If it is possible to put a positive spin on the massive impact that Covid-19 has made to all our lives then, for me at least, it has to be a genuine appreciation of the wildlife that occurs locally. I'll share two images, taken from my study doorway yesterday. They are far more eloquent, than I, in making my point!
Since November 2011 I have been exploring the various drains and dykes which criss-cross the East Kent marshes. Although I have been distracted by both carp and eels, pike have been the species which I've spent most of my time fishing for. So with nearly a decade's worth of experience I was quite confident when I rocked up at one of my favourite spots, for an afternoon session on Thursday, this particular venue having a reputation for producing bites late in the day. True to form I managed two fish, from three bites, but also had to accept the fact that eels were a bloody nuisance, constantly giving quick tugs on the soft bodied sardines that I was using as bait. It was getting on for 17.00 hrs when I actually managed to hook one, so wasn't bothered about calling it a day and heading for home.
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| Time to pack up |
I'd taken my binos and the long lens with me, probably a direct spin off from the BWKm0 garden birding that I'm currently enjoying. I wasn't expecting much, so was happy enough to spend time watching an adult female Marsh Harrier quartering the adjacent marsh - nice! There was a lot of Coot activity on the drain and plenty of commotion as territorial pairs squabbled over invisible borders. It was during one such bout of aggression that I found myself looking at a very strange Coot indeed. I fired off a series of shots, just hoping to capture something for the record. I've certainly not seen this type of plumage aberration previously.
With the cremation farce behind us Bev and I are hoping that some level of normality might return to our lives? Obviously the pandemic is set to cause further havoc before Pfizer (BioNTech), Astra Zeneca and/or The Oxford Labs come up with a viable vaccine. Let's hope it's sooner rather than later. Yesterday, after the trip to Margate, we jumped in the van and went for a long drive, just so we weren't sitting around indoors dwelling on events. A really nice ride taking in Canterbury, Ashford, Rye, Brooklands, Romney & Dymchurch before heading back, via Donkey Street (Burmarsh)This was a major mistake as it was an absolute chaotic nightmare with road closures and diverted traffic but, eventually we made it through the gridlock and continued up the Elham Valley then on, via Barham, Aylesham, Wingham, Ash before arriving back home. We didn't get out of the van, just needed to spend some time together gathering our thoughts and chatting. It was really comforting, in a weird sort of way! Essential travel? It was for us.
On getting home, once we'd settled down, it was time to get the kit ready for another session out on the marsh. This time I was headed for a drain that had been very productive during the early years and was always a good bet for a double or two. Being very narrow I changed my reels over to centrepins, as casting isn't an issue, thus ensuring that I'd derive every last scrap of enjoyment out of any hooked pike. Although the venue isn't too far, from home, it does involve a hike of some mile and a bit to get there so I was in the van by 05.00 hrs, thus, on the bank around 06.00 hrs. All three baits were in position by 06.30 hrs and the flask provided my first coffee of the morning. Common Snipe, Redwing and Wigeon were heard calling out in the semi-darkness of a very murky dawn. As the light intensified I was able to watch a splendid little male Merlin chasing a Linnet high over the marsh. It was a victory for the Linnet on this occasion, the Merlin sped off across the marsh in search of another victim.
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| Dawn - for what it's worth |
It was 07.20 hrs when the right hand alarm alerted me to the fact that something had taken my popped-up Sardine. On the rod within seconds, I wound down to find myself attached to very spirited little jack of around five or six pounds. I'd just returned the fish to the drain and got a fresh bait prepared when the left hand alarm burst into song! This time it was an altogether different battle as the fish surged off along the drain with immense power. Like all anglers, I'd love to say the battle was epic and lasted for an eternity, but it wasn't and didn't. I soon had the fish over the chord and there was my third double, of the campaign, in the bag! No sooner had I managed to get the pike unhooked (I had to remove a second trace from the throat of this fish) and into an ET Piketube that the right hander was away again. This time a lively customer led me a merry dance before being persuaded over the net chord. Around eight or nine pounds, I didn't weigh it, I had to pull a semi digested rat from its' gut in order to remove my own hooks. 08.00 hrs and it's all over, not another beep from the alarms until I packed up at 10.00 hrs. All the bites came to popped-up Sardines flavoured with Predator Plus and Mackerel oil. My middle rod was offering a popped-up Bluey section and did absolutely zilch, despite being in pole position, feature wise.
