Pyrgo House – 3rd March 2021
Pyrgo House was built in 1852 on the site of the former Pirgo Palace, a royal residence of King Henry VIII from 1541 and demolished by 1814.
The later House lasted less than a century, with a few pieces of stone laying strewn about in the woods.
Shame those two stone stags are not still there with the view south overlooking the Thames in the distance.
Howletts – 13th December 2014
Not sure of the day’s total bag for the shoot bag, but I know I got a brace of Mallards with one shot during the evening duck flight.
Season Bag 2013-2014
 Howletts Driven and Evening Flights (39 birds for 93 shots)33 Pheasant 5 Partridge 1 Duck (Mallard) Wildfowling (4 birds for unknown shots) 1 Mallard (Not Picked) 1 Pintail (Hen) 1 Teal 1 Rook |
Season Bag (2012-13)
 Howletts Driven and Evening Flights (48 birds for 122 shots)30 Pheasant 8 Partridge 8 Duck (Mallard) 1 Woodcock 1 Goose (Greylag) Wildfowling (0 birds for 6 shots) |
Howletts – 12th January 2013
As the mid week shoot in December was cancelled, everyone had been told to bring their gun. There was going to be a lot of walking/beating guns to try and make up for it. I shot the first drive, Pine Trees, from peg one and managed a couple of Pheasant who flew out and along the wood edge. Walking back gun on College Wood but I failed to notice a couple of birds that flew over until it was too late; wake up boy. Up to peg four and placed as back gun near home pen whilst they walked Gravel Pit through from the white gate end. My only shot was to tidy up a bird Peter had clipped and we stopped for lunch.
Walking back gun on Joey’s and picked up a nice Mallard. Pricked a Partridge on Nelson’s which glided down. Roy’s dog went into hedge after it quite quickly, but came out with a Pheasant from previous drive. By the time he went back, the bird was lost. Walking gun/beater on Red Gate, where it was cocks only, but managed to get one. Peg two on Dell pen (?) wood. A nice Partridge came out the top of the trees, which hit the ground just on the edge of the cover strip. Shame Nick’s dog isn’t yet up to picking up as it would have been a good little retrieve. He had a nice Pheasant next to me from peg three.
I got lucky in the draw for places for the evening duck flight and would be shooting the small pond with Dave, Paul and Peter. Paul had to nip back home for Riley, who borrowed Harry’s neoprean jacket for the night. I was amazed at the numbers coming in during the early evening and the highlight was when a couple of Gerylags flew in from the north like a couple of Lancasters. After checking they weren’t shell duck I dropped the closest one, which made my day. Apparently Dave had a go at the other without luck.
On the Sunday I let Harry have a go at retrieving his first Goose, where he did bloody well I think.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvOhScSAeZQ&hd=1
Bag for the day (Driven: 8 birds for 20 shots, Evening Flight: 5 birds for 18 shots)
6 Pheasant
1 Partridge
5 Duck (Mallard – includes the one that escaped after being picked, but not the other two runners not picked)
1 Goose (Greylag)
Halloween Pumpkin – 30th October 2012
One day early, but Rebecca wanted me to do the pumpkin tonight.
Didn’t come out too bad.
Dog Training – 15th August 2012
10 minutes over the back of Hanakins with Harry; until we were seen off by the residents!
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwmlAd8j5kA
BWA Gore Workparty – 12th August 2012
Bridge fixing on Gore Saltings. Bit dodgy navigating the mud on a sunny day; gawd knows what it will be like in the dark.
BWA Photo Set HERE
ESGT Novice Test – 15th July 2012
Our first “Working Test” and we managed 8th place out of 25 and a Certificate Of Merit.
Good Lad.
BWA Dog Test at Gore Saltings – 3rd June 2012
First ever test; cacking it. Harry did well though, especially with the two single retrieves over water.
Beaten to BWA Novice 3rd place by Colin.
BWA Photo Set HERE
Bag for the Season (2011-12)
 Driven (41 birds for 101 shots)34 Pheasant 7 Partridge Wildfowling (1 bird for 2 shots) Miscellaneous (64 crustacea for zero shots) |
Utility Gundog Society Novice Cocker Trial – 2nd January 2012
My first visit to watch a Field Trial. A friendly bunch and I managed to see quite a lot of the action following one of the officials around. Arthur’s bitch(?) only awarded a Merit despite appearing to not put a foot wrong.
Greylag breast in Marsala sauce
Alas it wasn’t I that bagged this beauty. I exchanged a brace of Pheasants for a couple of Greylags with Tony in The Norton; what a deal.
Greylag breast in Marsala sauce
Brown off the floured breasts and keep warm. Fry crushed garlic, sliced shallotts (and a few whole) in olive oil for a few minutes, then add lots of sliced mushrooms and continue to fry for another 5-10 mins. Pour in a couple of glasses of Marsala wine, boiled off the alcohol and then add some chicken stock. Simmer until reduced and thickened, then add breast meat, cover and stick in the oven to finish off the meat.
I put the breast meat in before reducing and it ended up overcooked, so the above instructions have been tweeked. The Marsala sauce, however, was wonderfull.
Crayfish Fishing – 24th October 2011
As it’s half term I’m off work this week to spend some quality time with the family. So, come Monday morning I waved them bye bye and went to meet up with Terry who had kindly agreed to show me the Crayfishing ropes.
After switching location from the River Lee up to New River we were straight into them. Two hours later we had caught 64 crayfish together and Terry had caught two female passers-by on his own.
A pint and lunch, sitting in the sun at the local pub rounded off the day nicely.
(look out, it’s behind you)
Bag for the day
Crayfish 64
Harry – 31st July 2011
Incoming !!!
Howlett’s Work Party – 4th June 2011
Howlett’s work party was bit’ing the pheasant poults at Wenlocks for Paul. 13,000 done in 6 hrs!
Howlett’s Work Party – 28th May 2011
Ended up removing and refitting the wire mesh around the feeders at ground level.
Howlett’s Work Party – 7th May 2011
Fitting stakes and wire mesh around feeders to stop the deer helping themselves.
Howlett’s Work Party – 23rd April 2011
Fitting legs to the feeders.
Pick of the Litter – 12th February 2011
Two and a half hour drive over to Sussie in Stow-On-The-Wold to choose a puppy.
Training Rebecca not to ruin him may be the bigger task.
