It's a start

I fired up the moth trap, last night, for the first time in 2016 and actually caught one! A Common Quaker was discovered on the egg boxes, thus I'm off the mark. Although daytime conditions are superb, for migrating raptors, the nights are still rather cold (around 3C) with an easterly airflow; so not ideal.

The Reed Bunting is still hanging around the garden and I managed a nice series of images as it repeatedly dropped down into next door's garden to feed around the bonfire site that been established as we've cleared our dividing fence line. The gardens are much tidier, but lack privacy at the moment and will remain such until we're able to reinstate the fence.

Newland's Friday

It was just after 05.30 hrs that I made my way across to work. Several Golden Plover flushed from the newly planted potato field and there was a flurry of Redwings, passing overhead; the first for some while. I had a blinding day at work - deeply insulted when my boss asked me to sweep the outside perimeter, taking care to ensure the chiller units were cleared of leaf litter! Are you sure? The same dough as I get for grafting, just to push a broom around in the sunshine - oh! the utter humiliation.

Despite my protests - off I went into the great outdoors, thinking of penning a letter to my member of parliament about this shoddy treatment. The skies were clear and the gulls busily going about their courtship routines - perfect for raptor indication. A couple of false alarms before, at 10.50 hrs two Common Buzzards were seen, as they spiralled north, causing some minor irritation to the flock.

Common Buzzards over Newland's Farm. It happens every year - can't stop it being exciting. Spring is very close.

As I arrived back home, a little after 13.00 hrs, there was a massive reaction over Pyson's Road, but I failed to locate the cause from my back garden. Shouldn't have worried because less than ten minutes later the gulls were up, over the estate, as a group of six Common Buzzards drifted leisurely westward. The gulls remained agitated, although I failed to spot any more Buzzards. Just to put the cherry on the top - a Reed Bunting landed in the garden Elder, calling loudly, then flitted into one of the, heavily pruned, Buddleias beside my aviary - allowing a quick record shot before it moved on. Spring is very close!

Reed Bunting in a garden Buddleia - nice!

I bumped into Franny, yesterday, and spoke about the local birding (and mothing) - very quiet at present. He enquired about my March eel? I have got one more session available, tomorrow night, before I have to "chuck in the towel" on the local drains. With another two weeks, of the month, remaining, it might be possible to salvage the project, should I fail tomorrow, by giving the RMC a bash? (No close season restrictions)

Open bale arms - monkey's on angled needles, there's an awful lot I have to
offer as conclusions from this fantastic angling adventure.
One thing is for sure; I will never again view eels as a nuisance species! (Which is very different from a pain in the arse!) 

I have quite a few ideas, and things to say, about this particular angling challenge - the post has already been started and awaits my final thoughts, some more photos, and results, but will be appear on my blog no later than 1st April.

Eight books for a desert island?

This could be fun? Steve Gale; prompted by Jon Dunn, has started yet another ball rolling - eight books for a desert island. I don't think I've ever read eight books! - of course I read, but I dabble, love the power of the written word, but can't seem to find the enthusiasm to read a book from start to finish.There have been one or two exceptions, but I am not easily drawn into the romanticism of epic tales from a period before I was born. Strange when everything about my angling and general appreciation of my surroundings is based upon the idyll of a countryman - a long forgotten concept in 2016.
I have a library full of hundreds of books but, by and large, they are reference material and not something which would hold much fascination should I ever find myself marooned on a desert island. I have to assume that the stay upon this island would be lengthy and my choice, therefore, be diverse enough to provide stimulus for a stagnating brain?

No. 1 - Johnathan Livingstone Seagull - Richard Bach

If ever I require confirmation of why it's important that I am truly an individual - this simple book has it all. How far can anyone push themselves before they discover their limitations? I loved it as a teenager - it's even more apt now. I'm fully aware of The God Squad undertones, it remains, however, an inspirational story written by a talented aviator and word-smith
.









No. 2 - Wild Chorus - (Sir) Peter Scott

One of the greatest champions of conservation the world has ever known; beyond any doubt? This wonderful book was first published in 1938, my copy a rather tatty 1944 re-print. It recalls Peter's early years as a wild-fowler, tales of hardship and endurance as he sought his quarry out on the coastal wilderness of Fenland, The Solway and many other venues, home and abroad. Generously illustrated by his own art work, it is a magical read, transporting one back to those pre-war times and the excitement of stormy weather and the "flighting wild geese"!









