Cock Pheasant

A blustery showery day.  I had quite a few bits of "paper shuffling" resulting from my conference weekend, so staying inside did seem a quite good idea.  We did nip up the road to the farm shop and take a few shots while shopping but as they are always available I decided on this fine fellow.

He seems to be the male who is associating with the approximately 5 females that come into the garden.  It is hard to be sure how many but during winter there were generally about 5.  Pheasants have a short life the longest recorded (by ringing recoveries) is 2 years 1 month 1 day and that record dates from 1969.  This may not be typical however as Pheasants very closely studied due to the number bred in captivity and released.

They certainly add a welcome splash of colour and character to the countryside.