Ever had a woodcock first thing in the morning.......?

Driving towards Amersham this morning....which was incredibly cold....I was lucky enough to see a woodcock fly low over the dual carriageway in the early morning light. They are amazing crepuscular birds....waders that breed in woodland and rely on their fantastic camouflage to avoid detection. My favourite place to see them is Thursley Common in Surrey on a nightjar stakeout when they can be seen 'roding' at dusk on summer nights, making strange squeaks and grunts. I have seen them in close-up at Titchwell when they stop off to rest in the little patch of woodland on migration or to overwinter. You almost have to step on them to flush them their markings are so good.......