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An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Saturday, 9 November 2024

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.. 

4 comments:

  1. Stunning looking drain beast Dylan! (Pike's not bad too!!) Where can I get a copy of Gareth's book please?

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    1. I would suggest that www.medlarpress.com is the easiest way to source Gareth's book. Cheers for the comment - Dylan

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  2. What a beautifully marked pike, Dyl. A cracker! Seems a more contrasting pattern than your RMC fish. Is the side drain clear water?

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    1. Exactly as you say. The RMC stretch that I am targeting is usually rather dirty due to the fact that it is used as part of the Romney Marsh flood prevention scheme. The drains out on the East Kent marshes have no such pressure, thus are usually like tap water unless subjected to run-off during periods of heavy rainfall. As a result of the water clarity, the Pike adapt accordingly and those fish in the drains are far more contrasting than those washed out individuals in the canal. I think it might be worth adding that the light conditions, at the time of photographing, plus the use of a polarizing filter, probably assisted in highlighting the markings of the latter fish?
      Nice to read about your autumn birding efforts, you've still got time to discover that "mega" down at Cogden.
      All the best & cheers for the comment - Dyl

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