yeahbut this doesn't explain their poor judgement (in my experience completely typical) that I observed on a walk at the weekend. One was so effectively hidden in the undergrowth alongside the woodland path that I hadn't seen it - it could have flown early, or remained hidden completely. So disguised, it waited patiently until I was at the closest point to its secure bolt hole, then exploded into the air with all the grace and effectiveness of an exploding alarm clock. I could have had it with a stick, let alone a gun!

btw, we are talking about the same boid, just in case this is another pond issue, are we?