Time to lighten up

I fear that I've become very political and polarised in recent weeks. If I'm not harking on about the East Kent drains, then I'm groaning about Hen Harrier persecution on the Grouse moors of Northern England.  As important as both these subjects are to me, as an individual, they're probably not the most interesting topics which will arouse attention from third parties - i.e. my blog visitors (back to statistics again!) So, this morning, whilst await the start of my shift, I find myself at a lose end and browsing through the archives.
In spite of my "oft-quoted" opposition to pan-listing league tables, there can be no getting away from the diversity of natural wonders that await discovery by anyone with a desire to look. Bev and I have decided that we need a holiday; somewhere warm. No destination, no dates, as yet - but a holiday is on the horizon. When we first got together, our destinations were chosen with birding potential as one of the factors. In 2015, with my WP list doing OK, birds are no longer a key consideration - what habitat am I surrounded by, what else is out there to be discovered (butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, etc.....) and will it be safe to wander around alone? So as a pre-cursor to this next adventure, I'll post a few photos of non-avian subjects that I've encountered on my travels, both at home and abroad.

 

 

I have managed to identify some of these varied creatures, but that is not the purpose of this post. I simply wanted to share the pleasure of discovering new avenues of opportunity which exist all around us. If it were not for those "pan-listing" fiends - I'd never have bothered looking. Clouds and silver-linings spring to mind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One in Sixty -one!

One of the most exciting encounters that a Kent birder could hope for. A "blue" male Hen Harrier drifting
into an evening roost site. With the current levels of persecution, I wonder if my grand-children will
ever witness this spectacle?

One in sixty-one! What's that all about? I'll attempt to fill in the gaps! I love maths and what numbers can do; it all stems from my statistical process control stuff whilst working for Unilever. The RSPB have come under attack from a pro-Grouse shooting lobby group who go by the unlikely banner of "You Forgot The Birds" - mischief makers, nothing better. A classic distraction tactic in the run up to "Hen Harrier Day" - it's political "old hat" The claims made by this organisation (?) are as about as believable as a Margate Cemetery Bird Report - and that's saying something!

However, I've been reading the comments posted, in response to the article, on the Birdguides website - as unhappy, as I am, with this persecution of my natural heritage, the views expressed by some, in support of the RSPB, are as outrageous as anything offered by the pro-shooting crowd. We all need to get a grasp of reality here - if the RSPB is over a million strong, as claimed, 200,000 members are too young to vote (again taken from their website) This grouse-shooting debate is a battle of wills, and political clout, the CLA (Country Landowners Association) might not boast as many members, but has influence in political circles way beyond the average RSPB member  - money talks, big money talks very loudly!

I looked on a Bing search thingamy and discovered that the UK population is estimated to be 61.4 million people. So the RSPB membership consists of  just one in sixty-one of the populous. Hardly the basis to be making statements on behalf of the "silent majority"? Let me make an assumption, at this point. I'm not an RSPB member and nor are the vast majority of Thanet birders with whom I have contact. If this is also reflected across the whole of the UK (?) then there might be as many as one in twenty of us who are very dissatisfied with the current spate of blatant disregard for the UK and EU laws protecting our wild birds of prey. This by a powerful group of multi-national businesses, employing blood thirsty fuck-wits to carry out their dirty deeds, whilst purporting to be caring, custodians of our countryside and defenders of our natural heritage and traditions. The RSPB going head to head with this powerful bunch is not the only option. There are a couple of other ways in which to approach this situation. Firstly is to use negative advertising - guilt by association - embarrassing the big multi-nationals who masquerade as supporters of our laws and traditions. Full page ads in the national dailies - "Did you know that -blah blah co ltd are systematically in breach of our wildlife laws - don't agree? Don't buy their products!"

Then there are the wealthy punters who pay to "enjoy" the sport (?) of driven grouse shooting. They come from around the globe, bringing with them hefty sums of foreign dollars. No political party, of any clout, is going to stand against this situation with any conviction - Great Britain Co Ltd. does very nicely out of this type of business. The punters, themselves, couldn't give a toss about Hen Harrier persecution - they just pay to shoot grouse and experience the life style of well heeled aristocracy , for a short while. American businessmen or oil rich Arabs, are blissfully ignorant of the situation in their cosseted worlds. Possibly it is now time to target these people, who pay to shoot driven grouse, instead of battering ourselves silly, and wasting money and effort, against these bastions of smug, aloof, politically corrupt institutions that control the moors on which our Hen Harrier population rely? The only thing that any business understands is the end of year balance sheet. Only if profit comes under threat will any actions be taken, not until!