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| A semi-digested rat - Pike ain't fussy eaters! |
I've now taken thirteen pike in eighteen sessions, since the 1st October, not too shabby considering the very un-pike like weather we've been experiencing. Three doubles is also a very good return for my efforts and shows that I must be doing something right?
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| I feel sure that this pike would have weighed more than 13 lbs 12 oz if it hadn't been "stitched up" by another trace! |
At 09.00 hrs this morning Bev, her daughter Debbie, and I were in the Chapel at Margate Crematorium to say our farewell to Denise Bunclark, Bev's mum. It was the most surreal experience of my entire life! Just the three of us, plus a member of the funeral directors team and the coffin. No religion, no service, no extended family - what a way to depart this earth. Covid has robbed us of many things, but the chance to say good-bye to a loved one is the savage reality of the situation. All of Bev's family are under tier three restrictions in Yorkshire and beyond, so unable to attend the service, even if our local rules allowed them to be there. So sad and something I never wish to experience again. Bev can take comfort from the fact that her mum died in her own bed, in our bungalow, and not alone, frightened, in a sterile hospital ward without family close by. I was going to post some other stuff about pike and shit - maybe tomorrow?
Thanks to the efforts of The Angling Trust, fishing remains a legitimate pastime during this second lockdown period. There are recommendations pertaining to what is deemed reasonable distance to travel and, obviously, social distancing restrictions but, by and large, my fishing can continue much as before. I'd signed up for a weekend's overtime but, on Thursday, it was cancelled - shame! Bev had no issue with me getting two sessions in over the weekend, so off I went.
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| Flatlands dawn |
Saturday morning saw me out on the flatlands, catching a small jack within fifteen minutes of casting my bait, and that was it! I spent the remainder of the session scanning the surrounding countryside through my bins and managed to add Great White Egret to the year list for my troubles. Good numbers of "continental" Blackbirds were present at first light yet had moved on before Neil Davies arrived at my spot and we spent at least fifteen minutes catching up on what's been a very good autumn around the SBBOT recording area. It was at very short notice that Benno and I arranged to meet up down on the RMC just before 05.45 hrs this morning. It was a very testing drive, through the patchy fog, at that silly o'clock time of day. However, we both arrived safely and headed off into the darkness, ever hopeful. My alarms only sounded whilst I was setting up, Benno managed a couple of pike, one of which wouldn't have been a decent perch! The weather was superb, as was the company, so a very enjoyable session all round. The conversations with passing dog walkers, ramblers and others was brilliant, such is the shared frustration with this latest lockdown situation. Common sense seems to be prevailing and social distancing was observed without any requirement for the police to get involved. It was just after sunrise when a Noctule Bat came flying down the canal, absolutely stunning in the daylight; they're huge! As the sun rose the day became, ever more, less pike conditions. Benno ended up in a "T" -shirt before we packed up at 10.15 hrs. In the interim, a pair of "red head" Goosander were present along the canal and allowed me a fantastic photo opportunity.
Other birds recorded just helped to highlight why I rely on audible alarm technology, therefore allowing me the opportunity to spend the time observing the wildlife which shares the environment I'm privileged to spend time in.
Another morning spent birding from the garden, pre work, was testament to the power of obsession. I'd already written that I wasn't too bothered about birding! What an idiotic statement - it took less than a couple of hours, yesterday, to know that I'd be getting back into BWKm0 mode for the second time this year. What follows is about as exciting as a telephone directory but, fortunately, will not require duplication in future posts. MY LIST (in the order they were recorded!)
1 - House Sparrow
2 - Carrion Crow
3 - Herring Gull
4 - Great Tit
5 - Blue Tit
6 - Robin
7 - Collared Dove
8 - Goldfinch
9 - Sky Lark - up to six birds over the stubble beyond the garden hedge
10 - Magpie
11 - Jackdaw
12 - Rose-ringed Parakeet
13 - Blackbird - a continental male went East this morning
14 - Starling - a decent movement westwards noted yesterday morning 250+
15 - Sparrowhawk
16 - Black-headed Gull
17 - Wood Pigeon
18 - Blackcap - male
19 - Dunnock
20 - Linnet - over calling
21 - Mistle Thrush
22 - Jay
23 - Rook - one north
24 - Wren
25 - Green Woodpecker - calling over at the farm compound
26 - Common Buzzard
27 - Chaffinch - seven north
28 - Fieldfare - four west
Four more species added today!
