Conservation and Shooting.

One good thing with the search functions being off at the moment - I'm having to look around the "long way" and I've stumbled across a couple of threads that I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise.

(y) This is a fascinating read. I've just spent the last 20 minutes reading it from beginning to end.
And don't be so quick to put your photos down either. Some real stunners in there. I particularly like the juvenile stonechat.

BTW Did you ever get to the bottom of what happened with that badger?
 
To be honest Sarah, I think it could well have been a legacy from the previous keeper, but that is just my opinion, new keeper would not have done it. But, opinions and proof are very differing things.

Anyway, I have been meaning to snap this for a while.


Deerland.jpg



This is some of the land that Richard farms, he is about 73 and is a smashing bloke.The fields are not mown, only grazed, the deer love it on here, the deer are those wee dots scattered about. Problem is that all the drains are goosed so in winter or wet weather it is quad bike or a long walk.The river runs in the valley beyond and below the first set of trees.
 
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Been spending a lot of time up here recently. Keeper told me about some owls and a big BOP that he couldn`t get close enough to recognise. Anyway, it`ll take a while , but I`m kinda trying to suss out their behaviour at the moment,see if I can get some decent shots.

Lancashire moorland.


Moorland2.jpg



Moorland1-1.jpg
 
Lovely shots. I always love that you show a wide selection of your shots, with natural behaviours and their natural habitat. It adds to all of your shots. And thank god you don't sharpen too much, unlike in some other sections I won't mention!
 
Some crackin shots Ade. Particularly like the Stag in it's winter colour's. The moorland's sound interesting, any idea what the BOP is yet.
 
any job news?
 
gjt880 said:
Some crackin shots Ade. Particularly like the Stag in it's winter colour's. The moorland's sound interesting, any idea what the BOP is yet.
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I reckon it will be a buzzard going off the description from the keeper, though he says that in umpteen years of working the moor he has never seen a buzzard up there.Who knows............:shrug:

lawrie29 said:
any job news?
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Nope, still waiting........:)
 
Sorry the job didn't work out for you Ade. Just keep the thread going. Any more shots of the rutting.
 
gjt880 said:
Sorry the job didn't work out for you Ade. Just keep the thread going. Any more shots of the rutting.
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Ah....what you doing tomorrow?
 
Sorry Ade just seen your reply. Bit under the weather at the moment but should be fine next weekend. You got somthing in mind.
 
See what the weather is like Gary, if its ok we can have a go for these:


GaryStag.jpg




Garyhind.jpg


Shooting starts this week so the deer will be on Richards, out of the way for a while.
 
Should have added that there were 43 on the field today. The sheep are all gone and the won`t be back until December/Jan.The cattle will be gone when the grass is all eaten or when it becomes too wet,generally about start of November,this is the time that all the deer get together, it is then that we will be able to see what damage was done last year. Been a good breeding season for them though,weather was kind when the fawns were young and they have been getting a lot of protection, so hopefully numbers won`t be as bad as I first thought.


PS....Anyone got a spare few hours to help erect my timber hide next weekend?
 
Ade I'll give you a hand with the hide. Will also bring the other stuff mentioned in PM. Just let me know what time you want me there, can make both Sat and Sun. Do you need any tools (I don't mean you or me before anybody thinks about it :D) (y)
 
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fracster said:
Should have added that there were 43 on the field today. The sheep are all gone and the won`t be back until December/Jan.The cattle will be gone when the grass is all eaten or when it becomes too wet,generally about start of November,this is the time that all the deer get together, it is then that we will be able to see what damage was done last year. Been a good breeding season for them though,weather was kind when the fawns were young and they have been getting a lot of protection, so hopefully numbers won`t be as bad as I first thought.


PS....Anyone got a spare few hours to help erect my timber hide next weekend?
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Busy sat/sunday but free all day friday, happy to give you a hand (y)
 
Got to be weekend Andy, thanks for the offer though, if i`m not working on Friday i`ll give you a shout and we`ll have a day out...........(y)

Thanks Gary, I have all the tools I need.............:D

I`ll give you a bell, should only take two or three hours, so we can spend the rest of the day on Richards if you like.
 
