COP14: shooting across borders
Migratory species, by definition, cross international borders, presenting challenges to policy makers and conservation groups, says BASC’s Dr Alex Murray.
- - Features
- - Features
The Wash – my special place
Passionate wildfowler and BASC Council member John Harlow captures the wild magic of The Wash in Lincolnshire.
Twenty years ago, at first glance, I was attracted by the openness and big skies of Lincolnshire’s Fens, but also by the wild nature of The Wash. The latter is now a firm favourite of mine and it is there that I can follow my love of wildfowling – the pursuit of wild ducks and geese on the foreshore.
Wildfowling has a long history on The Wash, with its most famous exponent being the hunter, naturalist, and artist Sir Peter Scott, who lived in the East Lighthouse at Sutton Bridge. He formed his first wildfowl collection there, before later establishing the first Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve at Slimbridge.
There are a number of wildfowling clubs around The Wash, and I am a member of several of them. All of the clubs are affiliated to BASC and their members follow the newly-launched Sustainable Shooting Code of Practice for Wildfowl.
A year-round passion
Although the wildfowling season started on 1 September, myself and other wildfowlers were busy in the spring installing duck nest tubes in suitable inland areas to allow the resident mallard population to nest and hatch off their young, safe from predators and disturbance.Â
Once this was done, we moved our attention to conducting litter picks on areas of the foreshore where rubbish had been left by the tides. On one occasion, ten of us gathered more than 500kgs of rubbish in barely two hours, which the local authority removed and weighed.
I also spent time last year continuing the training of my two Labradors to ensure that they were ready for their work during the season. There is great satisfaction in seeing one’s shooting partner complete a retrieve.
Natural wonders
Wildfowling on the foreshore is physically demanding in terms of the distance walked and the nature of the ground covered. This and the vagaries of a British winter on the coast means that an intimate knowledge of the tides and each marsh are necessary to ensure one’s safety. I enjoy this challenge, and the satisfaction of introducing new club members to wildfowling.
Some wildfowlers go out regularly from the start of the season with an eye out for resident mallard, greylag and Canada geese. I prefer to wait until the arrival in early October of our winter migrants. Teal, wigeon and the iconic pink-footed geese. The sight and sounds of a skein of pinks is a natural wonder.
Visualising my favourite time
If I had to think about my favourite time to be on The Wash it would be the hour before sunrise in my chosen spot. After settling down and pouring myself a cup of coffee, this magic time would begin. While the eastern sky lightens, I listen to the marsh coming awake. I hope to hear the geese stirring on their roost, coupled by the calls and whistling wings of ducks returning from their overnight feeding inland. I really enjoy the solitude of this time and with this comes the opportunity to reflect and put things into perspective.
As the light increases, I use my binoculars to survey the area. I search for approaching ducks or geese. I might also get to see huge flocks of waders performing mass aerobatics as they are pushed off their feeding grounds by the advancing tide. Possibly a peregrine diving through them in search of its breakfast? One day I may even be fortunate to see a white-tailed sea eagle which now visit The Wash each winter.
A duck or a goose
I will be anticipating whether I have a chance for a duck or a goose. Will they be in range of my shotgun, or too high or too wide? They are usually the latter two – it is not called a wild goose chase for no reason!
If I am lucky, I will harvest a bird or two which will later provide me with a tasty and nutritious meal. I eat everything that I shoot, and only shoot what I need, stopping when I have sufficient.Â
I will provide information from my success to the BASC Wing Survey. The survey, together with any leg rings from the British Trust for Ornithology, helps our scientists understand the population trends of our quarry species. In this way I ensure that my wildfowling is sustainable, and I can continue to enjoy the experience in the future.
Giving something back
In 2022 I was elected on to BASC Council and I am now able to influence and guide the direction of the organisation and its approximately 150,000 members to ensure that our way of life continues in a sustainable manner. I sit on the BASC Wildfowling and Wetlands Liaison Committee which deals with topics affecting wildfowling and advises BASC Council.Â
I am also a member of the BASC Wildlife Fund committee and a trustee of the BASC Wildlife Fund charity. Since 2020, these two groups have overseen the dispersal of nearly £500,000 in loans for land purchase and grants for conservation projects linked to sustainable shooting nationally and internationally.
To find out more about wildfowling and the BASC Wildlife Fund, head to the BASC website.
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John Harlow
John retired to the Lincolnshire fens in 2011 after 30 years' service in the Metropolitan Police. His main hobby is coastal wildfowling and he is the Chairman of Holbeach and District WA and a member of four other clubs in England and Scotland. John was elected to BASC Council in 2022 and serve on the wildfowling and wetlands liaison committee, the BASC Wildlife Fund committee and is a trustee of the BASC Wildlife Fund Charity.
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