bell 3,598 Posted November 21, 2019 Report Share Posted November 21, 2019 I’m up the west coast at 2am to catch a ferry to a place where we usually manage a few.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,598 Posted November 25, 2019 Report Share Posted November 25, 2019 Had two days up on the west coast chasing woodcock. Some good numbers about and between three of us we managed to bag twenty, a record for us. That was split between walked up in the day and a couple of evenings flighting them. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted November 27, 2019 Report Share Posted November 27, 2019 On 25/11/2019 at 16:43, bell said: Had two days up on the west coast chasing woodcock. Some good numbers about and between three of us we managed to bag twenty, a record for us. That was split between walked up in the day and a couple of evenings flighting them. fantastic stuff mate. Do you think it's going to be a good year for them? I got out early doors this morning for a much needed mooch about (gunless) in the forest and the cocker flushed the first I've seen this year. Magical birds! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,598 Posted November 27, 2019 Report Share Posted November 27, 2019 35 minutes ago, Born Hunter said: fantastic stuff mate. Do you think it's going to be a good year for them? I got out early doors this morning for a much needed mooch about (gunless) in the forest and the cocker flushed the first I've seen this year. Magical birds! Seems to be good numbers about but there was last year at this time and then they disappeared in January when we had another few days at them. The lads in Ireland are reporting good numbers. Ive kept all the wings and when i get a chance will check them to see if adult or juvenile, should get an idea if it was descent breeding season for them........like you say magical birds ! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sausagedog 7,381 Posted December 1, 2019 Report Share Posted December 1, 2019 Looks like it was cold for you! Seen more this weekend thank goodness. Evening flights are the best for excitement I think. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,598 Posted December 1, 2019 Report Share Posted December 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Sausagedog said: Looks like it was cold for you! Seen more this weekend thank goodness. Evening flights are the best for excitement I think. Yes, my mate knocked down 5 on one flight....good sport... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwed 16 Posted December 15, 2019 Report Share Posted December 15, 2019 Lads when woodcock stop off in Ireland and UK in migration do the same birds stop off every year or different birds each time? I mean do birds repeat visit year on year or is it random? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sausagedog 7,381 Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 18 hours ago, jwed said: Lads when woodcock stop off in Ireland and UK in migration do the same birds stop off every year or different birds each time? I mean do birds repeat visit year on year or is it random? There was a study done and I think some did revisit the same area but I don't truly remember. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bell 3,598 Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 19 hours ago, jwed said: Lads when woodcock stop off in Ireland and UK in migration do the same birds stop off every year or different birds each time? I mean do birds repeat visit year on year or is it random? Yes mate , a lot of the birds are true to the same patch year on year, the same bush or base of a tree believe it or not. Some of the ringing lads recapture the same birds year after year on the same field.......have a look at the ‘woodcock network’ on Fb.......interesting.... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jwed 16 Posted December 16, 2019 Report Share Posted December 16, 2019 That’s great, thanks for that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Born Hunter 17,763 Posted December 17, 2019 Report Share Posted December 17, 2019 Got out for my first ever woodcock flight this past week, again this morning. Just walking the dogs in the forest local, no gun. Pretty awesome just to watch them tbh. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jukel123 7,957 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 If anybody could catch them on film carrying their young (which they are supposed to do) I would love to see it. They always strike me as kind of weird, supernatural birds ( their drumming is something else) but whether they would have the knowhow to carry their young away from danger I would personally doubt. Has anybody on here witnessed it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sausagedog 7,381 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 1 hour ago, jukel123 said: If anybody could catch them on film carrying their young (which they are supposed to do) I would love to see it. They always strike me as kind of weird, supernatural birds ( their drumming is something else) but whether they would have the knowhow to carry their young away from danger I would personally doubt. Has anybody on here witnessed it? An old keeper friend of mine witnessed it and I would never doubt his word on it. He even showed me where it happened. Once I was waiting for a fox in heavy snow fall. I was stood next to a stream in a wood. As the snow got heavy the woodcock started to arrive and waid in the stream. I was only a few yards away and watched their inter actions with each other, a mix of mild aggression and courtship. A magical moment. The fox turned up and the following gun shot shattered the show for me. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jukel123 7,957 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I wonder if a wildlife film crew has ever tried to engineer a situation where the bird carries its young? I've read that fire will make them carry their chicks to safety. Ethical problems in artificially creating danger would be a problem, but ethics don't usually stop wildlife film crews. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shovel leaner 7,650 Posted January 7, 2020 Report Share Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) Had a good day Woodcock shooting in Cheshire on 16th December. Six of us turned up for a days walked up shooting over spaniels and a pointer . Great dog work and plenty of woodcock. We ended the day on 35 woodcock and 15 pheasant. They taste great too . Edited January 7, 2020 by shovel leaner 5 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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