Another first today...

[pupdaddy]

Took Jarvis on his normal walk and whilst he was sniffling around in the hedge, he flushed his first pheasant! Gave me a hell of a shock and he obviously had a huge adrenalin rush as he couldn't stop yapping excitedly (this is a dog who very rarely barks). He dashed straight back in to try and find another one...

Took about an hour to calm down afterwards!! 

[Cazzie]

I hope it wasnt a hen pheasant they are rearing young 

[pupdaddy]

It was in the grass at the side of a field - as far as I know, it was a cock pheasant. I don't think Jarvis can tell the difference

[Cazzie]

It was in the grass at the side of a field - as far as I know, it was a cock pheasant. I don't think Jarvis can tell the difference

My dogs are kept away from places that have nesting birds at this time of the year or are kept on a lead, hen pheasants have a hard job raising their young and are not good mothers, once spooked there is a high chance they wont come back to their nest or young.
There are also many other ground nesting birds out there too doing the same. 

[pupdaddy]

It looked like this:



Not like this:



I'm satisfied that it was a cock pheasant. It was so close to the field anyway that had the dog been on a lead or behind me, either of us would've scared it anyway.