Eye to eye with a Woodcock
Jonathan Swift wrote a book called "Polite Conversation" (1738) offering an ironic and satirical commentary on the perceived banality of conversation among the upper classes in early-18th century Great Britain. It is written in the form of a reference guide for those lacking in conversational skill. One of his anecdotes was: "The Woodcock strives to hide his long bill, and then thinks nobody sees him". I think he must have actually seen a Woodcock on its nest to be able to write this as they sit absolutely motionless if anything gets close. It was probably this tameness that gave them the reputation for being foolish, like the Dotterel (John Ray, 1678). The English surname "Woodcock" developed as a nickname from the bird, meaning 'a fool, simpleton or dupe', and the surname Woodcock was first recorded in 1273 (as Wodecok). Woodcocks were considered a delicacy, especially the legs and there is an old couplet:
If the Partridge had the Woodcock's thigh,
'Twould be the best bird that ever did fly.
Apparently it was the wings of the partridge that were considered the delicacy. Woodcocks were taken at dusk in nets stretched across woodland rides that were known as cockshoots or cockshuts. Cockshut time is an old expression for twilight. Finally, during the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth I, tobacco pipes were called Woodcocks' Heads from their likeness to the head and bill of a Woodcock. I found this pipe for sale carved like the head of a Woodcock: www.ebay.com/itm/144051438940
Woodcock is a bird that I rarely see well as they usually fly away before I have spotted them on the ground, and they mainly fly at dusk when you can't appreciate their beautiful plumage. So finding one on a nest was a rare treat for me. Its bill was well tucked away and it was really difficult to see. I returned a few days later and there were a few natural-looking eggshell fragments that looked like the eggs had hatched and the young had wandered away with their Mum.
Eye to eye with a Woodcock
Jonathan Swift wrote a book called "Polite Conversation" (1738) offering an ironic and satirical commentary on the perceived banality of conversation among the upper classes in early-18th century Great Britain. It is written in the form of a reference guide for those lacking in conversational skill. One of his anecdotes was: "The Woodcock strives to hide his long bill, and then thinks nobody sees him". I think he must have actually seen a Woodcock on its nest to be able to write this as they sit absolutely motionless if anything gets close. It was probably this tameness that gave them the reputation for being foolish, like the Dotterel (John Ray, 1678). The English surname "Woodcock" developed as a nickname from the bird, meaning 'a fool, simpleton or dupe', and the surname Woodcock was first recorded in 1273 (as Wodecok). Woodcocks were considered a delicacy, especially the legs and there is an old couplet:
If the Partridge had the Woodcock's thigh,
'Twould be the best bird that ever did fly.
Apparently it was the wings of the partridge that were considered the delicacy. Woodcocks were taken at dusk in nets stretched across woodland rides that were known as cockshoots or cockshuts. Cockshut time is an old expression for twilight. Finally, during the latter part of the reign of Elizabeth I, tobacco pipes were called Woodcocks' Heads from their likeness to the head and bill of a Woodcock. I found this pipe for sale carved like the head of a Woodcock: www.ebay.com/itm/144051438940
Woodcock is a bird that I rarely see well as they usually fly away before I have spotted them on the ground, and they mainly fly at dusk when you can't appreciate their beautiful plumage. So finding one on a nest was a rare treat for me. Its bill was well tucked away and it was really difficult to see. I returned a few days later and there were a few natural-looking eggshell fragments that looked like the eggs had hatched and the young had wandered away with their Mum.