No. 3 - Kenzie, The Wild Goose Man - Colin Willock

Sadly, I do not own a copy of this particular book. I was once lent a copy by my great friend Steve Baron, when we worked together at Brooke Bond in Redbourn, Herts. I believe that Colin Willock was the Editor of The Shooting Times when he wrote this biography. It is about one of the greatest wild-fowlers ever to frequent Fenland. Kenzie Thorpe was the very best,of the best, there was. Peter Scott actually employed him when he quit shooting to set up his first wild-fowl collection at the Lighthouse. It is a tale of a hard man, who lived to pursue his passion for shooting wild geese - and he certainly did that. Colin Willock manages to convey the hardships he endured and extraordinary skills he employed to tell the unique story of a bloke called "Kenzie"





No. 4 - The Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis

The fifth book, of seven, in The Chronicles of Narnia which, for some reason to me, outshines the others in this much acclaimed literary masterpiece. I think that the character of the mouse, Reepicheep, is why I'm so drawn to this magical world? Small of stature, but brave beyond comprehension, this honest and loyal servant wishes to discover more - seek adventure beyond the known boundaries of the Narnian World. A fabulous tale, in a series of brilliantly crafted stories - I'd take the whole lot if I weren't restricted to just eight books!










No. 5 - The Big Fish Scene - edited by Frank Guttfield

Now this might, at first, seem a strange choice as it is a collection of chapters by various authors about how they go about catching various species of UK freshwater fish. It is included for several reasons - firstly I actually met many of the contributors during my time as a member of The National Association of Specialist Anglers Executive Committee. The offerings come from a time before the domination of carp angling over all else, thus each of the species are treated as equals plus the style of writing remains very much entrenched in the countryman approach of that era (1979). Len Head's chapter on "Giant Tench" is the most informative and descriptive piece of angling writing I've ever read - and that's saying something!






No. 6 - Blood Knots - Luke Jennings

A book that would have been undiscovered but for the recommendation of Steve Gale. A tale of friendship, during a life long journey through the three phases of angling priorities, I read it straight through - bloody uncharted territory for me - only to re-read it immediately after; such was the vivid power of Luke Jennings writing style. A wonderful collection of, well written, memoirs in which angling is the common theme throughout - superb; nuff sed!










No. 7 - A Lighthouse Notebook - Norman McCanch

If ever I do get stuck on a desert island and need to understand what is required to keep detailed notes of my encounters with other life forms, then Norman's classic is the template for everyone. His studious attention to detail, incredible artwork and lucid writing style combine to enable you to taste the sea spray as another gale hits his remote workplaces. I am very fortunate to have spent many happy hours in his company - generally in the Grove Ferry/Stodmarsh area, but not always. He is a great guy and this book is testament to his enthusiasm and ability as both an all-round naturalist and artist.







No. 8 - Angling in Earnest - Fred J Taylor

As important as Richard Walker was in the embryonic days of modern specimen angling, Fred J was the guy to whom pleasure anglers, of that period, were better able to relate. His writing was simplistic, yet powerfully descriptive none the less, and able to draw ordinary folk into his world without patronising or appearing aloof. Fred was a true countryman, equally at home with a shotgun or ferret as a fishing rod. He was an immense character in an era full of such people, yet it is his genuine love for the outdoors and sharing knowledge and experience which sets him apart from his peers - it's still some of my favourite angling literature despite being written in 1958.






So there you have it - two days it's taken me to come up with this little offering - two very enjoyable days of thought and discussion. Bev has a very differing list, she being a keen reader of many authors old and new. I even chatted about the concept with guys at work - with varying levels of response and enthusiasm. I will end by thanking Steve (and Jon) for the idea; it's been great fun and I echo Steve's comment that it should be compulsory for all natural history-type bloggers to have a go.

Ramsgate Spitfire Day

Emily, Harry and I made our way to a spot, along the cliff top, where we were in good position to watch the display of The Spirit of Kent - The Kent Spitfire Mk IXe TA 805. Conditions were awful and the pilot did his best under the circumstances - it was a real shame for the organisers and the assembled crowds that the weather impacted so negatively on what was a celebration of the 80th anniversary of the first flight of this iconic piece of our aviation heritage.
I had my camera to hand and did my best to get a few images - disappointing at best!

Here she is, parked on the apron at The Manston Airshow 2014

Those same questions - part two

I'll attempt to keep this to a similar template but, obviously, the secondary topics will revolve around size and difficulty rather than perceived rarity. Excitement remains the same, whatever the cause!