Autumn already

Well that's it - Autumn is already upon us! My walk home from work, yesterday afternoon, revealed the first, Newland's Farm, juvenile Willow Warbler flitting about the hedgerow beside the footpath. Much in keeping with the vast majority of fellow bloggers, the passage of south-bound Common Swifts had been witnessed. My personal peak count being 300+ in little more than 10 minutes on Monday 27th July, whilst I was on my main break (around 10.00 hrs)

A Common Swift photographed earlier this morning. Good numbers moving south, but not with such purpose as
had been noted previously. Probably due to the abundance of food present today?

 Swallows have also been a feature during the week, but only because their complete absence as a breeding species, has made any record a welcome bonus! Numbers have been very low, although Meadow Pipits have started to become a regular feature again. A Lapwing flew north as I was examining the contents of the moth trap, earlier this morning and I've heard both Curlew and Whimbrel calling in the darkness as I've been outside, watching the activity around the light.

Carcina quercana - the moth straight off the cover of Micro Moths.
 

I got done over, again, somewhere out on The Ash Levels - I missed an absolute screaming take on a flouro pop-up. I have to assume carp, but wrong rig set-up? The three drains are centre of all my activity at present - I'm baiting regularly with a light scattering of munger and hook baits. My "Bruce & Walker" challenge may well be coming to a finale? The last piece in the jig-saw will be in place on, or possibly before, 15th August. Simon has got that Heron bite alarm back into working order - it will be a very special moment when I realise that dream of a carp on a Mk IV, Mitchell 300 and Heron alarm. A project with it's roots firmly based in an era before I'd even picked up a fishing rod.

The reason why our garden is planted - a superb insect and always welcome.

A Humming-bird Hawk was feeding on the buddleia in the front garden, mid-morning and the local gulls are in a feeding frenzy as there is a major emergence of flying ants, today. Butterflies are numerous, but not varied, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Large & Small White and the first, of the 2nd generation Holly Blues providing the bulk of sightings. Odd Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral and Painted Lady adding to the spectacle, but it is a fairly dismal reflection of the habitat that the area provides these wonderful insects.

