Innocents abroad

We came upon this enormous flock (?) of pheasants on the road along Loch Striven today - the ones in the photo are on the road, walking purposefully ahead of us as if we were herding them, while even more were just beginning to move away at our approach in the neighbouring field. They were all young - not a sign of adult plumage - and their khaki appearance and ultimate fate (they're bred for the shooting in these parts) made me think of young soldiers marching towards the Western Front.

I wanted to tell them to run away and keep running ...