Lack of Wildlife!

[Plummer]

I fished Chew Valley Reservoir on Saturday, it was a very strange days fishing, as it was so apparent that there were very little wild birds flying up down and across!! I didn't see a dozen ducks all day, the odd grebe, and a few geese and that was it..
Is this the result of Avian Bird Flu?

 

[AGR]

Sorry to sidetrack, any mayfly, how was the fishing?

 

[jall55]

I fished Chew Valley Reservoir on Saturday, it was a very strange days fishing, as it was so apparent that there were very little wild birds flying up down and across!! I didn't see a dozen ducks all day, the odd grebe, and a few geese and that was it..
Is this the result of Avian Bird Flu?

Lots of birds on nests at the moment - and drakes recovering

 

[Plummer]

Sorry to sidetrack, any mayfly, how was the fishing

Lots of birds on nests at the moment - and drakes recovering

I have fished Chew since 1965, and I have never experienced anything quite like that on Saturday, it was quite an eerie haunting experience, it was so so quiet !!!

 

[pob]

I was stalking roe on Saturday morning and it was also very, very quiet.

We wondered if it was anything to do with the Aurora? But there were these lovely lillies walking about

.

 

[Trickyd66]

If its Avian Bird Flu, it isn't affecting the woodies, jackdaws and Rooks 50km SW of Chew. Put up a bird table and all I see is them. Song birds don't get a look in.
Can't control them due to location (And of course GL conditions)
On the bright side, only seen one Grey squidger.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Is this the result of Avian Bird Flu?

Yes, along with ... Otters... Raptors.... Maltese bird trappers... Italian songbird hunters and numerous other things... we are doomed...

On a more serious note, do you own a Plummer terrier? and if so how have you found it as a worker? I grew up reading his writings in books & magazines.

 

[jall55]

If its Avian Bird Flu, it isn't affecting the woodies, jackdaws and Rooks 50km SW of Chew. Put up a bird table and all I see is them. Song birds don't get a look in.
Can't control them due to location (And of course GL conditions)
On the bright side, only seen one Grey squidger.

Traps ?

 

[jall55]

I have fished Chew since 1965, and I have never experienced anything quite like that on Saturday, it was quite an eerie haunting experience, it was so so quiet !!!

Bloody hell - not sure then
This year we seem to have great numbers of most things - insects are swarming with this warm and wet weather

 

[Jon P]

Roe stalking in Hampshire last Wednesday morning, took a video of the Roe Buck at 6 am - bird song is deafening in the background. Was a great morning to be out.

 

[Plummer]

Sorry to sidetrack, any mayfly, how was the fishing?

I know they have mayfly hatches on Chew, but they are not prolific, we didn't see any on Saturday, there was the occasional olive sedge hatching..

The fishing was good, sadly very bright with a ripple from the east, we picked up seven, biggest 3:12 on

 

[Cyres]

No cormorants then if they are gone best thing ever.

 

[AGR]

I helped a pike angler at Chew with a cormorant which had dived down and swallowed his deadbait. Not quite the catch he was expecting!

 

[Bo Diddley]

I helped a pike angler at Chew with a cormorant which had dived down and swallowed his deadbait. Not quite the catch he was expecting!

The usual tactic in such situations is to wind down to a very short line and hold the rod tip well underwater for a good few minutes... then rebait and carry on regardless...