A dog freezes - a point - it’s my pup Bess. I glance right and Sadie is honoring the point. Stumbling forward, I notice a network of greywing tracks and scratchings in among the tussocks. “There are plenty birds.” Tim advances slowly/knowingly from below the wind (20-gauge, side-by-side AYA in hand). I stumble again and get a grip of myself. Beautifully unyielding pointing dogs, sky, mountain, guns = major adrenalin.
A black eagle surveys the magnificence. The wind sings silently.
Hearts are racing, sweat is pouring, guns are loaded. The dogs inch forward – and freeze. One can hear a pin drop – electricity in the air. We can feel them - the birds - in our bones. There is a feather. They are ever restrained, waiting, waiting, nervously waiting …
I take a step forward – now two strides from the dog. And before I can put my foot down – it all happens.
Roberts Birdsrocketing in all directions. It is ecstatic!