Why fishing? I feel that my own interest stems from that same childhood period, which also sparked my birding, in the 1960's, when I was free to roam and discover the countryside for myself. I could dig worms from the garden and take my gear down to The River Gade, which flowed through Gadebridge Park at a time when it was a mass of commercial water cress beds and not the municipal amenity that it is today. The river teemed with fish and I could catch Minnows by the bucketful, occasionally it would be a Bullhead that picked up the worm or even a wild Brown Trout. As I grew older, and wandered farther afield, The Grand Union Canal offered me the chance to develop my skills and widen my experience with fish like Gudgeon, Roach, Perch and "skimmer" Bream. There were no restrictions on unaccompanied children (me and my mates) fishing - we'd often cycle, rods already assembled and lashed to the cross-bar, to our chosen venues. Summer holidays were long, hot and fish filled - or rather that's how my, selective, memory recalls those by-gone times.
With this as my background, the angling bug bit hard, and many of my school friends were also afflicted and the competitive exuberance of youth drove us on. The angling press of that period still split its coverage of angling into pleasure and match fishing, both getting equal billing - the top match anglers were much acclaimed and deserved all the plaudits they received. Some of the guys went off down this "specialist" route, whilst I remained, for a time, a pleasure angler - happily catching whatever was stupid enough to pick up my baits. I would have been in my early teens, now at Secondary School, when the embryonic move into "specimen hunting" first started out. Chub and pike were the two species involved, although tench quickly followed as I gained access to Pixie's Mere. The rest, as they say, is history!

Still in my 20's - a very small (7 lbs-ish) pike from The Grand Union Canal near Winkwell, Herts.

As my journey through angling has two, very distinct, phases - separated by an eighteen year gap -  I have changed the seen and found questions, of my birding post, to then and now.

What is the best fish I caught then? Wow! I knew that this was going to be difficult, there were so many "big fish" caught during that chaotic period of my life. It is very difficult to remove the influence that my mates played in the memories of these fish - it is certainly not all about the biggest?
They were happy, anarchic, crazy times. After some considerable thought I have opted for my only river caught twenty pound pike.

8th January 1987 - 20 lbs 1 oz 

Nowhere close to the heaviest pike I caught during this period, it remains a milestone fish - from The River Thames, at Mapledurham, Berks, it is a cherished memory from a period which shaped my life and helped define who I am. It was a mad, mad world back then!

What is the best fish I've caught now? I know that the blog is "Of Esox" and that pike fishing played a pivotal role in my return to the hobby but, for all the superb fish I've been lucky enough to capture, it is not a pike which takes this accolade. The stand out fish, since my return to angling, has to be that wild Common Carp which I caught from a local drain; the first twenty since 1984, it was an event that defied my attempts at, meaningful, description yet defined everything I now seek in my fishing.

10th July 2015 - a fish which makes getting up at 02.00 hrs seem well worth while

What was the most deserved fish then? I expect that my answer will be a surprise to many; it is my PB Bream. By today's standards, this fish isn't worthy of a second glance - carp anglers dismissing such specimens as vermin! To deliberately capture a double figure Bream, in the 1980/90's, was an achievement equating to the "Four Minute Mile" - it was a bench mark that set specimen anglers apart from the "also rans"!

11 lbs 2 oz - Brogborough Lake, Beds

The fact that I had to cross the county border, into Bedfordshire, takes nothing away from my reasoning, although I'd loved to have captured one from the Tring complex - 9 lbs-ish being my best from those waters.

What is my most deserved fish now? I didn't need to think much about this one. The barbel of The (Kentish) River Stour have been an angling challenge, the like of which I've never previously encountered. My results, over three years of trying, are just seven fish - five doubles! It is, therefore, a barbel which best fits this criteria. Not the biggest fish I captured, but the one that I felt had been taken because of my logistics, rather than chuck and chance?

27th July 2014 - 12 lbs 10 oz of hard earned joy

A muggy July evening and I just knew that I had to be back on the river. It was a moment of intense emotion when this fish was engulfed within the mesh of my landing net.

What was the most exciting fish I caught then? An absolute "no brainer" - Atlantic Blue Marlin! If anyone knows of a bigger adrenaline trip than sticking a hook into a thousand pounds of angry Blue Marlin, then I'm up for a bowl full of that. Two weeks on the wonderful island of Madeira and an unbelievable series of events unfolded as thirteen guys, from The Top of the World PH, Hemel Hempstead, took on the best game fishing challenge anywhere around the globe! I saw, and experienced, some of the most awesome fishing that is to be had. These fish could take half a mile of line in a few seconds - we were fishing over depths where one and a half miles of line wouldn't reach the bottom! To see a fish of seventeen feet leap clear of the ocean is an awesome spectacle, holding the rod, whilst it is doing so, is a very humbling experience indeed.

