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Subject:

Patterson Park woodcocks

From:

"CURSON, David"

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Wed, 27 Oct 2004 10:49:35 -0400

Dear Ospreyers, 
  
A quick walk through Patterson Park this morning showed that most of yesterday's migrants had moved on but some interesting newcomers have called in.  I flushed up not one but four woodcock in fairly rapid succession around the allotment garden plots. They had difficulty finding other cover to land in and kept getting flushed from the lawns before finding their way back to the gardens. After the one I saw last spring, and the one seen by Middleton Evans here also, it seems they may well be regular migrants at the park.  
  
If you're wondering what this very urban park could possibly offer woodcock try looking at an aerial photo of downtown Baltimore (1 mile east of the inner harbour) - the park is surrounded by the highest density urban environment for a couple of miles in all directions, so it standsout as a green oasis to any bird overhead needing a pitstop.  
  
Also seen: 
Cooper's Hawk   1 
Red-tailed Hawk   1 imm chasing squirrels with little success 
Northern Flicker    4 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker    2 
GC Kinglets          not ounted 
Chipping Sparrow   not counted 
Junco                      not counted  
  
  
Dave 
  
David Curson 
Director of Bird Conservation 
Audubon MD-DC 
Tel: (410) 558 2473