woodcock

[windflower]

I see woodcock in the wood near my home in Herefordshire every winter but they disappear between spring and autumn, presumably to breed elsewhere. Where might they be going to breed?

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Windflower,the Woodcock you see in the woods could be migrants from Europe that we get in the winter.

[windflower]

Thanks

[Teal]

Hi Windflower,
Woodcock in the UK come mainly from Scandanavia and Russia via various European routes. Here in West Wales, we have had three woodcock rings (ringed here), returned from Russia in the last two years.

You may find woodcock are present during the summer. The best way of getting to see them is to watch the edge of a wood at dusk i.e about half an hour after sunset when they flight out to the fields to feed.

[posie]

They are on their way to the shooting for 'sport' places, where ,those that do get there have the very life BLASTED out of them,the lives of these beautiful,dear little creatures,SNUFFED OUT by the (mostly)men who feel the need to achieve,conquer,and get 'JOY'from destroying life, and who can only do this to helpless little birds.You can report this post if you like,I can't help it,I have to say it. Posie....madmad :

[david156]

Originally Posted by posie

They are on their way to the shooting for 'sport' places, where ,those that do get there have the very life BLASTED out of them,the lives of these beautiful,dear little creatures,SNUFFED OUT by the (mostly)men who feel the need to achieve,conquer,and get 'JOY'from destroying life, and who can only do this to helpless little birds.You can report this post if you like,I can't help it,I have to say it. Posie....madmad :

I agree!

[posie]

Thanks Dave, I suffer a lot about this issue 'cos THREE male members of my close family do it, and I find it difficult to accept that human beings with very close genetic pattern to mine, can feel joy and pleasure from snuffing out LIFE of dear little beautiful harmless creaturesstill mad

[pegasus]

On the subject of the woodcock one was found in Manchester City Centre this week.It was found sitting in the middle of a road looking a bit concussed and has been taken to a wildlife centre to recuperate before hopefully being released it the wild. I wonder how common it is for them to turn up in city centre?

[Picidae]

Posie, can't agree with you more! I know there's people that hunt on this forum but personally I find it abhorrent. Pulled out of a house buy once when I found it was next to a shooting estate in Scotland!

Woodcock Migration:

Whilst it is true there is a large influx of wintering Woodcock. Residential Woodcock also short distance 'migrate' from their breeding grounds (eg. the edges of mixed pine plantations) to more open locations in the winter months such as waterlogged meadows etc. for feeding purposes. In one of my local patches, Woodcock are only around during the breeding season and disappear from that location during the winter. When they are on the move, they can turn up anywhere!

[ChrisJB]

Roy Dennis's Highland wildlife website has some details of woodcock migration. Very interesting stuff.
And I can't really grumble about those who 'nail' the odd woodcock because I have eaten the odd one and as far as game goes, they are first class to eat.

Regards, Chris

[dunlin]

Ive witnessed woodcock roding at night in spring a couple of times and seen them when flushed from there daytime cover in my local woods. Ive never been lucky enough to see them stationary though only fleeting glimpses as theve taken to the air. I put it down to there fabulous plumage, helps them blend into the leaf litter so well.
regards mark..........

[daffy66]

Originally Posted by david156

I agree!

if theyre going to shoot something why not shoot with a camera that way they can shoot it again and again??????

[posie]

Well said Daffy, good point. someone said in earlier post,'the odd woodcock' or similar. well some people don't seem to know that it is MASS Slaughter, on one day's shoot HUNDREDS of beautiful birds are blasted out of the sky.Not that its any consolation, but at least with Woodcocks, they are not bred to be killed,(as far as I know), My late father-in-law used to rear pheasant from chicks, they came running towards him at feed times...''Here Chick-chick, here Chick-chick', until they were old enough to fly ,,,,,,and then GUESS WHAT, they were chased up into the sky by beaters so that He, PA-in-law, and all his 'friends' could enjoy themselves by blasting those beautiful birds,one of Nature's Wonders, out of the sky, snuffing out their precious little lives. That was Pa-in-law,Now I've got three of them doing it ,and I have to cope with it. NOT EASY. (Very Sad) Posie.