Carp anglers and their "Big Pits" - these beasts boasted gear boxes and line capacity
in excess of two miles!

What is the most exciting fish I've caught since? I would hope that the majority of visitors will have some type of empathy when discovering that it was those experiences with Blue Marlin that actually ended my first period of angling. How could I possibly continue fishing for pike or carp after such an experience? There are two fish in the mix for this answer, both of equal worth, thus I will offer them as joint "winners" That they are both pike probably assists my cause - why else would I need to continue blogging as "Of Esox & Observation"?

It went 8 lbs 7 oz - the first fish I'd captured in eighteen years!
You bet I was excited!

The first English "double" since 1993 - I was made up and it had
a proper row!

It's a bit of a weird one, going fishing. Intruding into a world where we don't belong - the art of angling being of more historical relevance than the "hunter/gather's" requirement to provide food for the table. I have no problem with angling, for sport, as opposed to the acquisition of food. My angling allows  me the opportunity to connect with the vibe that is being a countryman. I understand the "antis" - "torturing another life form in order to gain pleasure?"  My response to this viewpoint is "Don't knock it until you've tried it" - seems pretty reasonable from where I'm sitting.

Those same questions

They will be asked whatever the hobby, wherever the discussion takes place - when you are speaking of your interests (obsessions in my case) the other party will ask "Why did you get into (trains, boats, planes, stamps, cars, birds, moths, fish or whatever else you care to think of) your hobby?" Then it will be followed up by the second enquiry "What is the best/rarest/most exciting thing you have seen/found?" I've touched upon this subject in the past, when one of the lads, at work, was looking at a micro moth that I'd just potted in the canteen area and asked "Why moths?" Having spent some while looking back through my lost treasure trove, there is more than enough material for me to be able to cobble together a couple of posts using this theme; one on birds, the other on fish (which might prove a little more challenging?) - here goes!

Why birds?  My earliest recollections are of a Barn Owl sitting on our garden fence, No. 27 Coles Hill, Gadebridge, Hemel Hempstead - circa 1963 - and being in awe of the flashing white rumps of two male Bullfinches, as they flew along a country lane, whilst I was out walking with my parents, again in the 1960's I was still at Junior School. Birds were always there, a family friend had given me a copy of The Collins Field Guide and I was smitten. As a young boy, growing up in the New Town of Hemel Hempstead, the surrounding countryside was my playground. I was at liberty to wander wherever I fancied - it was a far cry from today's sad reflection on society, kids were safe and parents not vilified for allowing them to explore, the world, unaccompanied. I neither carried or owned a set of binoculars, yet the birds I saw were vivid in my consciousness - so were either very close or my eyesight was much sharper than it is today? With no concept of rarity, it didn't matter if I was looking at a Tufted Duck on Pixie's Mere or a Dunnock in the garden, the enjoyment came from being in the company of birds; and, I suppose, it still is!

As for those secondary questions, my answers are obviously a very personal choice, from an individual perspective, thus in no way representative of any "official status" as applied by outside influences and neither are they restricted to the UK.

What's the best bird I've ever seen? I have given this much thought and come to the, uneasy, conclusion that it has to be the Wainfleet Marsh, Lincolnshire, Snowy Owl (23rd February 1991)
I think that timing, and the stage I was at on this particular aspect of my birding adventure, meant that it made the biggest impression. It was an awesome sight - viewed through my Opticron HR60 scope with 20 - 60x zoom eyepiece.

I have been looking at my old diary field sketches - never likely to win any awards, but fantastic memories all the same.

What's the best bird I've ever found? My extraordinary subjective answer is Cretzschmar's Bunting, near Icmeler, Turkey. It is a species which held almost mystical appeal, talked about in hushed tones, the first time I'd heard of it was when I still lived in Hertfordshire and one turned up on a Scottish island. Much later, chatting with Paul A. Brown (of Sandwich Bay Obs fame) the bird became elevated to "Holy Grail-like" status - it was on everyone's most wanted list. My first holiday in Turkey allowed me to explore habitat which held the species. When I finally set eyes upon the bird, I knew why they were held in such high esteem. Quite simply a stunning bird and everything I wanted it to be. Fortunately I had a camera with me - I'm not so sure that my artistic abilities would have done justice to the encounter(s).

