Pheasant

Dinner's plopping away in the oven. We're having pheasant for a change. This area seems to abound in these birds. Singularly silly birds in my mind. They casually stroll along in the middle of the road, regardless of oncoming traffic. I suppose staying on the ground is a good defence against being shot, but not much use if you're going to be run over instead!

They're also really beautiful, in particular the cocks, with their long tail feathers. Considered so desirable for hats at one time! Some varieties come in exotic colours, though those you find here tend to be of more subdued hue.

Pheasants really entered our consciousness when we first moved into this area as newlyweds in the mid 1970s. Our first marital home was a cottage on the edge of the Leighton Moss bird reserve. We were bemused to discover in the winter months, numerous people parked outside our cottage, got out with shotguns & disappeared into the woods. Next thing you'd hear the sound of shooting. In a bird reserve of all places!

At that time the original landowner retained the right to shoot on that land. I don't know whether the family still does. The person who moved into the cottage next to us was the gamekeeper when he retired, and his wife. A nice couple.

Since then we've discovered how delicious they can be to eat. I decided the time had come for a break from fish so I thought I'd tackle the next thing on the freezer contents lists. It turned out to be pheasant. Tomorrow we'll probably return to finish off that tin of tuna from yesterday.