Hello everyone:

Lee and I ventured out last evening in hopes of woodcock displaying at 
Pickering Creek and were rewarded at about 7:15pm.  The birds congregated 
in the unmowed field between the ponds and the barn to the left of the 
driveway.  Their 'peenting' was very loud, but the aerial display sounds were 
masked by the many Canada geese flying in to roost.  A lovely bonus was a 
flock of tundra swans passing less than 50' overhead.  We could hear the rush 
of wind through their wings and quiet 'too-whoo' calls.  Many calling wood 
ducks also passed over in small flocks.  Other ducks on the pond included 
black duck, pintail, shoveller, green-winged teal, and mallard.  Cardinal, 
mockingbird, and mourning dove in the hedgerows; great horned owls in the 
woods.  Beware of the hordes of eastern cottontail rabbits on your way in.

Good birding -
Carol McCollough
St. Michaels and Marion Station
phalarope at dmv dot com