For the last few months my kids and I’ve been chasing pheasants along hedgerows and near the edges of fields and woodlands around us. Every day we’ve heard the distinct cry of a pheasant somewhere hidden in the undergrowth.
Up and down the edge of a field on many a wildlife spotter adventure we’ve tried to find the noisy local. Once one flew off before we could reach it as it made its raucous ko-kok call in flight with wings whirring.
We have seen them elsewhere – such as ambling along next to wild deer grazing in a field.
Often we’ve had near misses with our car when they’ve strolled unworriedly across back country roads. They’re not very smart my kids tell me each time.
But the one – or more – who live near our country garden have remained elusive.
Then all changed this week.
First of all we discovered a private pen with the rarer Reeves’s pheasant. This large bird with its distinctive white and black patterned face was first introduced from China as an ornamental species in the 19th century by the English naturalist John Reeves. It’s more subdued companion females were keeping it company in captivity.
My kids wanted to adopt it but I had to tell them it was not possible.
Then the next day we had a new visitor in our garden – a pheasant! In preparation for this weekend’s Big Garden Birdwatch, organised by the RSPB, we rebuilt a bird feeder platform and have been regularly feeding the wild birds in our garden. It’s the world’s largest wildlife survey that takes place the last weekend in January every year. There’s been a perfect assortment of treats by our feeder as pheasants like seeds, berries, grains and even insects.
So our efforts to attract wild birds have been more successful than planned. We’ve suddenly been ‘pheasant-ly surprised’ by the regular appearances of our noisy local pheasant pecking away at the scatterings under the birdfeeder. Four sightings in two days so far!
It’s the common ring-necked male with his distinctive colourings including green iridescent head, red wattlings and copper underparts. He kept thinking he was hidden from view despite his long tail sticking out from the shrub! No sightings though of his shy harem.
Pheasants are actually non-native wildlife although they’re now considered a quintessential British game and farmland bird. Although it’s debated who first brought them to Britain – most likely the Romans – they were a popular dish at feasts by the time Henry VIII was on the throne and replacing queens. The Field magazine highlights the plight of the pheasant served or aimed at throughout the centuries in this article here. Then by the 19th century this non native bird was being bred for sporting purposes. Now the exotic gamebird is part of the British landscape. Not surprising as millions are reared and released during the shooting season.
The pheasant in our garden would be relieved to know that the shooting open season will soon end! (The season lasts from October 1st to Febuary 1st in England, Wales and Scotland)
Hopefully the pheasant will strut back into our garden this weekend and be part of our report and count of wild birds during the Big Garden Birdwatch. Just have to stop my kids chasing after it like they did this past morning!
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Reeve’s Pheasant but what a beautiful bird 🙂
Grace says – Wow! You’ve been really lucky and Mummy always says that if I’m patient……… Goes to show it works. You’ve done so well to get all the photos too :0 #animaltales
I love pheasants and we do get a few around here – although nothing like as many as when I lived in the middle of several shooting estates in the Cotswolds! I love the Reeves pheasant, such wonderful markings.
Thank you so much for joining in with #AnimalTales and I look forward to reading more of your animal posts.
Such beautiful birds, you did well to get so close. Lovely pictures x #AnimalTales
That Reeves pheasant is a new one on me – beautiful plumage. We see pheasants a lot around here but no chance of them reaching our garden sadly
Wow they are lovely birds! The pattern. You are so lucky to have them in there with you! What beautiful creatures! #countrykids
Love this, so fabulous that the twins are getting up close with these beautiful birds. I actually said wow out loud (and I’m in a cafe!) when I scrolled to that first photo of the Reeves’s pheasant, beautiful!
You have done so well attracting them into your garden. I think they definitely like to hang out near deer, as we often have them in our deerfield. I love your photos and Interest your children take in the wildlife. Lets hope the pheasants thrive in the upcoming no shooting period!
I love the colours and patterns of pheasants but they really aren’t the cleverest birds are they?! I always think of Danny the Champion of the World when I see pheasants too. How lovely to have such a visitor to your garden and you got some beautiful photo’s too.
Lovely post! I remember the excitement of spotting my first Reeves pheasant! But actually, get the sun on them on a winter afternoon and the common ones are pretty spectacular with their colours too!
I’ve been enjoying looking round the blog! All the best.
I’ve always loved pheasants as they remind me of my favourite childhood book ‘Danny the Champion of the World’ by Roald Dahl. What beautiful photos you have and so nice to see the rarer breed up close. My boy is doing the bird watching with school on Monday – he is very excited to take in his new binoculars!