Shooting Times & Country Magazine
FLOURISHING SUFFOLK GREYS
One of the bonuses of the long, hot and exceptionally dry summer this year has been a good breeding season for grey partridges here in the west Suffolk Brecks.
The best covey I have seen, in a field of barley stubble behind my garden, was one of 22 birds. I believe that this was a combination of two successful pairs that had joined forces. I have seen several other good coveys, though none as large as this.
I haven’t seen any barren pairs so far this autumn, as most seem to have bred successfully, even if they have only fledged two or three young. These are all wild birds. They are notably more successful than redlegs, which are scarce here as none are released locally.
Without ongoing releases, I’m sure that redlegs would soon become rare birds in this part of East Anglia, despite the fact that the local conditions should suit them.
John Lloyd,
Suffolk