much to talk about and time simply flew by. To top it all off, he presented me with a signed copy of his book, Forgotten Fen, and I was truly humbled by this very generous gift. Once I've had time to read this tome, I will certainly devote a post to the book. Gareth is a master craftsman of the written word and yet, the book is further enhanced by the illustrations produced by John Richardson and his lino-cut printing technique. An absolutely awesome combination

Gazza and I in The Churchill Tavern last night 
If I'm not mistaken, this is an image taken from a video message Gazza
sent to John Richardson?

.As we said our good-byes, I told Gazza that I was headed back out to the flatlands for a Pike session this morning. He wished me well. So it was just before 05.45 hrs that I parked the van by the stables and headed for the side drain I'd explored the previous day. Two rods fishing before 06.30 hrs, I had made a couple of recasts and bait tweaks before, at 08.50 hrs, the left hand alarm sounded and I found myself attached to a very fiesty adversary. The luxuriant bankside vegetation did nothing to assist my cause and it was quite a challenge to actually draw my prize over the net chord. What a Pike, what an absolutely stunning looking fish. At 15 lbs 8 oz, it's certainly no monster, yet more than capable of seeing me grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I was packed up and headed for home shortly after 10.00 hrs, mission accomplished.

Even if I don't get back out on the bank I know that I've got something to report when the Canterbury/Thanet PAC gang assemble in The King Ethelbert PH, Reculver, on Monday evening..