Thursday 20 February 2020

Another Season Ends

Walking across a part-flooded reserve early this morning was hard work. Negotiating the flooded parts wasn't too bad, it was the gale force wind and bouts of horizontal drizzle that made it worse. Plus it means that I have to wear wellies and I never find them comfortable at the best of times. Large areas of foot deep water are not exactly the kind of conditions that I imagine Ellie, my little Jack Russell, finds enjoyable either, but she gamely runs or swims her way through it all.

I haven't been across to the sea wall for several days, simply in order to avoid having to cross the wet marsh, but today was the last day of the current wildfowling season. The wildfowlers put their guns away until September 1st, when it all starts again. As the reserve's Voluntary Warden and the only person the wildfowlers are likely to encounter from it's management, I always like to keep on friendly terms with them and have an end of season chat. Standing on the sea wall being buffeted by the wind and rain, it was surprising just how many wildfowl have returned, now, over the last couple of weeks, that we finally have the wet conditions that they so love.
It was an irony not lost on the wildfowlers as we chatted - all those wildfowl now that the shooting season has ended - a sod's law sort of event, which is not unusual in their pursuit. This morning, between the four of them, they had shot just the one duck, which was a pretty poor return for standing in deep, tidal mud and the wind and rain for several hours. We stood there comparing notes on how the two different types of season have gone for us all and it seemed a very long time ago since they sat out there with their guns on very warm and sunny September evenings, being bitten to death by mosquitoes.
But now they have finished for six months and apart from the odd birdwatcher or walker, I will have the place to myself again. Time to dream about sitting on the same sea wall on hot, sunny mornings, watching Ellie trying to catch voles in the long grass and being lulled into a lazy frame of mind by the drone of bees and the silent passage of butterflies - ah my kind of season.

14 comments:

  1. Too right justjill, sooner the better.

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  2. Lovely post Derek - paints such a picture. How do you view the wildfowlers - do you mind then shooting the birds or do you consider it part of the tradition of the area. I really don't know anything at all about the sport. I have recently met a lady whose daughter lives on the Isle of Sheppey and am told that she loves the wildlife there. I imagine as it is so flat that cold winds are really cold winds down there. Jack Russells are toughies and am sure yours enjoys every minute of your outings.

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  3. I see them as part of the tradition of the area Pat. Their wildfowling club members were shooting there long before the marsh alongside became a nature reserve and their total bags each winter are really low and of no concern to wildfowl numbers. Rest assurred that the winds really are cold here.

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  4. You do a good job there Derek. You have my full support, Mike.

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  5. Thanks Mike, it's something I've always enjoyed.

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  6. Its about this time of year when most of us have had enough. As much as I enjoy the changing seasons and the starkness of winter I look forward to new green growth and a bit of warmth.....and hopefully less rain.

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