Lapwing nest predation

[Smellydog]

Sat waiting on a fox crossing the boundary from next door this evening. Had a magpie fly into the hedge, blackbird started kicking off. Lasted maybe 10 minutes then out flew the magpie and landed in the grass field I was sat in.
Looking through the scope I could see blue near the magpie's head. Squeezed off,big puff of feathers. Walked over to look, bloody thing had dropped the blackbird egg it was carrying, totally intact. Shame I couldn't find the nest to return it.
Still,55grains from a 223 did the magpie a world of good

The only time a magpie looks pretty

 

[Rhodesianjess]

The only time a magpie looks pretty

Hit middle for diddle, wouldn't have been any use for my taxidermist buddy

 

[Smellydog]

Hit middle for diddle, wouldn't have been any use for my taxidermist buddy

All taxidermy magpies should look like yours! By law!!

 

[Sol]

With all the districts the country has it does baffle me that quota or open seasons for non-traditional game per district hasn't became a thing yet especially since Its incredibly common in neighbouring countries too us.

Badgers are overall fine In some districts and huge issues in others, Kites are nearly vacant from others but grossly overpopulated in others, and the list goes on, some districts have harbour more sensitive species and others not so much.

It seems like the government effectively accepts that some non-traditional species need culled and do allow it, but there banking on the idea of having too go through the licenses and bureaucracy needed too acquire them that It makes it illogical for the average person too attempt it.

 

[homer]

With all the districts the country has it does baffle me that quota or open seasons for non-traditional game per district hasn't became a thing yet especially since Its incredibly common in neighbouring countries too us.

Badgers are overall fine In some districts and huge issues in others, Kites are nearly vacant from others but grossly overpopulated in others, and the list goes on, some districts have harbour more sensitive species and others not so much.

It seems like the government effectively accepts that some non-traditional species need culled and do allow it, but there banking on the idea of having too go through the licenses and bureaucracy needed too acquire them that It makes it illogical for the average person too attempt it.

The bit that annoys me is, you've maybe got a farm with upwards of 70 ravens frequenting the lambing fields, and you go through the hastle of applying for the licence, which then allows you to shoot 3!
Totaly pointless.

 

[VSS]

The bit that annoys me is, you've maybe got a farm with upwards of 70 ravens frequenting the lambing fields, and you go through the hastle of applying for the licence, which then allows you to shoot 3!
Totaly pointless.

That can be an issue, but the only time we ever had ravens in big numbers (60+) causing problems, they'd been drawn in by the activities of the local commercial shoot. Lots of dead game birds lying about, and grain everywhere. At the end of the shooting season (which coincides with the start of lambing) feeding stopped, so the ravens turned their attention to the lambing fields.
Prior to this, we only ever saw ravens in ones and twos.
When the shoot eventually folded (much to everyone's relief) the ravens dispersed and are no longer a significant problem.

 

[homer]

That can be an issue, but the only time we ever had ravens in big numbers (60+) causing problems, they'd been drawn in by the activities of the local commercial shoot. Lots of dead game birds lying about, and grain everywhere. At the end of the shooting season (which coincides with the start of lambing) feeding stopped, so the ravens turned their attention to the lambing fields.
Prior to this, we only ever saw ravens in ones and twos.
When the shoot eventually folded (much to everyone's relief) the ravens dispersed and are no longer a significant problem.

No commercial shoot round me. Theres some woods wheres theres well over 100 roosting. Id hate to guess how many there actually are. No wonder the ground nesters are in decline.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Gulls are pretty vicious and will take most things opportunists same as crows and magpies.

Gulls are the biggest predators on the outdoor pig unit my brother works on. They hammer the piglets given half a chance.

 

[Sol]

The bit that annoys me is, you've maybe got a farm with upwards of 70 ravens frequenting the lambing fields, and you go through the hastle of applying for the licence, which then allows you to shoot 3!
Totaly pointless.

yup one farmer has problems with them pretty sure my friend at one point had the license but obviously they've expired by this point, I need too pay for some cartridges next year of a box of .22 and have a day on the GL species bloody stupid amounts here.

Had trouble with badgers this year..... since being Scottish the time required too gather evidence there wasn't a single point of lifting a finger, only hope Is the sets in a big bit of larch that's completely dead so whatever woodland agency owns it hopefully deals with the issues.

obviously badgers dont get shot, but at least they'll **** off somewhere else (hopefully) just currently that set Is surrounded by three good lambing pastures It can just pop out nab one.

 

[greylag]

The only place I see ground nesting birds in any numbers is the outer hebrides, where suprise suprise there are no badgers or foxes.

Plenty of Hoodies, Ravens, though, guessing Otters wouldnt turn their noses up to a clutch of eggs

 

[Smellydog]

Don't bloody start me off on freaking ravens!!!

 

[crow killer]

Dozens of kites have turned up on one place. I feel like all my efforts are a waste of time, energy and money!
Farmer told me how a hen pheasant brought 12 chicks into the yard and hid them in a hedge in the yard. A few hours letter he noticed her leaving but only had four chicks following! I'm sitting in the yard bumping pests off and the kites are combing every inch! Which gormless idiot thought it was a good idea to release these bloody things?
The lapwings have left, I haven't seen a meadow pipet for weeks and I've only seen a few larks since the kites arrived.
The curlew have gone as well.

Why do these idiots just think of things they want to see easily and ignore the bigger picture?

I know how youre feeling, ive been severely peed off about losing 4 lapwing nests, one feral cat got shot this morning, set cages just yesterday, theres hordes of carrions in a lot of Cumbria.
Many areas keep at them but many dont bother.

 

[crow killer]

Have you tried ladder traps ? In the right place they can take serious numbers of corvids in short spaces of time

Yes I made one about 25 years ago, its had a lot of crows , seems to go for weeks and none then a few go in, I have 2 larsens and 2 clams.

 

[Brad93]

Have any of you read "In search of one last song"?

 

[jall55]

Have any of you read "In search of one last song"?

No but was gifted a copy by Patrick that he signed for our shoot auction
Struggle reading on here and ST - but i would like to

 

[jall55]

Yes I made one about 25 years ago, its had a lot of crows , seems to go for weeks and none then a few go in, I have 2 larsens and 2 clams.

Keep at them - a mouth caller is also useful

 

[Brad93]

No but was gifted a copy by Patrick that he signed for our shoot auction
Struggle reading on here and ST - but i would like to

I've actually been listening to the audiobook (as part of my Spotify subscription).

It's very good.

 

[crow killer]

Have any of you read "In search of one last song"?

Im about 3/4 of way through reading it, very good book, but a very sad subject, all about severely declining species, and folks like us trying to keep them going.















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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Have any of you read "In search of one last song"?

 

[Drum123]

The bit that annoys me is, you've maybe got a farm with upwards of 70 ravens frequenting the lambing fields, and you go through the hastle of applying for the licence, which then allows you to shoot 3!
Totaly pointless.

Just make sure you don't get caught shooting three at any one time.

 

[wisp]

We just have to face it Smelly, most of these idiots never listen to experience, they just grab a PHd and tick boxes. You just cannot and never will educate Pork.

You might not be able to educate pork , but you can cure it .