Although (at 3 PM) it seemed rather late in the day, the weather was so
lovely that I decided to go out birding in the PVSP scrubland around my
farm. Even the high ground had small puddles and lots of mud-a number of
sparrows were foraging on/near the ground: I found many White-throats, Song
Sparrows, Towhees and a single American Tree and Fox Sparrow.

While bush-wacking through the briars (chasing after an uncooperative bird
that refused to stay still) I flushed two somewhat dumpy-looking
medium-sized brown birds. They flew only a short distance and made sharp
wing noises. I wondered if they might be American Woodcock, but I wasn't
certain, since I have never seen one. Over the next 45 minutes, I flushed
five more "dumpy brown birds". I decided to go home and return at dusk.

At 5 PM, I returned with my scope. At 5:30, I regretted not bringing a
folding chair instead. At 5:45 PM, I was getting cold sitting on the ground
and began to wonder if I had in fact seen any Woodcock at all. Or perhaps
the Woodcock were not in the mood: maybe they were also too cold. 
	
Around 6 PM, annoying little birds began to chip at me: White-throats, Song
Sparrows and Towhees. Then I heard a single "peet..peet". There REALLY was a
Woodcock out there.but he seemed to be all alone. No one answered his call.

 Within a few more minutes, I heard three or four individual birds
"peeting". I was a bit disappointed that none of them were displaying, but
decided to check another section of scrubland closer to the house. There I
could hear four more birds calling from the nearby brush. Suddenly, a
Woodcock flew high over the back deck. They seemed to be everywhere!

By 6:30 PM all the "peeting" had stopped. I look forward to another
encounter.

Felicia Lovelett
Sykesville, MD