I persuaded Richard to take me out to Eastlands for the afternoon/evening so he could sign me off, ready for some rough shooting later in the season. Sunny and warm, it was like a day at the beach on the shingle over the sea wall.

We hung around for several hours, eventually pitching up on the delph corner to await the evening.

Deeks out, we waited… and waited…

At last light a slim duck flew over the wall, already committed to landing. Lugging the decoys all the way out there was a waste of time on this occasion. I must be getting better as somehow I hit it in the gloom, rewarded my patience with a satisfying splash.

A minute or two later a single came over (Teal?), but I reacted too slow to take a shot. Another two followed, too slow again. Richard had a very late punt without success and that was it, just 5 mins of action.

Harry retrieved the bird, a female Pintail and we packed up. I think Think that’s the first time I’ve come home with more than him.

Bag for the day
1 Pintail (Hen)

Afternoon tide and evening flight on Gore Saltings with Richard.  Nice weather and surprisingly no one else on the marsh. We were expecting it to be choca bloc as it was the first day of the season.  First chance passed by as I was turned the wrong way.  Second came as tide was rising.  Pair of Teal.  Got the first with first shot, but couldn’t manage the second; should have.

Richard managed a Teal from a pair whilst I was faffing about, as usual.  Harry made a nice retrieve.

All quiet as tide went out, but as evening came we both bagged a Mallard from a group of three and at last light Richard got another Teal, which Harry found pretty swiftly out on the mud.

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Bag for the day
1 Teal
1 Mallard

Even though most of the UK is covered in standing water I bunked off work early as the forecast didn’t look too bad and high tide time looked ok. Harry had a little hunt in the rough field away from the marsh, then we set-up land side of the sea wall (but not right down the end).

The only birds flying were Rooks coming across the Crouch from the other side. Eventually had a pop at one which dropped like a stone to my second shot. Didn’t pick it as I had left Harry’s vest in the car and didn’t want him getting cold for a corvid. The shots disturbed some Widgeon, who flew too far out over the river from the direction of the sea wall end. They were the only duck I saw.

Caught the edge of some really dark clouds with rain at the close, which turns out had dropped a lot of hail at Battlesbridge.