WOODCOCK SHOOTING 
in Islay than formerly, and, in my opinion, there are more birds about 
than there were fifteen or twenty years ago. We have never marked any 
young woodcock, so I cannot say for certain whether the birds bred there 
are those that we shot. My keepers always say that our home-bred birds 
leave in July. With regard to the bags, I have generally shot the coverts 
with four guns and the glens with two. The best show of woodcock I have 
ever seen on the island was in January, 1909, when we killed an average 
of fifty-seven ’cock per day for five days. 
“Bags for the last twelve years: 
Year 
Birds Killed Remarks 
Year 
Birds Killed Remarks 
1900 
. . 281 
1906 . 
. 545 Best day 60 cock 
1901 
. . 376 
1907 . 
. 224 
1902 
. . 319 
1908 . 
. 348 
1903 
. . 331 
1909 . 
. 520 3 days of 60 cock 
1904 
. . 440 
1910 . 
. 242 
1905 
. . 369 
1911 . 
. 230 
“ For comparison with former years, woodcock shot round Ardenserney 
Cottage by P. Mackenzie, keeper to the late Mr Campbell, of Islay. This 
is on the other half of the island: 
Year 
Birds Killed 
Remarks 
Year 
Birds Killed Remarks 
1848 
. . 512 
1852 
. . 481 
1849 
. . 485 
1853 
437*} season ! 
1851 
. . 392 
“ Nests have been found in Islay as early as March 10, and as late as 
July. Breeding increases yearly. We find that an extra dry season affects 
woodcock and snipe just as frost would do, as it sends the worms down, 
and there is a scarcity of food. 
“ Date of arrival of the foreigners, about October 20. They come with 
a full moon, and whilst the moon lasts. They are tamer when they first 
arrive. 
“ Mackenzie, the head keeper, shot a pied woodcock in 1897. This is 
the only one he has ever seen or heard of. The breast, wings, and back 
of wings were pied. It was shot in Sorn Glen. 
“ In open weather they feed at night; but in severe frosty weather they 
feed during the day. 
“ In 1895, during very severe frosty weather, the first birds to suffer 
were the curlews ; they were nearly exterminated. 
* Same year, killed by Mr Campbell, of Islay, and his friends, 
LL 
257 
