It's very interesting to have found woodcocks by the Metro.  I looked around 
the area on my lunch break this week but did not find any evidence of 
carcasses.  I looked carefully around one of the favorite Peregrine perches 
and in one other area where I have occasionally seen them perch, but found 
nothing.  That doesn't mean much - both places are likely to either have 
scavengers (birds or rodents) find any leftovers, or else have building 
maintenance people dispose of any undesirable body parts that mysteriously 
are left on their walk in front of their office buildings!

I can't imagine a great horned owl in this vicinity, but don't know how far they 
will wander in search of food during nesting season.  It is not far (~3 miles) 
from this area to Rock Creek Park (a suitable area for GH owls), and it's only 
about a mile from parts of Sligo Creek Park, so if GH owls do roam far in search 
of food for feeding their young, it is a possibility (it was simply passing by here 
on its way to a nest with food).

On the other hand, there are certainly Peregrines present here now but I don't 
know if Peregrines feed at night, and I'd be surprised if one happened to find a 
woodcock from a nearby woodcock-suitable habitat during the daytime (when 
woodcocks are inactive and nearly invisible).  During migration they might feed 
whenever they are hungry and which might be at night, but I'd be surprised if 
they feed at night or even at dusk during winter.  With the super-abundant 
food around here (an endless smorgasboard of pigeons, starlings and house 
sparrows), there would be no reason to feed during the periods of day (i.e., at 
night) when they should be conserving energy.

Either way it is quite a curiosity!

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD