Woodpigeons everywhere

Straffan1979

Anyone notice an unusually high influx of woodpigeon around north Kildare/Dublin the last fortnight; I can only assume they’re migrants from the hard weather in the north of England/ Scotland . Not complaining they’re great shooting even just walking the ditches . A flock got up this evening off a small wood that must be 4-500 birds after I fired a shot. Mostly young birds from this year looking at the size of them.

Danzy

Have never seen as few pigeons as this year. Less every year, here in North Cork.

Straffan1979

Danzy wrote: »

Have never seen as few pigeons as this year. Less every year, here in North Cork.

there was a plague of them around here last year too; they’re definitely migrants and they’re back again this year.

https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.independent.ie/business/farming/tillage/attack-of-the-birds-huge-flocks-of-pigeons-wreak-havoc-on-farmers-crop-36521568.html

Danzy

Wow, that would be some shooting

Birdnuts

Yeah - serious numbers about. As you say probably migrants coming in on the Easterly winds

Cadpat_cowboy

Straffan1979 wrote: »

Anyone notice an unusually high influx of woodpigeon around north Kildare/Dublin the last fortnight; I can only assume they’re migrants from the hard weather in the north of England/ Scotland . Not complaining they’re great shooting even just walking the ditches . A flock got up this evening off a small wood that must be 4-500 birds after I fired a shot. Mostly young birds from this year looking at the size of them.

There is a ton of them nest near my house out beside blessington lake, I'm dying waiting for the shotgun licence to come back.

Birdnuts

I'm staying in Curracloe on the SE coast with friends this WE and there was a noticeable passage of birds coming in off the sea today despite the rain which confirms what was mentioned earlier in this thread

Straffan1979

Birdnuts wrote: »

I'm staying in Curracloe on the SE coast with friends this WE and there was a noticeable passage of birds coming in off the sea today despite the rain which confirms what was mentioned earlier in this thread

there’s definitely an unusual amount hanging around even if out rough shooting; they’re hungry & gorging on ivy/haw berries and rising freely off the ditches; maybe a sign of a changing dynamic of what will be presenting for a shot going forward- I’m resigned to pigeon/pheasant/ mallard now as being a viable option going forward having stopped shooting snipe/ woodcock/ teal etc.. i’ll Be attacked for saying that no doubt!!!!