Swimming against the tide - my carp fishing journey

I think that I would be safe in saying that my first knowledge of carp came via the pages of The Angling Times. Dick Walker's "Clarissa" had been on display, in the aquarium at London Zoo, for nearly twenty years before I became aware of these magnificent fish. In the early 1970's, carp were still a very treasured capture and a lengthy apprenticeship was required before anyone could be considered a proficient carp angler. Par-boiled potatoes, Mk IV rods, Mitchell 300's and Heron bite alarms - these were the tools of the pioneering anglers who were to lay the foundations for today's, carp dominated, angling scene.
My own "specimen hunting" journey can be traced back to around the summer of 1974, Baz Trowbridge, Tony Box, Roy Johnson, Tom Riley and myself, travelling around the various local venues, Tring Reservoirs and the Upper Great Ouse included, seeking anything that would take our baits. I think it was a trip down to a caravan park on Canvey Island which was to see my own carp angling take off - we had sweetcorn! Fuck me, we were good - or so we thought at the time? I don't suppose the largest carp weighed more than six pounds, but we caught loads of 'em and we were on our way. Chub, tench, barbel (the Rose Revived, day ticket, stretch of the R. Windrush) and, in particular, roach followed - we had the brilliant mid-70's roach fishing on Startop's End - 19 two's in an afternoon to a single rod - all on bread! Yeah, they were some very special times and we learned quickly - like sponges soaking up every bit of info that was offered.
Wine, women and song broke up this merry band, but the bug still remained within us all - we went our separate ways. I was to bump into Tom again, when I started working for Kodak - 1979 (?) but it was a short-lived re-acquaintance. The major factor in 1979 was that Kevin Maddocks published his book, Carp Fever, and that was the moment when the blue touch-paper was lit! After this event, there could be no turning back the clock - carp fishing changed from being a secret world of fishy cunning, into a technical pursuit of ruthless efficiency - some legacy? Without this single event, carp fishing would still be a single option within the big fish angling scene - all species being treated as equals - thus the term specimen hunter and the relevance of The National Association of Specialist Anglers (NASA) on which I am very proud to have served as a member of the executive committee, would remain significant. But sadly not to be  - the dominance of carp fishing has been the catalyst for the incredible upsurge of commercial fisheries that are now available and, also, a complete about turn in match angling priorities.
So Kevin had blown the lid off a whole new world - carp fishing, as Dick Walker and Jack Hilton had pioneered, was no longer a factor. Boilies, bolt rigs - cum - hair rigs, heavy duty line - broom handle-type rods and reels that could hold 300m+ line - it was a complete rethink of what had been the accepted practice (Continuous improvement for want a better definition?)
This is where my real journey begins. The Ritchworth guys - Clive and Malcolm - had spotted the opportunity and utilized the VHS video technology to corner the market in Carp Fishing promos! (No Youtube back then!)
Optonics had already replaced Herons, but it was about so much more than that! These guys were taking Kevin's book and replacing words with moving pictures - it went in to hyper -space after this event. If I wanted to know how to tie a rig or make a bait - the Ritchworth videos had it all. It is purely down to this factor that my time at Stanborough was so successful. In a recent Nash TV interview, Kevin (Nash, not Maddocks) describes it as "having an edge" - in 1983 I'd definitely got it!
By this stage, being based in Hemel Hempstead, I used the St. Alban's branch of Leslies of Luton (tackle shop) run by Ian "Creepy" Crawley. I was in pole position - this retail outlet had everything, and more, that I required. It was Ian who put me on to the high modular carbon blanks that he was using to produce custom-built rods for the clientele of this busy shop. The blanks were manufactured by (possibly for?) Bruce and Walker - a top quality rod maker, in their own right, at this time.
Kitted out with a pair of 12' 1.75 lbs T/C fast taper rods, with matching Shimano Carbomatic GT4000 reels and all the other latest gizmos, the carp in Stanborough didn't stand a chance! PVA stringers, braided hook-links with the hair-rig and baits to die for! Semolina and Soya flour base mix, but I had the best dyes, flavours, enhancers and sweeteners that were commercially available at that time - more than compensating for the atrocious nutritional value of the actual bait.

The Bridigo carp - 21 lbs 10 oz taken on floating "Slyme"  5th July 1983

1983 had already seen me pass two milestones, before I set foot on the banks of the Welwyn Garden City municipal fishery. I caught my first ever double, an 11 lbs 4 oz mirror, from the Kodak AC Water End Pit - March 9th then my first twenty , 21 lbs 10 oz, from Bridigo Pond - 5th July (it was off the top on floating "slyme" - a Duncan Kay concoction!) It was on 17th September that I had my first session at "The Cracker Factory" (as named by Rob Maylin) and I got off to a flier! Three bites in a short afternoon session, topped by a mirror of 15 lbs 9 oz - it was 1983 and this was still a very nice fish! I fished the venue whenever I had the opportunity, a November session providing me with three "twenties" in consecutive casts, absolutely outrageous results for the period. I fished the whole winter until 25th February 1984. On this date I landed my PB carp (which it remains to this day) of 23 lbs 14 oz - this event, and those leading up to it, are the pinnacle of my carp angling career. Ever since that date I have been striving to get back to the ethos and romanticism of the Dick Walker era.
In 1984 that carp was a very respectable PB for any specimen hunter and I sought my challenges for other species in other arenas. I went back to Stanborough on a few occasions, catching some more very nice fish but, already there were the tell-tale signs of the impending rise of the "tackle tart" and complete disregard for water craft and angling etiquette! I knew that carp fishing no longer held a mystique and I was happy to walk away with what I'd already achieved, to show for my efforts.
I was obviously aware with what was going on in carp fishing, Vic Gillings and Kevin Maddocks were integral in the Claydon catfishing scene during the late 80's and I'd get to hear all the gossip from the Colne Valley (carp angling central in the 1980's), in a round about way, at the shows and conferences I attended. Ritchie McDonald and Roger Smith, in particular, were stalwarts of these gatherings and we'd always find ourselves in some state of dis-array, talking absolute bollocks, in a bar or pool room late on the Saturday night - proper happy daze! The "Looney Rota" couldn't sup sasperrella - bloody light weights, all of them! (Take drugs like champions - stupid pricks! - and, sadly, all these years later it shows) Any how - I make it to August 1993 before I kick angling (all angling) into touch and embark on an eighteen year long "Kent birding sabbatical".

