Hi Folks,

Taking advantage of the "balmy" weather, Elaine and I did an early evening
walk at Southwest Area Park in Baltimore Co.  We hiked the south loop trail,
and flushed a WOODCOCK from the trail around 6:15 p.m., shortly after
hearing a male PHEASANT crowing off in the distance.  I followed the flushed
woodcock in my binoculars for the better part of minute as it flew away in a
wide sweeping arc, until I lost it in the evening gloom.  It was not a
display flight.  Shortly thereafter, we heard another bird peenting, and
that was the extent of the evening show, except for some noise from a
KILLDEER.

I talked to Charlie Kucera on the phone, and he had a similar experience at
UMBC this evening, seeing one woodcock do a "point A to point B" flight,
hearing one peent, and hearing the wing-whistle of one.  Usually there are
some pretty good displays at UMBC, if one is fortunate enough to pick the
right evening.  One thing that will make it more difficult than in years
past, though, is the presence of construction, right in the middle of the
primary display area.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie