The weather forecast for midday had predicted light winds and much warmer, sunny weather. Far from ideal conditions for pigeon shooting. Flies are an absolute pest around the slain; one cannot keep dead birds set out in the direct sun for any length of time without the very real risk of having them turn green on their backs — sufficient to make them unsaleable. Furthermore in calm, sultry weather, with a lack of any cooling sea breeze, the birds do not flight well and frequently reserve their main feeding activity to the late afternoon and evening.
By 10.45am, when
