Woodcock?

[User00047]

Loads here in mid Cornwall.
I have to shovel them out of the road to get off my driveway.

 

[levigsp]

There has been a lot here, they are now moving away south but still plenty about

 

[Dunwaters]

Theres a few about locally, I generally let them off but have no major hang up’s about shooting the odd one.
Theres one hard rule, it has to be pointed.

 

[Cyres]

Seen quite a few whilst out on nocturnal forays
D

 

[ryanb]

Loads in around Fife

 

[Beretta V]

Fed up putting them up on Saturday, actually had to shoot 1 in the end for the dogs! Good few about!

I would rather see them about than shoot them.
A wonderful bird that requires help by not shooting them.

Plenty of other birds to shoot.

If nothing else around I would rather go home not pulling the trigger

 

[guns 6br]

Out foxing 2 weeks ago we counted over 100 on one farm plenty of them in Wales lovely birds

 

[Andy seatrout]

Started with one or two residents, but now flushing about ten each time we go out (Powys) the Lady of the manor doesn’t want them shot, but if they are (accidentally or in the heat of the moment) they have to be presented to her to eat ….. we’ve shot one so far ( five days in)

 

[Deermanagement]

Stalk a wood in Dorset and they are jumping up all over the place. Shot in Carmarthenshire a month ago and there were good numbers about. Will be in the same area after Xmas and reports are of high numbers

 

[reiver]

We put about 40- 50 woodcock up yesterday on our little shoot . Only 2 shot though as they were mostly breaking back over the beaters .

 

[timbrayford]

One of my shooting chums shot a woodcock here on the Isle of Wight yesterday, another friend shot a teal which had been ringed in Finland.

 

[Smellydog]

Still not many on my patch, certainly not enough to inspire a shot or two.
Saw a few first light this morning which was nice.

 

[Moray]

I've not seen many so far.
How many are you seeing? Anyone?
@stavross @jall55

Had a massive influx around 10 days ago .
Seeing very large numbers . In one field counted over 30 with the thermal .
Easily 200 in one night .
This is on the moray coast . So would be the first place they hit land on there way in .
Not only woodcock very large numbers off continental pigeons in . Also waxwing redwing. Fieldfare. Bramblings and chaffinches.
So plenty off all birds moving in .

 

[Foxyboy43]

Seeing quite a few now in the sodden fields - this fella landed about 20 yards from me whilst I was out foxing.

 

[Puds]

There’s loads here now in Herefordshire. There was a dozen in one field when I was foxing last week (plus a now expired fox having a sniff at them), and I put up at least twice that when stalking a few days later. Plenty about when beating on the weekend too.

 

[Deermanagement]

Quickly googled UK winter population and firstly found 2002 - 2004 population at 1.4 million.
Same search for mallard found between 2012 & 2017 at 675,000

I help organise a shoot in West Waled where woodcock are the main quarry, and last season the numbers were higher than any other year when weather has been mild.

Out in a few days on a shoot in Camarthenshire and expecting to see a good number.

So woody woodcock is not so rare these days

 

[levigsp]

Somewhere I think there is a photo taken at my wedding of us signing the document with woodcock pin pens.
I think there are more visiting woodcock now then there were 30 years ago.
I see incredible numbers on my shooting ground in Caithness also in the new forest Suffolk and Lincolnshire.. i certainly will carry on hunting this special bird

 

[Smellydog]

Somewhere I think there is a photo taken at my wedding of us signing the document with woodcock pin pens.
I think there are more visiting woodcock now then there were 30 years ago.
I see incredible numbers on my shooting ground in Caithness also in the new forest Suffolk and Lincolnshire.. i certainly will carry on hunting this special bird

Aye when I get a good few I'll make a special effort out of it/ them.

 

[Nickb]

Will carry on as usual, plenty birds about

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Absolutely tons in yorkshire, but being close to Flamborough head we always get a large amount!