Pigeons at their finest

To put a finger on why the woodpigeon is such an arresting quarry is a difficult thing. But stand in a busy roosting wood on a blustery evening as squadrons of the birds plunge their way towards a swaying canopy and you’ll soon get the gist. It’s a paradox that a creature of habit can be so unpredictable. Yet that tendency to keep us on our toes makes the bird special.

I grew up shooting pigeons, so nostalgia and familiarity no doubt have something to do with the bird’s lofty ranking in my mind. But there is surely no more exhilarating thing to do with a shotgun between your hands than stand beneath the boughs for a lively few hours of roosting.

“Footwork is key; roosting is