What's the rarest bird I've ever seen? This was quite an easy one, strangely enough, although I'm not too sure what species they were? I was on Madeira - fishing for Atlantic Blue Marlin - and saw two Soft-plumaged Petrels (Fea's or Zino's ?) which followed the boat, attracted by the lure pattern, coming within twenty feet at times. This was in 1993 and the two species hadn't been split! No camera, but binoculars in hand, they were spectacular and completely outside of my knowledge zone at that point in time.

What's the rarest bird I've ever found? This'll be controversial? I've been extraordinarily fortunate to have found some fantastic birds, particularly since moving to Kent, but one stands head and shoulders above all others. Pale phase juvenile Booted Eagle - Hope Point/ Bockhill, St. Margaret's Bay, Kent - 28th September 1999. (It should have been a 1st for Britain - instead another example of political fence sitting - wouldn't want to upset a deluded Irishman?)

I've said all I need to say about the piss poor treatment this sighting received, at the time - I couldn't give a fuck now! If they came begging, the BOURC can stick it up their combined arses!
I saw it, they didn't - shame! It sits comfortably on my list - much more so than the dodgy Hooded Merg of 2005! (and they accepted that)

What's the most exciting bird you've seen? Because excitement in an, unquantifiable, emotion, it will be a very individual memory that promotes any bird to this status. I have delved, long and hard, back into my memories for a bird that has created such feelings - I think it has to be my first Audouin's Gull?  The fact that it was Bev and my first ever holiday together, we were on Menorca for a family holiday, that first sighting of this species lifted gulls from the dreary to the elite - it was a magical moment.

What's the most exciting bird you've ever found? Easy! Well easy-ish? It was a toss up between two birds. My Alpine Swift at North Foreland or the Great Grey Shrike at Newland's - funnily enough, the shrike took it! As an adrenaline moment there is very little which can come close - the realisation that such a fabulous bird was present on my patch cannot be purchased with any amount of money. It still makes me smile when I look at this image -  an exciting time indeed.

Birds have provided me with innumerable memories - my life much the richer because of them. Singling out individual moments is in no way meant as a detraction from the many other enjoyable encounters I have experienced along the way.

The final countdown and the start.

Well here we are, the start of March and all that this entails. We've got Mother's Day, Easter and the equinox (pissing about with clocks!) during the month (Oh! there's Bev's birthday too). For me, I have but fourteen days to complete one of the most rewarding angling projects I have ever undertaken. Due to the imposition of the "traditional close season", at my chosen venues, I have until mid-night on March 14th to catch an eel, by design, and in doing so see a successful conclusion to this adventure into the unknown.  There will be a post offering my conclusions, if I succeed or when the season ends and I have gathered my thoughts on the extraordinary challenge on which I embarked - it developed a life of its' own as these slimy pests have suddenly become a worthy adversary - respect!

Cameras never lie? Bloody computers do!
At no time during the session did the scene look quite as menacing - grab a digital image and anything is possible.

I was out again on Sunday evening - for only the second time in the entire winter I failed to register any type of action. I fished three rods - two with prawns (hedging my bets) and a single "spicy peperami/ 1/2 fluoro pop-up" in a vain attempt at luring a carp. I can't say that I was too surprised, or disappointed, it was bloody freezing! I have been studying the BBC weather forecasts and have come to the conclusion that Wednesday (2nd March) looks as good as it's gonna get? With everything else that is going on - I might not be able to get out again until the final weekend, and that will be cutting it a bit fine.

Just for the amusement of my fellow bloggers - my first Wheatear of 2015!
That granite block is not a fancy decoration in a Thanet flower garden - it is
on the banks of Loch Awe; I had travelled 600 miles to see it and was at least six
weeks behind most others in recording the species.
I fear I'm never to win that coveted trophy!

Another feature of March, in the skies above Thanet, is the start of Spring raptor migration, the vast majority of these birds pass well to the west of Newland's Farm, yet I still manage to enjoy some decent sightings each year. The species are rather limited during this period, they are much more varied in the Autumn on the return journey. Common Buzzard and Red Kite provide 90% of the records with odd Marsh Harrier thrown in just for good measure; I must also add that my only patch record of Goshawk is a Spring sighting of an immature male, so surprises are possible. There is also the annual ritual of the Wheatear hunt - mostly in vain around the farm. The coastal hot spots will sound the alarm and the game begins - who will get the first one? Then it's Swallows, Willow Warblers and Ring Ouzels as Summer migrants flood into the country - exciting times if you're in the right place? Bloody frustrating when you're not - or stuck inside a factory when the gulls go up!