redhotchick Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Hi, has anyone seen the Dalmatian Pelican recently sighted in the UK? http://www.cbwps.org.uk/cbwpsword/sightings/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Not personally but I know it was within about 100 yards of me at work on the River Camel near Padstow in Cornwall 2 weeks ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I had visions of a spotted pelican... I had to goolgle it... why on earth is it called dalmation in English! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1merlin Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Yes, it was on the Taw estuary in north Devon until a couple of days ago. My other half was trying to photograph it and did manage to a couple of shots but it was early morning and the light wasn't good. It seems to have moved on now and hasn't been seen for a couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 That sounds amazing. Is it very big? The description said it's massive. The closest I get to pelicans are the ones in St James' Park. They're big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 It's huge. My colleagues who saw it said it dwarfed Canadian geese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 (edited) Blimey! Have only ever seen them in Africa, and those were big enough! I was at OH's this weekend; he lives on a river - we saw the last of the geese leave the wetlands opposite, and sat in the sun yesterday watching a kingfisher flashing down off a branch to catch something or other. Real treat! On a slightly different note; I have baited a few crayfish traps as the shallows are inundated with them (those big foreign ones) - does anyone know if it's correct that we need to keep them in fresh, clean water for a couple of days to flush all the grit and mud out of them? Edited October 23, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 On a slightly different note; I have baited a few crayfish traps as the shallows are inundated with them (those big foreign ones) - does anyone know if it's correct that we need to keep them in fresh, clean water for a couple of days to flush all the grit and mud out of them? Hi, I just Googled this. Hope you got your answer sooner than this reply! Crayfish need air and should not be left too long in water to purge, although advice does differ. I went to a crayfish boil earlier this year. It was great! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8734885/Catch-and-eat-crayfish-to-help-the-environment.html http://foragedfoods.co.uk/how-to-catch-signal-crayfish/ http://m.wikihow.com/Purge-Crawfish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Thanks, will check that out. 4 in the trap this morning, so they are in a trug with a little water to flush them out. I can see that, as with all things wildlife, this is going ot be left to me to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 Catch and eat as many as you can and don't be tempted to put any back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 don't worry, I shan't!!! Will have to keep them under wraps next weekend though - OH has a vegan cousin staying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Oh well, best laid plans...dunno quite how he managed it, but they all got out of the trug and OH had to fess up to me Still, caught 6 in half an hour this afternoon, despatched them, pulled out the alimentary canal and froze them. There's not much meat on them, but when we get a few in the freezer, we'll look at cooking them. They are ferocious - lunging and rearing at anything, and grabbing onto my gardening gloves very tightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 They are ferocious - lunging and rearing at anything, and grabbing onto my gardening gloves very tightly. It sounds like they deserve to be eaten. I hope they taste nice once you have enough to cook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 they all got out of the trug Wiley, sneaky, beasts - no wonder they're doing so well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I have a feeling that it was negligence on behalf of his lordship, rather than their cunning; I had left them in his care and with strict instructions, but he left them outside and I think a fox or something might have tried to get them out of the trug. I've decided not to purge them but to despatch them and draw out their digestive tract so that they are processed on the day of catch, and not left for him to look after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
