Made a late afternoon trip mainly to look for woodcock.  I had planned 
this jaunt earlier in the week and with the wind & cold I probably would 
have cancelled, but I had heard one in full display this morning a couple 
miles from the house.  Also checked the upper fields, main impoundements, 
and Sycamore Landing Rd..
     At 1930 I took my position at the intersection of River Rd and Sycamore 
Landing Rd.  While listening to White-throated Sparrows coming in to roost I 
saw and heard two woodcocks flying from their daytime roost to the display 
fields. Finally heard three birds displaying.  Then I moved on to three more 
stops (Hughes Rd., maintenance building entrance, and the upper parking 
lot). Heard 4 more woodcocks displaying.  Not good weather for a complete 
census , so I stopped surveying.
       Highlight of the day was 15 Eastern Phoebes, mainly at the 
impoundments,  which included a flock? of six.  With the cold weather they 
were attracted to the open water and presumably the few insects that were 
out.
       Ring-necked Ducks have decreased from 227 on March14 to 150 today. 
Other birds on note were 8 Hooded Mergansers, a calling Barred Owl, 6 
American Coots, and my first decent number of American Robins(75) this year.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA