Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

I ALWAYS look forward to teatime. A man's mug (none of your saucers), the last of the Christmas cake: the world can wait. But there's another ritual in winter too: the flight of the woodcock.

By The Newsroom

Published 6th Jan 2009, 11:45 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:12 BST

Again, everything is on hold for 10 minutes. The bird comes out of the wood 40 minutes after the sun sets.

Now it can't be the same bird year after year but the same flight path is used year after year.

Week by week the time is sooner a minute a day until the solstice, then it starts to get later a minute a day. By now it will appear at about ten past five.

It may come earlier if the sky is cloudy. If there is pale blue and a frosty, orange glow it may come a minute or two later. It is gone in an instant but it is wonderful to see.

It makes no sound. No squeak and grunt as it will on its roding flight in spring.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette January 7

West Sussex Gazette