Session on the RMC

The Royal Military Canal is a twenty-seven mile long pike swim - or rather it has pike swim potential along its' entire length. This morning Benno and I were on the bank by 07.00 hrs - it was the coldest dawn of the winter, thus far, the car display showing -2C as I pulled up next to his Transit parked in the pre-arranged area. We fished two rods each; with dead baits - Mackerel and Herring in various colour/flavour combinations. Benno took the only fish, of the session, within thirty minutes of our arrival (although he did winkle out a couple of micro jacks on a soft lure later in the session - they count for nothing!) - about 5 lbs and that is a very generous guesstimation.

That's it - flying past our swim!
I would have been very happy if it'd been a Goosander - a R-B Merg is a much better record.
If Brian Harper is reading this stuff? It was just further east than the Goosander with which you
won POTW  - could be worth a punt during the week?

Birding was far more rewarding; there was a Cetti's Warbler belting out its' signature tune as it started to get light. At least three different Sparrowhawks were hunting the canal hedgerows and a Water Rail strutted across the bank side track - not a care in the world? A Kingfisher brightened the dawn with a series of spectacular views and Chiffchaffs were noted at several spots (possibly five individuals?). Gulls were as expected, yet no sign of any Meds this morning. Bird of the day was a most unexpected appearance by a female-type Red-breasted Merganser which landed on the canal twice. I only had my 55mm lens and, as such, was unable to get anything other than a pathetic image as it flew past our swims after being flushed by dog walkers. A good local record, of that I'm quite confident.