The Stanborough fish - 23 lbs 14 oz 25th February 1984

It would be farcical to describe that period as anything other than fantastic - I had highs and lows, just as in any other obsessive pursuit, but the good bits far outweigh the bad times - I'm very grateful to all those who assisted my quest - I came out the other side a far better individual than had entered?
2011 - my reluctant return? The Scottish trip re-ignited the desire and, despite being a very different guy, with a whole lot of new priorities, the bug bit hard!
Pike have always played a part in the angling season, as decreed by tradition. Getting back from Scotland and now being allowed to cast a line in all calendar months it was the lure of the commercial "carp puddles" that fanned the flames. I dis-liked, intensely, the commercialism of the whole concept, yet couldn't fault the experience. Long Shaw Farm, in particular, provided me with some of the most enjoyable days of my angling life. It wasn't testing, I didn't require anything special to provide myself with an edge - it was easy, fun fishing. It was a situation that allowed me to re-acquaint myself with the nuances of centre-pin angling, bait presentation and the awesome power of a hooked carp. For that I will remain ever grateful - Tyler Hill and Sandwich Coarse Fishery also had a part in this rediscovery process - fantastic, enjoyable, fun fishing - but not what I was looking for.
Long Shaw was great because I discovered that carp were still able to be captured on floating crust (a method that has now been banned at this fishery) and Sandwich Coarse Fishery provided the facility which allowed me to experiment with particles and centre-pins, it was a blast, best fish going 18 lbs 15 oz (so far!)

On my return - Tyler Hill - 11 lbs 15 oz of commercial fishery fun!
In modern angling  mentality, a double isn't worthy of another glance - I beg to differ!

Obviously it is my problem, and mine alone, that I can't take these fisheries at all seriously - they are "carp puddles" and the fish in them are like "ducks in a barrel" - I am not competing with the fish, but other anglers and their priorities.  I don't want to know that this one's called "Cedric" and came out last Tuesday at 19 lbs 7 oz! My journey has gone far beyond that; so now I seek those same situations as would have been typical to an angler in the "Dick Walker era". I seek isolation, the unknown and the adrenaline rush of the uncaught, wild, fish.

I have nothing more to say about this carp, which I haven't already said!
A magnificent fish from an East Kent drain - way beyond the realms of my dreams?

Brand labels, fashion statements, time bandits and tackle tarts - whatever? I find myself so far removed from this modern carp scene as to be an angling alien! My desire to rediscover the very essence of this pursuit is what drives me to get up at an un-Godly hour to bait up a remote drain. I have, from a very personal perspective, discovered a lost world - a place in which dreams have a chance at becoming reality, but only to those of us who are of a kindred spirit.
Seek and ye shall find - effort equals success! I concur with all that vibe. I will continue to journey back through time in order to relive that  perfect moment when a carp becomes, once again, a creature of mystery and cunning - not a statistic on an Excel Spreadsheet and a photo on a fishery promo ad!

Not why? But; why not?

The opening slide from the last "show" I did - same old routine. A pissed up hippy with raucous stories and
great photos - I think it went OK? Don't remember!

My head is in the clouds, I've gotten into a campaign that has everything which I hold dear - I'm living in that dream of yesteryear, the secluded fisheries, wondrous wildlife and the chance of hooking a, previously un-caught, fish of unknown proportions. That I am able to back this up by using my ancient tackle just makes the situation more surreal - heaven on earth and all that stuff! I was chatting with one of my work colleagues, today, and he was in disbelief at my new plan of action. "Why are you changing this/that?" He's one of a number of the, very successful, carp anglers with whom I work. It would be pointless attempting to reply with anything which devalues these superb fish, I simply desire to seek new adventures - that "twenty-plus" wild common was so much more than I'd ever  hoped for - time to explore new avenues, my quest for knowledge/ new experiences paralleled by the desire to remain faithful to these intimate venues. (Sorry mate, it's why I haven't published your comment, no can tell - I'll explain why when we next bump in to each other but, a similar story to your owls - I would imagine?)
Without pushing myself, I'll learn very little more about these wild places, or the fish populations which reside in their crystal clear waters. My water craft will be tested, as will my techniques, but I wouldn't wish it any other way. I went to bed, last night, reading Len Head's "Tench" (ISBN 0-946284-72-5) there's stuff inside this, brilliant, 1986 monograph which still has relevance in 2015. Rod Hutchinson's chapter, alone, has enough information to keep me busy for a few more years yet. But, it is the possibilities of a large perch which are too good to ignore, all the ingredients are in place? So in answer to that original question "Why change?" - I'll offer this repost "Why not?" Here we are, back again, within my industrial comfort zone and the concept of "continual improvement" and "sacred" cows!" - I'm still not sure that, within this context, they are happy bed fellows?

