When the temperature gauge in the car shows the flashing frost symbol then it is a good time to go out looking for Woodcock. These evenings are best when no moon is showing. At Abbotsbury Swannery the sky is so dark that the stars are spell binding. This evening was no exception. We set off for our first Woodcock of the winter. In the second field Luke's lamp found a Lapwing. With great stealth the Lapwing was netted and ringed. These are fabulous birds in the hand.
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| First year male lapwing |
In the third field the lamp picked up a Woodcock. The bird was perhaps a little too alert and despite Lukes careful approach it shot off just a fraction of a second before the net dropped down onto it. The bird flew off into the dark of the night. Next time it will leave with a ring on it!
Hopefully we will get a few more evenings in next week before the moon is 'wrong' again.