This is the moor where we are seeing the BOP that we are not sure about.Ignore the blown bit, just shown so you get an idea of the terrain.



MalcMoor.jpg


I did grab this and i`m pretty sure it is a buzzard.Even though the moors are not generally buzzard territory.


BuzzardIthink.jpg


But the BOP that we are seeing does not circle or soar like a buzzard, it flies direct from wall to wall, the kestrels mob it and we cannot get close to it at all.
 
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I guess autumn is truly here, must be, first shoot tomorrow..........:)


Autumn.jpg
 
fracster said:
This is the moor where we are seeing the BOP that we are not sure about.Ignore the blown bit, just shown so you get an idea of the terrain.



MalcMoor.jpg


I did grab this and i`m pretty sure it is a buzzard.Even though the moors are not generally buzzard territory.


BuzzardIthink.jpg


But the BOP that we are seeing does not circle or soar like a buzzard, it flies direct from wall to wall, the kestrels mob it and we cannot get close to it at all.
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Looks like a Buzzard to me Ade :)
 
I thought so as well mate, got a BOP expert coming down this week to get a + id, bird we are seeing seems slightly smaller than this buzzard and has pointed wing ends rather than buzzard blunt ones. It is as wick as buggery, very difficult to get anywhere near it.

I dare not hope too much, but i`m leaning towards a harrier.
 
Ade any chance the mystery BOP could be a Hen Harrier, Forest of Bowland has the strongest poulation of them and it's on your doorstep :shrug:
 
I hope it is Gary, be a real boost.

The moor is looked after by an exceptional keeper, if it is a harrier, then it will be very well looked after.
 
Would be great if it was and a rare treat. More wildlife for you to look after :D
 
Gamekeeper is the size of you and I combined Gary, has a fearsome reputation among the local poachers, nobody poaches or farts about on his patch..................:D
 
Can't beat having a reputation. Good sign for keeping wildlife safe.
 
I think Hen Harrier wingtips are very similar to a Buzzard's, Ade.

Buzzard's have a yellow cere (bird nostril area). The one in your pic looks pale.
 
Not popular, but this is what enables us to look after other wildlife.

12thOctober077.jpg
 
arclight said:
I think Hen Harrier wingtips are very similar to a Buzzard's, Ade.

Buzzard's have a yellow cere (bird nostril area). The one in your pic looks pale.
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That might well be a female hen harrier (the males are much paler). One way to be certain is to watch it in low flight and see if it has a white bar across its rump.

We have loads of them up here- they're magnificent birds :)
 
Thanks Chris, appreciate the input.
 
Grabbed this the other day. The teal are on the moorland ponds and are flighted when in season, they are very quick and very difficult to get near.I actually crawled through bracken to get the garbage attempt.Sun was directly behind me and shining straight at the bird.


Teal2.jpg


I was that intent on getting the teal that I missed seeing four snipe until they noticed me a buggered off sharpish.
 
IanC_UK said:
wrong colour cos its a male, but Hen Harrier wings are a bit like this Ade ;)

Hen_Harrier1.jpg
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]

Thanks Ian,bloke turned up Wednesday, no sign of the BOP.Still no wiser and I guess it will take a little time, but we have plenty of that............:)

gjt880 said:
Saturdays fine for me what time do you want to meet. (y)
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I`m going to load the hide and stuff tomorrow, just need to pick the trailer up off the moor and then take it to the estate. If we start at nine we can be done for 12ish and i`ll buy you dinner at a top country pub.So, say the usual place for 08:30, is that OK?
 
fracster said:
]


I`m going to load the hide and stuff tomorrow, just need to pick the trailer up off the moor and then take it to the estate. If we start at nine we can be done for 12ish and i`ll buy you dinner at a top country pub.So, say the usual place for 08:30, is that OK?
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See you there at 8.30 (y)
 
Hide is in the wood mate, just needs erecting and bolting together now.........(y)
 
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