Brrrrrrrrr

Last night was good, not because of lots of birds taken - it was just, well, good. Paul and I got away about on time, or as close to it as a Fletcher can be (they are notorious for arriving late). We were unloading stuff into the boat as Andrew arrived. Only a half dozen cars at the ramp. No wind when we arrived, but Andrew said that the front had chased him up country. Southerly, bitter cold, brrrrrrrr. We arrived at the hut just as the wind arrived, pushing a spattering of rain ahead of it. We kitted up and headed out past Bollocks to circle round and see if we could entrap Mr Rooster. Arrived at Prandangs spot at thesame time as a passing hail shower, it was cold.
Circled round back to hut but no sign of our intended prey, so away we head to the night spot. We got out there, set up my Robo and Andrew/Paul's mojo, then the lads headed off back to the old Prangdang pond. Shots from that way after 5 minutes, and then calling. They were away for 20 minutes during which time a group of ducks came downwind with Southerly right up their bum. Sporadic shooting up river, birds were moving. 3 swan came hurtling over and I lead the first bird by a barn gate - with wind on their tail they were charging. I thought I clean missed, but Andy told me that a puff of feathers blew out of the swan. At about 3.50 birds were really moving. It was getting colder by the minute, spitting drops of rain and feeling pretty ducky. We got a single circling, then a pair committed and the lads opened up as the ducks came over with wings set. I took the hen and smacked her but she didn't fold and that was it, in the wind they jinked out of range in a few seconds. Paul gave a post mortem on why his shots didn't kill the birds as they stood still in the sky. They were sidling sideways so lead to the front and side was needed. Soon after a single came around and Paul fired, I took her but at the same time as Paul fired his second, and she cartwheeled down. 4.10. I'd never had chances so early at the night spot before. That was it for 45 minutes - the occasional bird came by but no serious chances. About 5 the birds got on the wing. Paul took a nice shot on a swan (more meat for the grand sausage mix). With darkness falling I got a shot on a pair and dropped the hen stone dead. Then immediately missed a scorching single. Then birds zooming in and around, well we fired a few shots but for not much. Moon rose at 5.50, and wind dropped, action over. Back at landing by 7.15, home by 9.

Robo was a pain, her motor was loose and moved around causing wing rub and general nuisance value. Fixed her today.