I just saw my first live Woodcock today, and wouldn't you know it I'de left the camera at home!
It was at my Mom's house, and she was on her front porch when I got there making the universal "SHHHSS" symbol, so I exited the vehicle slowly, and approached cautiously, throwing my gaze toward the direction she was staring in.
I stayed quiet and she motioned me to come in the house, and when we were safely inside, I asked what it was, and was totally excited when she said there was a Woodcock in the front yard under one of the trees.
We went to the living room, and had a great line of sight to it only 30 feet away! I watched it intently through her binos while she explained that it had been there for two hours.
How odd, as they are known to be around, but I have only ever seen a carcass of one, and that was only distinguishable by it's bill.
To see one for real was a real treat!
It was sticking it's bill ino the ground, obviously foraging for grubs or the like, and then it would preen it's feathers on it's breast, even removing a few and discarding them on the ground. I hope to retrieve a few in the morning.
My Mom told me that she had had Ruffed Grouse in the yard earlier in the day, and though she actively feeds the birds year round, even though you are not supposed to in the summer, due to Black Bear, it was still out of sorts, but she said her neighbor had yesterday been expanding his yard with a bunch of chainsaw activity, so he must have disturbed their nesting grounds.
The Woodcock appeared to be perfectly healthy and was still there when I came back an hour later, and when I left.
I spoke to her at around 8:30 on the phone when it started raining and got dark, and she said it had been there as the light faded til' you could not see it.
What an awkward looking bird, and I feel bad for it that it likely showed up due to it's habitat being disturbed, but atleast know I have had the privilege of watching one.
I'm going back tomorrow at 6:30-7:00ish, and bringing the camera in case it is still in the area.
It seemed rather unafraid of me or my Mom, or even my Dog as I walked her to the vehicle, as my Mom had been Dog sitting for me.
Oh, and here's my best bird pic' I've ever gotten.