Spring update

We are well into the moult with Chico since I last updated the blog. I've been feeding him a mixture of high quality goods to give him the best chance of a successful moult. And he has been dropping his feathers pretty much in sequence which I feel is a sign he is healthy. Below is a fairly recent pic of what's dropped so far.

He has been dropping lots of body feathers as well so his complete colour change must be happening.

In the meantime I've been on my fishing quite a lot.  I've been fishing lighter and lighter trying to reduce kit and increase fun! Now at the point of taking just one or two rods and minimal other gear. I've restored another Mitchell 300 reel, caught a beautiful tench and lots of other coarse species and even had a bonus ghost carp. Still got plenty of summer to fish through as well.

All the fish have been caught on simple traditional tackle and bait, not a hair rig in sight. Hoping to get onto the rivers once they open for the new season. I'll update again later in the summer. In the meantime look for the Norfolk Bushman on Facebook and Instagram for mini updates. The Norfolk Bushman on Facebook @thenorfolkbushman

It's been a few months since I started the blog, and we are at the end of one season and the beginning of the next. Chico the Harris hawk has dropped a couple of body feathers a few weeks ago, and then we hit that lovely super hot weather and weight control with the bird became difficult. I'm still learning myself and with a young bird who is very small for his breed and out of season warm weather I found the weight management very hard. He spent a lot of time too high on weight and I just don't think I was hard enough on the diet to get the best out of him, we live we learn. My mentor has been a huge help, however with the feathers dropping and disastrous flying I've called it a day for this season and put him up for his moult. During this period that can take months he will shed his juvenile plumage and flight feathers and his adult feathers will come through, he will also partially or fully revert and will require re-manning at the end. His feathers will be harder and more weather resistant giving him greater speed and manoeuvrability and also make him hardier to inclement weather. Hopefully the bond won't completely go as he is a joy and I'm besotted with him. I'll update the blog as we go.
However, this break with the bird allows me to do more fishing. The spring season is on overdrive and the tench are on the move, I've had no luck yet but I'm persisting. The fishing will feature more in the blog over the spring summer and autumn. Tight lines to all.
I've added some photos from over that last few months. Speak soon.

Tackle box restoration completed!

The restoration of the tackle box was completed yesterday. Delays have been waiting on metal work coming from overseas and work commitments. Anyway, below are the pics, I struggled to find a paint finish I liked but in the end used black garage floor paint which has given the box a lovely smooth satin finish which is also durable. In fact it's so nice I wish I'd painted the inside with it now! Oh well. Maybe next time. Catches and corners are all antique brass finish. Can't wait to take it out fishing now.

Security breached!!!!

Ordered something from Amazon. They delivered while I was out, left a card saying 'shed'. Worrying that.
I walked to the bottom, yes the bottom of my garden past my hawks aviary, opened up the weighing shed. There it is. So the random, faceless Amazon delivery person has seen the hawk. Who knows how long they were in the garden for scoping things out. So refitted the side gate, fitted a massive anchor bolt with an eye on it and fitted a chain and a padlock until my planned new gate build in the better weather. Should have done it before. Hopefully we don't get a return visit by someone wanting a free hawk.
Please everyone take your birds security seriously as it's really worried me. I loves the little fella.

Yesterday I also did my mile plus check on my telemetry, found its wasn't recieving too well but that could be as the transmitter was in my car, parked behind the air traffic control and their systems probably interfering, but at 3/4 of a mile I got a signal. I reckon that's a reasonable advert for the device as there's lots of aerials on site, all doing things that probably cook you from the inside out!

Also, after I did the gate, I then cleaned down the aviary, disinfectant used, fitted plastic sheet behind the roost perch, put F10 on Chico's feet and fitted a feeding hole and cover over the food ledge. He then got fed up with the impending cold snap to build his reserves.

So, improvements this week...
Security...check.
Telemetry...check.
Food slot...check.
Plastic poo shield...check.
Toasted tea cake and a coffee...check.

Have a good week y'all.

Naughty boy!!

Some days, we just aren't on our A game. Today, is one of those days. Pulled Chico out of his aviarie and we went for a little wander. He was however, not interested. So, in the spirit of the self depreciating British man, I have posted the fails today, my mentor will not approve of him jumping from the floor for a tit bit, however, I think cheeky was starting to doubt there was anything there. Funnily enough he did start to behave however there is no footage to corroborate his story! Think of this as a bloopers reel!

Fire by friction and a sleepless night

Sometime ago, I met the team at fenland bushcraft on a father/son Snr/jnr introduction to bushcraft weekend. We had a great time and my boy has been asking periodically to go again.
Then a few weeks back Geoff Preen from Fenland Bushcraft and I were chatting online and he invited me to a mini moot or gathering that took place this weekend just gone. Obviously we went despite the boy having a cold and we made our best preparations which included the borrowing of my mate George's palatial fishing Bivi.

Not quite roughing it but I didn't notice any central heating either! It covered us and allowed my boy and I some private space which is sometimes good.

So on arrival I met Geoff and Sean, and Geoff's children who are also keen on the bushcrafting.

A fire bit was burning already in the camp away from the main tuition area which would be used later in the evening.

The boy and I settled in by opening the much anticipated ration packs, what does Mick Dundee say? "Tastes like s*** but you can live on it" My lad enjoyed it anyway.

Geoff had asked if I was interested in making fire by friction. I've been into bushcraft and survival for years, since I bought my first copy of lofty Wiseman's survival guide at the age of 16, however, I've never done friction fire lighting, and to get a chance of one on one tuition can't be passed up so away we went. No bow drills, which I have to say has always been a put off, so many parts and a fiddly (no pun intended) method are a bit intimidating to be honest. We were using the hand drill.  Geoff demonstrated and talked me through what he was doing and why. He of course got an ember. Then it was my turn. I hand drilled and hand drilled for 20 minutes probably, nothing but dust produced. A serious workout on the upper arms, just where the upper arm joint joins the shoulder. Something was burning and it wasn't the embers! We walked away for few minutes to have a breather and a drink, but I had produced smoke from my first effort so felt if I pushed on I'd get it. So back to it, and this time as I say in the video, less fannying around, and push on before you are too fatigued. We got an ember! What an awesome experience and something I'll treasure forever.

Video link is here, hopefully it should play...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10215397625963749&id=1529927933

Later that evening Sean cooked the most amazing chicken kebabs which went down a treat.

We then all played, kids and grown ups, camp fire stalker...what a laugh and everyone had a great time, but you will have to book a weekend with fenland bushcraft and ask to have a go, I'm not letting the cat out of the bag.
Speaking of cats, Vernon, and Vernon 2, the mice killing, sleeping bag wrangling, ration pack stealing gingers made themselves prominent figures in the camp the whole time.

My night has slipped into a haze of lack of sleep, I managed about 2 hours. Glad I opted for a tent with a boy who has a reputation of talking in his sleep and wandering around, he was kept confined, so a Bivi and beds may not be the most bushy option but for us it works. It was like having the child from the excorcist in there with me, minus the projectile vomitting and the power of Christ, he was up every 45 minutes, needing a wee, panicking because he'd spun round in the bag and it was covering his face, weird dreams about stacks of blankets, sitting bolt upright talking about random stuff. He needs his own tent next time!!! I finally drift off with the sun rising to sound of a full of beans boy saying good morning are you having a coffee??! I still needed a night cap!
Anyway, so, a guy called Joe had arrived the afternoon before, a knife making buff with shooting skills like dead eyed dick who I reckon could put a pellet up a gnats backside at fifty paces. He hadn't done fire by friction either, and was busy that morning getting it put away, and he and Geoff got an ember going and started the breakfast fire going so great stuff all round.

Then after breakfast, we had a chap called Derek arrive to do wood carving with us. Now this was a nice surprise, and I truly hope I go again and he's there. I sadly don't know enough about him to do him justice in this piece, but if he's not  or has never been a professional teacher then he's missed his vocation. What an amazing demonstration of what in essence could be viewed as quite simple. However, the knife and axe skills, knowledge of the subject, and pure skill was amazing. That's why in the pictures, as I said on the day, I must have looked like a dog being taught a card trick, this guy was spot on. He made tent pegs, I know simple right, but the depth of knowledge as to why each cut was made and why a certain shape was used was superior. Then onto spoons. However, this is where our story cuts short and I was gutted, Derek's demo was superb and I wish we could have stayed. However my boy, who already had a cold when we arrived was quickly going man down as can be seen in the photo so I had to cut it short and get him home.

He fell asleep in the truck on the way back. He hasn't done that for years.  What I can say, is what a fabulous weekend end we had, and new skills and new ideas were discussed. Hopefully we'll be going again, better equipped, and cold free! Please take the time to have a look at fenland bushcraft's homepage and the photos here.
Great guys.

https://www.fenlandbushcraft.co.uk/

Photos were a mixture of sources, so I'll name all, Rob Finch, Geoff Preen, Sean Callaghan, Joe Smalley. If anyone didn't take any pics on here, enjoy the free mention.

The Norfolk bushman on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/BewAgjgnNcZ/

Be sure to follow on Instagram for more pics

I like wabbits

Took the bird out for flight today, gave very little in the way of titbits on the glove, he was a little heavier than I normally fly him. He was keen to stay on the glove but did some long flights, however we may have a breakthrough looming. I have been trying to get him to stop screaming and hunt. I'm no expert at this falconry stuff but that's been a bit of a frustration recently. He's not really interested in chasing anything. Until today...creeping along the warrens a rabbit bolted along the mound in the hedgerow and down into a burrow. Chico made himself as tall as could be, stop screaming and watched intently for more movement.
He then flew into the tree that was above the Warren and watched and waited while I put on a great show of hunting round the Warren.  Now I know there was no chance of the rabbit coming back out, but this is how Harris hawks hunt in the wild, cooperatively with other hawks, and one will often go to a high perch and another will go on the ground and flush the prey.
So I did it really to egg him on a bit.
He seemed to get the idea but with nothing flushed gave up but everyone we went near a hole or a bank he was having a in depth look. And was much quieter.
We stopped for a fag break, he got the hump and sat in the grass. Then decided to go for wash in the only puddle in the field and pretty much finished us there and then.
I also noticed a leaky eye on his left side which I need to monitor in case it needs a visit to the vets.

Brown bomber catches some rays

If you don't like fishing and didnt read the fishing post but think Chico is gorgeous here's the very short video on its own...
The fishing was a bust but weather was great so came home and flew the bomber.

A blank..

After a slow start as I slept in till 7.15am, yes I know, but that is late for me, I decided I might wet a line. Fairly windless day it seemed so I thought I'd give float fishing a go on my new water.
I picked up a Mitchell 300a, a Shimano perfection 3500 and a centrepin. Rod wise I selected my Darent valley Specialist, lovely little Avon rod, it has a .75 test curve I believe, however is comparable to a modern version of a John Wilson Avon at 1.25 test curve but is a lot lighter and slimmer. A joy to use either with Leger or float. I also picked up my new Warwickshire Avon retro fishing rod from Roger Surgay's tackle exchange. Haven't used it yet so was hoping to put a bend in it today.
So I got to water and found several regulars in place with the pike rods all reporting fish picking baits up but dropping them with no fish on the bank yet, this was about 9.30am.
I selected a likely swim away from the others, set up two float rods, one using a waggler to probe the swim, another laying on.
An hour and a half passed and no luck, so walked further along and found a reedy bay. There seemed to be small silver fish activity so thought it was worth a punt so moved further down.

Plenty of room in this swim to fully practice the Nottingham cast, I changed the waggler to a perch bobber really just to up the weight to let me practice as I'm new to centrepins. I switched the other rod over to a cage feeder and fished 2mm pellets in it with various baits on the hook from jellets to pop up fake maggots. The float rod did nothing again. However, this strange yellow thing appeared in the sky over head, I believe it's called the sun locally, and the feeder rod burst into life with bangs and knocks as the fish were pounding on the feeder. Four hours of this and not one take or proper bite. Very frustrating. A visit by the chap who runs the site said the pikers had all but packed up with five fish on the bank for the days efforts, and carp showing.
I left with nothing at 2.30pm, it was so warm though so I don't know if this and air pressure have caused a lull. I also had a poor selection of bait in all honesty. Maggot is apparently king on this water for coarse fishing and I only had dead ones.
I went home and flew Chico for an hour instead! He enjoyed himself!

Chico's back on the block

I had to go abroad for a couple of days, but due to logistics and times etc young Chico found himself boarding at the brilliant phoenix bird of prey centre near Hingham for 11 days!!  Jo did a fabulous job of looking after him and it turns out is a little bit impressed with my cheeky little chap. Complimented me on his manners, behaviour and general level of training. My mentor would be pleased. She also got his weight down towards the end of his stay for him to be at flying weight when I got back, and I put him straight on it Saturday and again today once the rain stopped. Everywhere else is on the grip of jack frost and has three feet of snow, we just got more rain!  Anyway, flew today at a weight of 1.3.7 which is as low as he’s been in a while, he didn’t shut up telling me about it either! He screamed all the way round. When he wasn’t gripping on to the glove in the wind he was flying bloody well. Very happy. He’s deffo got it. However, not interested in hunting. So I have a rabbit carcass thawed out to try on a drag line again Wednesday so will update you then. For now, here’s a nice winter selfie we took. He’s the good looking one, I’m the one in the hat. Keep following for reviews on kit and equipment that’s both new and very old!

Restoration of a tackle box part 2

I've done some more fettling of the old wooden tackle box I got for Christmas as a new project.  The box has a two double float storage compartments, then a main tackle storage with an interesting lift out split shot compartment.

During the prep stage of the box it was rubbed down inside and out, next stage was to order some jewellery box style metal corners to protect the tired slightly damaged corners. Unfortunately...I've ordered them on eBay and didn't notice they were coming from China, so I am still waiting for my ship to come in in more ways than one!

I ordered new float box foam as the nearest tackle shop though well stocked didn't have any. They had wooden float boxes with foam but no spare foam. Just shows how much home building tackle is dying out.

The foam comes with a strip of double sided tape already attached. Now I'd stained the inside of the box and was worried the tape wouldn't stick, however it stuck like a good'n to the box but foam wouldn't stick to the tape. So I spread PVA wood glue along the tape and stuck the foam to it and this seems to have done the trick.  I've set each layer out for short floats, long floats short floats and then long floats. In the photo it shows a couple of floats in place just as an example.

Next section to tackle (!) was the small bits storage section. When I stripped the box down there was section of very thin, aged and brittle foam over the split shot storage. This was removed and replaced. I May do this again as it's not the neatest but will trial it before making a final decision.  This covers the lift out shot tray.  Now I'm making a slightly informed guess here as to what this tray is for. At first I thought it was storage for legers and bombs etc. This was what I was going to use it for. Still might. However I have seen the compartments labelled up on another example of an almost identical box for split shot. This would make sense if you didn't want lots of tins of shot in the box or couldn't fit a multi dispenser in there. My box did indeed have one of these rebates covered in lead dust that would indicate that it has been used for this. I'm not 100% convinced. I will see how it goes in use. I decided to leave the lift out tray blonde as opposed to the dark of the rest of the box as it visually popped well, but also I thought if storing small dark shots or swivels it would be harder to see them possibly. I'm happy I've done this. I think it looks lovely. This section I thought could do with extra lacquer, so once dried  thoroughly I sprayed clear varnish in all the compartments and over the lift out tray to protect it.

 Tray lifted out..

Next will be the outside. I've decided to do a rolling stone and paint it black. It already is black, it will most likely be a better finish, I don't want the box thick with paint that will take forever to cure and will snag and skin. So fresh black, new catches and brass corners is the next stage. The original hinges were fine and have been refitted.

Part 3 to follow. 

Looks a lot better than how it started.

