I have nick-named Woodcock the 'Heart Attack Bird'. In my normal birding
haunts of Eastern New York I at times come across a whole bunch of the
birds. I can't see them because of the tall grass and they almost never
flush until I nearly step on them. Often I can feel wind from the bird's
wings as it flies off and this past spring I had one hit my boot as my foot
was coming down and the bird was coming up.

Will Raup
Albany, NY








>From: "Lawrence, Miriam" <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Vermont Birds <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [VTBIRD] rare close woodcock encounter
>Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:29:23 -0400
>
>While walking along the edge of our field around 6:30 yesterday evening, a
>large tan stone in the grass caught my eye. When I looked more closely, I
>saw the long bill, huge eyes, and gorgeous black patterning. The poor
>woodcock was terrified to be in full view of a two-legged predator, and I
>was a bit nervous myself because my German Shepherds were with me and only
>a
>few feet away, but luckily they didn't notice the bird -- until it suddenly
>bolted for the air in a flurry of wings and that high-pitched sound you
>usually only hear when they're doing their evening display.
>
>It was a stunning view from about 5 feet away in broad daylight -- not
>something you get to see every day!
>
>Miriam Lawrence
>Monkton

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