Novice

Now now Stevie your cynical side is showing

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/h/hobby/index.aspx Hopefully that link should work. Additionally there is a confirmed sighting of a Pallid Harrier in Ayrshire. This I believe is a first ever.

No that is fact with at least 50% of these guys.

yes and Jim Baxter taking the p*ss

Thay use it to trap your racers.

The club or federation you fly in does not matter. The words "west Coast" were used on the initial post. Lanarkshire is closer to the east coast.

Not by any stretch of the imagination could they be described as "west coast fliers". I would never decry their performances but they are 40 miles from the west coast

237 views and no reply now that says something. I don't know your criteria but John Murdoch of Greenock on present form is difficult to beat. Greenock is right on the coast.

I think you are talking about Maybole and sponsored by South Ayrshire council. I believe the project did not run last year. Brian Jamieson is involved and I think his user name is Pigeon chested. I have not seen him online for ages.

Physical characteristics can vary form one family to another. Best wait till they show signs on being sexually mature by displaying to each other. The cock is the one on top.

Numerous fanciers in Yorkshire beat them regularly

Very sad indeed. R.I.P. George.

Potentially a very interesting thread. Well posted.

Several SHU affiliated federations support the Ypres race. This race is less than 500 miles to most members and has been a one day race on both occasions I have competed. Is there a mechanism to encourage these federations to support the Gold Cup race rather than Ypres or is there a rule in place disallowing this. Such a course of action would boost the Gold cup race entries at the expense of Ypres. Note--there are only so many potential channel pigeons in Scotland so it looks like a roundabouts and swings situation to me.

neither train or race (particularly in the early part of the season) when the temperature is low or there is a high windchill factor. Many good birds can be lost or ruined for the remainder of the season by doing this.

I don't think you have bumble foot which is bacterial in nature and damages the toes. This is often seen on feral pigeons. Hopefully You just have birds with dirty toes and you will find a systen to suit your management to resolve this.

I think they are often offered for sale on Bird Trader.

My guess would be that Supermac was bred around 1985-86. I think Arthur Beardesmore called his family Terror Busschaerts so that might give you a starting point. Good pigeons which were in the hands of an accomplished fancier

Check your facts----how much oil that you stole the revenue from was found in English waters.

I remember handling a pigeon called Supermac but that wasn't yesterday.

It's also unlikely that Ayrshire will go west. East gives the coast such an advantage they will continue east

There is plenty wrong with the start date it is too early and too cold. I for one would not be entering a race with Ayrshire on the 14th meaning training even before that. No distance fancier worth his salt would contemplate racing in temperatures struggling to reach 10 degrees. Yes there will be losses either route

I think the program is sound and just needs a tweek here and there. I's a pity about the early start as a later one would have given Ayrshire the opportunity to join you and avoid mass drownings in the North sea. I also agree that French liberations should be on that line. The birds must benefit from flying over familiar territory

It looks well thought out to me. Good luck with it.

Ayrshire Federation Morpeth a mere 120 miles a disaster with approximately 50% losses. The problem racing from the east happens when all the federations are in the same area liberating in one small window. There are 7 days in a week we need to think about staggering our races over that week or even alternate days for North and South roaders.