Re: Woodcock help?

andrew l rabin (andyrab@wam.umd.edu)
Fri, 3 Apr 1998 12:37:11 -0500 (EST)


  Gail, Rob and others,

   A few weeks ago, Jim Green led a walk for MOS and showed us all a good
place for woodcocks.  I have been to the same spot once since that walk
and had good luck seeing the birds.  It has been a couple of weeks since
my last visit, so I don't know if your luck will be as good as mine.  The
fields at Hughes Hollow (so I've heard) have woodcocks, but are also
theatres for large groups of loud frogs.  The frogs, if they are
performing, drown out the sounds the woodcocks make.  

Directions:

  Go on River road heading towards Hughes Hollow.  Instead
of making a left onto Hunting Quarter Rd, make a right onto Hughes Rd (I'm
pretty sure that's the name of it).  Almost immediately after you turn,
there will be a gate on your left.  There is room for a couple of cars to
park on the left side of the road in front of the gate.  Park there.  The
field in which woodcocks have been seen displaying is on the other side
of the street (Hughes Rd) opposite the gate/parking area.  We had the best
luck walking into the middle of that field and waiting.    Good Luck!

Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu

P.S. I assume it is not private property, but have absolutely no basis for
that assumption.  The only other people I've seen there are other birders.
Maybe someone else knows?