morton 5,369 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Ive noticed a lot of them in the canal when im out with the dogs but ive always thought the were sea birds or is it common for them to visit fresh water. I know of a mush who,s favourite shooting hide overlooked a cormorants drying post on the Aire and at least 60 miles from the coast,fecking flying rats. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DogMan85 722 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 I'd prefer to have a Shag rather than a Cormorant..... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nik_B 3,791 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 If they don't fly away then they don't fly back. Seen them 60 mile inland but not common. Seen an interesting program before with some foreign lads with fully trained ones diving off the boat and bringing back big fish for small treat. Anybody able to put up a link it's probably on utube We had them at fisheries in Cheshire which is 40km from the sea Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pesky1972 5,686 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 The black death. Fcukin hate the sight of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jiggy 3,209 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 If they don't fly away then they don't fly back. Seen them 60 mile inland but not common. Seen an interesting program before with some foreign lads with fully trained ones diving off the boat and bringing back big fish for small treat. Anybody able to put up a link it's probably on utube We had them at fisheries in Cheshire which is 40km from the sea The lads into fishing would ask the lads duck shooting the rivers to blast them if they seen them but they were very clever birds and new the range of a shotgun I don't remember anyone ever shooting one except one idiot who claimed he shot one flying in the air freehand at 300 yards with a .22 (he was good at bullsh1t stories) but they are certainly more popular on the bigger lakes within 20 miles of the sea. Would they be any worse than an otter. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peterhunter86 8,627 Posted January 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Ive also noticed when there at the canal the heron wont go near the water he stands in the path ive never seen him stand there before an he flys along the path if thier around and every other time he flys along the water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 They're protected in Eire too and they breed and roost on islands on our lochs. They're a serious predator and it's a pity our native fish species have enough problems without cormorants ,but, at the end of the day they're another man made problem. They've moved inland because there's not many fish left in the sea. Fresh water fishing is easier for them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neil cooney 10,416 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Ive also noticed when there at the canal the heron wont go near the water he stands in the path ive never seen him stand there before an he flys along the path if thier around and every other time he flys along the water. On a narrow water way like a canal the Heron needs fish to be relaxed enough to come near him. A Cormorant diving and swimming along underwater is scattering and frightening every fish for that canal stretch, no good to a Heron. One of the best battles I ever seen was a Cormorant come up right in the middle of Drogheda town with an Eel that I would say was 3 lbs weight. The Cormorant only had the Eels head in his mouth and the Eel was wrapped around his neck like a Python. This went on for a few minutes and the Cormorant put his head back and swallowed the Eel like a child swallowing spaghetti. You could see the Eel wriggling in the birds throat. They're a serious predator. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peterhunter86 8,627 Posted January 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Neil were i see them is at the 11th lock on the grand canal but i seen six today but there wouldnt be theres not alot of fish on that part of the canal the polish are always fishing that spot and ive seen otter and mink there aswell wont be long till theres no fish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 29,096 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 They're all over the Exeter canal, they roost on the pylons you can count 40 or 50 on em... they've wrecked the fishery over the years, but the last few years it's fished pretty well. I've seen them trying to swallow massive eels and once watched one grappling with a booody great flounder in the estuary, god knows how he got it down his throat... definitely need a bit of cull, but like most pests they're protected for some reason... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 29,096 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Ive also noticed when there at the canal the heron wont go near the water he stands in the path ive never seen him stand there before an he flys along the path if thier around and every other time he flys along the water. On a narrow water way like a canal the Heron needs fish to be relaxed enough to come near him.A Cormorant diving and swimming along underwater is scattering and frightening every fish for that canal stretch, no good to a Heron. One of the best battles I ever seen was a Cormorant come up right in the middle of Drogheda town with an Eel that I would say was 3 lbs weight. The Cormorant only had the Eels head in his mouth and the Eel was wrapped around his neck like a Python. This went on for a few minutes and the Cormorant put his head back and swallowed the Eel like a child swallowing spaghetti. You could see the Eel wriggling in the birds throat. They're a serious predator. Ha was writing at the same time as you, regards eels their eyes are certainly bigger then their bellies 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NEWKID 29,096 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 Our canal is 7 miles long and pretty wide plus it's 12-14ft deep, it's a massive body of water that was the main shipping route to the town after the river was weired, but they still managed to smash the shit out of the roach and skimmer stocks.... it's turned into more of a specimen water now, big tench and carp... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jiggy 3,209 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 (edited) If there is no fish surely they will move off. It could be the sign of healthy stocks to see them. It was 20 year ago I used to see them around our way on the rivers and fishing was good then. Don't see them anymore now and fishing is shit because for whatever reason either dumped by someone using them as bait or a bitter person or by making it by flooding to the river system Dace that were non existent in the river 10 year ago have now taking it over and are desecrating the trouts food supply. Pity a few cormorants wouldn't come and wipe them out but they are here to stay. Edited January 29, 2017 by jiggy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nik_B 3,791 Posted January 29, 2017 Report Share Posted January 29, 2017 They're all over the Exeter canal, they roost on the pylons you can count 40 or 50 on em... they've wrecked the fishery over the years, but the last few years it's fished pretty well. I've seen them trying to swallow massive eels and once watched one grappling with a booody great flounder in the estuary, god knows how he got it down his throat... definitely need a bit of cull, but like most pests they're protected for some reason... My old man saw one trying to swallow a decent sized rainbow Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flipper_Al 1,012 Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 We used to have two on our syndicate lake......!!! Did they die unexpectedly of a heart attack? Yes i think it was, it just fell out the sky Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.