Chasing dreams

The only time I'm ever consistently close to achieving my dreams is when I'm asleep! The stark reality is that I set my sights very high and come up short at every twist  and turn. It's not a major issue - it's why I'm allowed to dream. The point at which dreams become reality are few and far between -  but on those rare occasions, when they are realised, should be savoured with every bit of pleasure that can be derived from the experience. My first twenty plus pike, since 16th January 1990, a few days after Mum died, is one such event, the Kilchurn Bay 24.10 another milestone moment. Emotional  - these rare occasions are very special, intense and personal - life is, for a very short while, almost perfect?

Pixies Mere, Herts, 16th January 1990 - 22lbs 3oz of pre-historic, looking, esox!

20lbs 9oz of perfection. A few days after my Mum died, fated? I have no such belief, but
it was an intensely emotional experience.

So how does anyone define perfection? - To me it's that gleaming red eye in the olive flanked masterpiece of a big tench, the sun rising over the mountains, of Kilchurn Bay, to illuminate the mist shrouded loch below, or the simple delight in an accurate, first time, cast of a baited hook into the path of a feeding carp, yet it could just as easily be the smile on my grand-children's faces when I appear - priceless and yet free! (I must add that I only get this reaction because I'm a bigger kid than they are and I'm usually bearing "chocky") Our perception of this concept is an incredibly individual thing - guys that I work with can see it in an old motor scoter or VW Camper - wasted on me, but that's of no importance.

I would like to hear the arguments against a Spitfire being close to perfection!

Yeah, perfect - when things can't get any better? If this were so, then my moment has been and gone, yet I remain confident that I can still improve my life, and enjoy more events/experiences which are but a, short-lived, glimpse into Utopian bliss.
For the past three weeks I seem to have got stuck in some kind of mental loop? I want to catch a tench, but caught carp instead, but I still want to catch a tench, yet caught even more carp - and so it goes on. The reality is that I'm now carp fishing, which I probably was from day one, hoping to pick up a tench! However, something else has happened, which might throw a whole new "spanner in the works", as I was pre-baiting a swim a couple (?) of days ago. The un-mistakable spiny dorsal, of a decent sized perch, came scything through a shoal of fry in the near margin - I hadn't even thought about this species until that moment. What if I adopt a different approach - fish two different methods; two different rigs and baits? What else is there to be caught out in these desolate venues? There is only one way to find out and that's by trying it! Eels will definitely be a problem because I'll be using worms as bait but, as I've already decided that I am going to have a crack at them anyway - maybe things will turn out OK?

 

Simon with the largest perch I've ever seen!

I'm going to revert to single sticks, buzz bars not being suited to the situation, the 10' Bruce & Walker Mk IV is back out, with a Mitchell 300 fitted, so let the fun commence! I should be able to get a session in before the weekend? I'm baiting three different drains, at the moment, surely one of them will deliver the goods?

Still beavering away

Another session out on the marsh was to prove to be one of very mixed fortunes. I was privileged to spend a prolonged period, in very dodgy light, watching a European Beaver going about its' business but, on the down side, lost what could have been a very good fish when a "Kwik-linq" let me down. Lesson immediately learnt and remedial actions put in place - it will never happen again as the remainder have been binned! I was only using them because of an idea, I gleaned, from a Korda video. I'm as much at fault, as the product, I was using it in a manner that it wasn't designed for.

Sorry about the picture quality, but it's the best I could manage under the
circumstances. I feel it does enough to convey the intimacy of the encounter
(somewhere) out there on the East Kent marshlands.

I will be back soon, to continue with my campaign, another piece of the jigsaw now in place. My munger and hook baits were freshly prepared, this morning, and I'm convinced that my particle approach will eventually deliver the result I'm hoping for? As it was getting dark, my first Green Sandpiper, of the autumn, was seen flying overhead, calling loudly - as they do.

A wonderful encounter and, rare, privilege to spend time in the company of such a creature.