Restoration of a tackle box

I picked up this wooden box off of eBay a few weeks ago for the other half to give to me for Xmas. I had only seen the photos which weren't brilliant and had found similar on Roger Surgay's tackle exchange so had a reasonable idea what the score was. I wanted a traditional wooden box that allowed safe storage of floats as well as other terminal tackle. This fit the bill with a double float box section as I enjoy what seems to be dying art of float fishing. I also liked the removable section originally designed for split shot, though I think it will most likely be used for legers or little bits like swivels and so forth.  Anyway, on inspection it was very sound, a little tired in places, particularly the corners.
So, plan, strip the box down, rub down, re-paint the outside, stain the inside. Add a new section of foam that seals the small split shot section, and insert new float foam in the float storage section. New catches if required, one is not catching but I think it's just it's position as it seems ok. Also would like some brass corners to reinforce the box.
The box is made by PREDATOR brand, no idea if it's a collector's item, my Google Fu hasn't turned anything up on it so time to customise to my liking without feeling like a villain.
I've stripped it down, no issues until the last hinge where two screws sheared inside the wood so will have to either move the hinges along or try and extract the broken parts.
A complete rub down of all the surfaces followed. Now, I was going to nitromors the outside but the stuff is very aggressive, stinky, messy and not always effective. I have elected for a rub down to key the surface, I would like to do the box in Burgundy or dark green, so I will update you in the next part how that goes. May have to go back to black yet.
Inside the box while rubbing down I found that every different grade, finish and quality of ply wood had been used in the construction. I was hoping to light stain it but on inspection I decided for a darker finish. The floats will certainly pop against that colour! The only piece I'm keeping light is the lift out section, I think it will contrast nicely and is made out of the nicest piece of ply in the whole box.
A first coat of dark wood sheen suitable for external woods has been painted on and went on mostly ok.
Letting it dry which is fairly quick with this stuff and I will then do the other side of the trays. Below are some pics up to this point.

William Lennon boot review

I’ve always been a fan of military footwear due to its robustness and no frills construction. In fact my go to boot for most of my activities is the US army jungle boot.  However, I did want to move away from big old army black boots and so a couple of years ago I started a search for a new boot.  The reason I like army boots, is the amount of options you have available in an UN-LINED boot. Now lining is fine and very comfortable and lots of variations exist such as unlined desert boots, lined desert boots, thermal boots, goretex lined boots etc. Years ago I had a pair of unlined German para boots and they were the toughest boot I’ve ever used, no matter what abuse they had, they remained water proof and odour free. With proper care an all leather boot can be kept water tight and the absence of the lining means no man made materials are absorbing sweaty foot odours!  I’d got myself some brasher boots and they still get used a lot being nice and light, they’ve never leaked, however, they smell. It’s the lining! So, criteria was simple, all leather construction, no lining, not in black. Well it turned into quite the quest, nobody makes them, I struggled for a long time to find anything that fit the bill, I was after something a bit like the old British army DMS boots but well built and not the card board leaky affair that afflicted our troops for so many years! After a lot of searching I found a company called William Lennon. They still make boots the old way, from a stone built factory by hand. I had to send an outline of my foot and discuss sizing with them. They then used a traditional last to model the boot I had chosen. It was an ankle boot with a stitched toe cap, in brown, unlined, and with a vibram sole. I did a lot of digging around for reviews and all were complimentary on the standards of construction.

They took about 8 weeks to arrive and when they did I was blown away. Sturdy, faultlessly constructed boots made of excellent leather. They are very much in the style of the hobnail army DMS boots.  Put them to work. They have trudged across fields, through woods, and have been cleaned up and worn around town. I’ve had them  for a year now, and I can report no leaks, no blisters, and no signs of significant wear! Now I haven’t set out to abuse them, I want them to put in some work yet. What I have found is the boots are quite generous in the last and a little slippage inside the boot is experienced, an extra pair of socks solves that. And the screws at the front of the sole scrape on the floor when an enthusiastic stride is employed. I’ve used an oil to treat initially. They are a robust boot with some weight, easily heavier than a high leg army boot, but fatigue is minimal and I have enjoyed using them so far. These are my go to winter field boot. I can say without a doubt I would order with confidence another pair from William Lennon.