29 - Lesser Black-backed Gull - three adults north
30 - Cormorant - one north
31 - Kestrel
32 - Pied (alba) Wagtail - over
So there you have it, thus far! November isn't a particularly favourable month around Newlands Farm yet, because I've nothing better to do, feel sure something unusual will turn up. I'll finish with a photo and hope that I retain the enthusiasm as this second lockdown period progresses?
Day one of lockdown Mk II and I'd already decided that the lawn would be getting its' last cut of the year, before leaving for work. on late shift, at 13.30 hrs. I awoke to discover a heavy frost, for Thanet that is, and had to wait until 11.30 hrs before it was realistic to push the mower around the garden. So what to do whilst awaiting the grass to thaw and dry? A bit of birding seemed to fit the bill and I rather surprised myself with the variety of species that were recorded. Yesterday I posted that I wasn't all that bothered about another BWKm0 effort but have to concede, that after this morning, I've somewhat changed my mind. I really enjoyed myself and, after all, what else matters? No competition, no rules, no boundaries beyond the December 2nd finish date, it's got to be worth a bash?
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| One of four seen this morning - how time has changed the status of these magnificent raptors. |
Twenty eight species recorded this morning; the undoubted highlight being a male Blackcap. Plenty of other back-up sightings kept me on my toes and the bins constantly in use. I got so engrossed by the challenge that I dug out the trusty Kowa TSN 823 and used the higher magnification to scan the skies and distant tree lines. Great stuff! I have absolutely no idea what total might be achieved, November ain't a month to set the pulse racing around Newlands Farm. I've absolutely no idea how work and weather will impact on my ability to spend time out in the garden so I must treat the scenario as a very casual dalliance rather than a full-on project. Fifty species? Let's see
There's much to be sorted out, prior to the cremation, that blogging is well down the list of priorities at present. It was twenty years ago, yesterday, that Bev and I moved into our bungalow and there are times when we need to pinch ourselves to realise how far we've come, the obstacles overcome, hardships endured, since that date. Certainly not an easy journey yet, all the more rewarding because of that fact. Plenty of stuff to write about, nothing exciting, but still worthy of sharing I guess. I will steer clear of the lunacy surrounding the US Presidential Election, purely because it is such a slur upon the democratic principles of the greatest nation in the free world - shambolic, at best, Donald Trump is the most dangerous individual on the planet!
Our own idiot, Bojo, hasn't exactly endeared himself to the nation, nor covered himself in glory, as a result of the latest U-turn. Lockdown Mk 2 - the same, but different, as Mk 1, only this time Dominic Cummings will stick to the rules - maybe? Fortunately I have full time employment to distract me from much of this lunacy and can still go fishing, should I wish, due to the wonderful efforts of The Angling Trust. My only other method of retaining sanity is to make the most of the wildlife that can be encountered during my daily routine and I'm well up for that. Steve Gale has already announced his intention to resume the BWKm0 caper whilst I am less focussed on birds and happy to look at anything which crosses my path. Today started with the first frost of the autumn, yet it wasn't long before the temperatures rose as a the sun shone from a cloudless sky and a Red Admiral appeared on the yellow buddleia which is hanging on to a few flowers at the bottom of the garden.
I think the best of all the spin offs from that first BWKm0 period, for me, has been the garden hedgehogs and all the learning that it has provided. Well after midnight, I'm still sat in the study, door wide open (bloody freezing!) with hedgehogs still coming to the feeding station. On my laptop Sky News is the purveyor of a constant stream of information pertaining to the Trump v's Biden debacle, the sound of crunching of Tesco Kitten biscuits, emanating from the garden, provides much welcome distraction. There are still four (minimum) hedgehogs visiting the feeding station every night. "Lockdown"? - I'll cope with this!
