My offensively toned alarm has been a regular 5am feature since early June, a month earlier than planned if the truth be known. With the ever-changing saga of bird flu, the build-up to today’s wake-up call has been the most stressful to date. No partridges, just pheasants — we’ve had to modify our plan. I’m grateful we have a plan; others have not been so lucky. Early starts have their benefits: brown hares, chortling grey partridges, swooping kites, bounding roe and the cacophony of farmland birds bring a smile to my face.
“Just pheasants this year — we’ve had to modify our plan”
This morning my first priority is not feed and water, but getting ready for the first day of the season. Radios charged and the ritual of hanging my kit up the night before done, there’s time for a quick shave and a shower before nipping to the yard to prepare for my beaters
