I have been looking/listening for woodcocks a couple evenings per week at
my house for about a month now.  Until last week I had no luck, and was
beginning to wonder if they would show up this year.  But I think there
was a good flight last week.  On Tuesday eve (March 8) the nice weather
prompted me to check a nearby spot at Patuxent River Park (PG Co.) that is
consistently reliable to see if any migratory birds were present.  I
figured if they were absent from there in the second week of March it was
not a good sign.  As soon as I got out of the car I heard 2 birds calling
there, and then found 2 more calling and displaying about 200-250 yards
farther away.  I enjoyed the activity a few minutes, and decided to go
home in time to check there also.  Along the way I stopped at two other
good spots and found birds there also.  When I got home I was not
disappointed; there were 2 birds calling and displaying!  One was far and
one was close; the nearby one made a pass directly over me, and despite
the weak light I could easily see him as he passed about 25 feet from me.

I checked at our house briefly again when I pulled into the driveway on
Friday eve (March 11), and heard one woodcock calling.  The bird was only
making the noise that I call their nervous chatter, with no "peent"s.  It
occurred to me that I don't know what this chatter-call means.  It's hard
to describe, but it sounds like when you pucker your lips and make a
kissing noise, and it's not very loud.  I have heard red-bellied
woodpeckers make a similar chatter, and also gray squirrels.  It was not
making the "peent" call at all.  On Tuesday I heard 3 birds making this
nervous chatter also.  Does anyone know what the meaning of this call is?
Is it related to the courtship?  Is it the female?

Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD