Work on the pine strip has ground to a halt over the past ten days after I disturbed a pair of woodcock who seem to be thinking of nesting there. I had been in the process of brashing a path directly through the centre of the long narrow pine wood, clearing patches here and there Continue reading

Clearing a ride through the woodcock strip, I reached a wet area of ground. The pine trees were planted on raised furrows, and the area between the high mounds is flooded for a twenty yard long section in the middle of the wood. Not wanting to waste an opportunity to encourage wading birds, I began Continue reading

The more I brash in the pine strip, the more satisfied I am that what I am doing is right. I don’t really know much about woodcock behaviour or diet and my attempt to clear a path through the strip was more basic common sense than a genuine attempt to improve habitat. As I have Continue reading

I should not be allowed near a chainsaw. I am a fully certified chainsaw operator and tree feller, but the thrill of working the deafening saw sends me into a crazy frenzy which, I am quite sure, will ultimately be my downfall. The decision was recently taken to cut a path through the six hundred Continue reading

There was snow on the Chayne for three weeks. The first dump was soft and powdery, but then it froze and melted alternately with added dashes of hail, sleet and rain which made the entire hill into a frozen desert. The full moon was coming in and we were determined to try the woodcock while Continue reading