flippermaj Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 Shot by someone else today but picked by me. Never seen one this colour before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 there are a couple of working groups investigating woodcock....have been for 20 odd years...one of the things they have been doing is netting them and measuring the beak length....which has over the decades has shortened.......this they think is due to their habitat in scandinavia ...drying out.... i cant for my life think where i collected this info.....might have been a periodical ......do a bit of google hunting and you might find a address.... measure the beak leangth before you eat it (if you can) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted January 6 Report Share Posted January 6 Leucistic or ‘golden woodcock’. Some nice info about these in a GWCT article. Haven’t seen one personally, but great to see your pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 I’ve shot a few ‘short-billed’ woodcock over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRYAN3 Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 On 06/01/2024 at 22:11, Fellside said: Leucistic or ‘golden woodcock’. Some nice info about these in a GWCT article. Haven’t seen one personally, but great to see your pic. I think someone said a month or so back, only one known to exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 2 hours ago, BRYAN3 said: I think someone said a month or so back, only one known to exist. The ‘Woodcock Watch’ team reported capturing one in 2019. Certainly not common. Bet it tastes like any other….😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 (edited) I shot this lad Jan 2019,very light fawny plumage. You would be amazed the variation in plumage of woodcock, some very dark, some very light. Have shot several short billed lads also. Edited January 9 by Krico woodcock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 Example of a short bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 2 minutes ago, Krico woodcock said: Example of a short bill I’ve seen a lot of variation - but never one that pale (pic above) or a beak that short. Great woodcock season this year BTW. Hope you’re enjoying success also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 Brilliant season fellside Golden feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 One leg warrior Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 Golden leg ….?! Amazing. As for the one legged bird - you want you’re money back for that one….😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flippermaj Posted January 9 Author Report Share Posted January 9 Ditchy, got the head out of the bin, bill measured 72mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 7 hours ago, BRYAN3 said: I think someone said a month or so back, only one known to exist. That’s a shame, it’s dead now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 8 hours ago, BRYAN3 said: I think someone said a month or so back, only one known to exist. I'm afraid that would be impossible for anyone/ group to make that assumption/ observation.. there comes (migrates) so many woodcock here , not to mention England, Wales and Scotland. What any group or groups that studies them is only a dot in the galaxy of birds that arrive. I know lads that have shot woodcock with white tips on wings, white bars on wings, different variations.. but one thing is for sure, woodcock are a beautiful, mystical bird definitely one of the best birds god created.. I spend all my spare time in winter, in pursuit of the woodcock, only to take a break to shoot ducks.. working one or two of my springers on rough ground/terrain, and to hear that flitter, him being flushed out of heavy cover, and coming out jinking and diving, or maybe being flushed, no sound, you look and he's coming straight at like a needle, and in a flash cuts back over a tree or hedge. I could be hunting massive bogs, small birch/Sally ring bogs, pockets of cover on sides of mountains, forestry edges, mix of whins, briar, bracken with hazel, Sally, heavy ditches/hedges . You can find them anywhere, but you need good hunting dogs with lots of drive and stamina. And also the man carrying the gun needs to be fit and able to walk ( tramp)and shoot .. he's a test for man and dog. No matter how many birds you rise or shoot, when your at home, at work (ruination of shooting 😄) or plucking your birds,your plotting where next to hunt, for the woodcock is highly addictive sport. And anyone reading this that shoots woodcock like myself will understand when I say no other quarry will you put yourself through such hardship for.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 Well….. as a fellow woodcock addict, I couldn’t agree more. A truly enigmatic and mysterious quarry. Having to be constantly ready and reading the dog’s body language for a clue is all part of it. If you take your eye off the ball for a second - isn’t that just when they flush and the chance has gone before you even get the gun up. Marvellous challenge though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 48 minutes ago, Fellside said: Well….. as a fellow woodcock addict, I couldn’t agree more. A truly enigmatic and mysterious quarry. Having to be constantly ready and reading the dog’s body language for a clue is all part of it. If you take your eye off the ball for a second - isn’t that just when they flush and the chance has gone before you even get the gun up. Marvellous challenge though! 💯% fellside.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted January 9 Report Share Posted January 9 On 06/01/2024 at 21:48, ditchman said: there are a couple of working groups investigating woodcock....have been for 20 odd years...one of the things they have been doing is netting them and measuring the beak length....which has over the decades has shortened.......this they think is due to their habitat in scandinavia ...drying out.... i cant for my life think where i collected this info.....might have been a periodical ......do a bit of google hunting and you might find a address.... measure the beak leangth before you eat it (if you can) Makes a change, all of my bills are getting bigger 😢 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted January 10 Report Share Posted January 10 12 hours ago, moondoggy said: Makes a change, all of my bills are getting bigger 😢 Now where is the snare drum and cymbal................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krico woodcock Posted February 1 Report Share Posted February 1 (edited) Last one of the season. The weather was pretty rough, with driving wind and rain, for most of the day, but had a great day yesterday, to finish off to what has been a brilliant season for woodcock again. Another season over, where does the time go!. Next season won't be long coming around again, hopefully not with more anti's in power in government making up more laws to suit their own agenda.. hope you all had a enjoyable and successful season, what ever your quarry. Edited February 1 by Krico woodcock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted February 2 Report Share Posted February 2 Well done that man! I shot my last pair (not a L&R) about a week before the close and that was it - happy to give them a rest now. My thoughts are already turning towards next season though, and possibly a 28 bore…..?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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