'Fall Back' To The Mud Flats

- Alan Jarrett

Once we arrive at the end of October and the clocks have gone back an hour I always think that now we are really into the wildfowling season proper. Shorter days and dropping temperatures are enough to inspire most of us to get out at every opportunity.

Now we know the bulk of the migrant duck and geese will be coming, and it can be a time of high anticipation. Of course, that is not to say that none have already arrived, but the big numbers should start to build up now.

Those early migrants will invariably be a bit naive for a while, before they learn the reality of being on these shores in the presence of the wildfowlers.

An added bonus may be in the form of a dry autumn – such as the one we had this year in the south-east. With inland ponds drying up, splashes a thing of distant memory and even the ditches at very low levels, the birds are much more likely to be on the shore in order to take advantage of the better fare offered there.

The combination of newly arrived birds and lack of water inland can mean some excellent tide flighting. The other factor is, of course, the availability of food on the shore, with autumn seeing samphire seed and other food in plentiful supply on those shores where it grows.