The seal of approval

Halloween this year coincided with a fine full moon, which must have multiplied the pleasure of trick-or-treating many times over. For east-coast fowlers, it was of less interest as an aid to telling bloodcurdling stories and more as an indicator of the first decent numbers of wigeon to arrive on our shores.

I sat out under the stars and heard several packs passing above me but the sky was a deep blue. Though I could see my own night-time shadow cast across the mud and on to the water, there was too little cloud to create the slight glow upon which moon flighting relies. I had to be satisfied with listening to the purring of the males and to imagine their long journeys.