Guys,
Just wondering if anyone has seen any quail about yet? Around Shepp seems pretty quiet with the dogs finding their first solitary bird last night. Hopefully some good rains will come very soon, as I reckon that's what triggers our good quail seasons.
Cheers...
Con

Hardly seen a bird yet over here in the Wimmera.

A couple of local cockies were saying a mob of sheep they were driving through a stubble paddock put up a "few".

Ducks are also pretty light on still. A few blackies scattered around channels and some patchy groups of woodies around the dams.

We need rain.

GBB,
As you know, best thing about being a teacher is the kids! Seems I spoke too soon, one lad's farm has being holding good numbers since last year in some swampy areas. Availability of water seems to have been the key. Less than 20min from home too! Couple of other farms north of Shepp which held great numbers last year are barren though.
Ducks are in good numbers: Woodies and Black duck mostly, some teal, hardheads and pink-ears thrown in too. Woodies with fresh clutches were crossing the road less than a week ago.
Fingers crossed for good rain...
Con

I better ring my brother on the family farm at rushworth about ducks closer to the season1

But on the quail, even the kids at school are no help. there seems to be just none around. even when they're out spotlighting, there are none to be seen and there usually are at this time of the year.

Con, you are right about them being a good source of information about ANYTHING local.....

Con,
I was speaking to a farmer from Shep. and he was saying there were plenty of Quail around harvest time as per every year. They usually dissapear soon after, although this year there are more hanging around than usual.

Heading up to Shepparton and districts tommorrow as I am helping out with the waterfowl count/survey with F&GA. Will also take my GSP for a walk and see what else is around.

Cheers
Tasso

We spent all day out in the stubbles yesterday knocking over some foxes (as there are heaps of them around- I normally prefer to leave chasing them until their fur has thickened up).

Never saw a quail.

Next weekend is Poachers weekend at Donald FGA on Sat and our Minyip club Sunday. Maybe some others will know more..... maybe.

tasso,
How did the duck count go?
Cheers...
Con

Con,

first visited Ballarat-Skipton thru to Streatham and down to Geelong and back home.
Impressions were o.k with a variety of ducks, however many were Mountain ducks.

Second trip was up to Shepparton, targeting channels, creeks and farm dams. Saw mainly Teal, Black ducks, not many though. However I saw heaps and heaps of wood ducks on farm dams.

I will be spending the opening at Sale and then heading to Shepparton at the next opportunity to bust some Wood Ducks.

There were many State Game Reserves that are dry.

Tasso

tasso,
Thanks for that. Did you mostly cruise the roads and use binoculars for your counts? I'd agree though that around Shepparton there is a ka-ka load of woodies, both on channels and dams.
Not many qual though!
Cheers...
Con

Con,

mostly walked, viewed them thru bino's


tasso

Quail are sure rare around here. More's the pity with a daly bag limit of 25.