For the next three weeks, Monday Moments will be brought to you from the BBC Springwatch presenters. To kick things off, here are some words from Chris Packham about one of his favourite birds, the woodcock.
It's all about the anticipation. Is it dusk enough? Are you in exactly the right place? Will it follow the same route? Will it come at all?
The blackbirds are clacking, a few crows slip silently across the deepening blue, and then... a distant cry of an owl. Surely that means it's too late, it's not going to come, you've just been feeding the midges.
So you start to shuffle, think about sending a text, say to yourself that you'll give it another five minutes. The woods grow inky, the colours fade, a bat spins past in a manic flash.
The it comes - its weird call - you twist and turn just in time to see its silhouette flicking between the tangled twigs and out over the ride. And in five seconds it's gone. And you feel a surge of joy. And then walk home.
Chris Packham
Great stuff!
WFA
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