Sounds like the perfect habitat for, and a typical description of a flushed 
American woodcock, a.k.a. timberdoodle.

I think they simply appear to be much larger when in flight, due to their 
relatively long wings.  During migration they are often seen this way, IF they 
get up.  They often do NOT flush, choosing to stay put rather than take 
flight.  When hunkered down in forest litter (old leaves), they are amazingly 
camoflaged and are easily overlooked even at a very close distance.  This 
behavior (shy and elusive) and flight is very unlike when they are doing a 
display flight.  One aspect that is shared by any game bird (grouse, quail, 
pheasant, turkey, etc.) is that when it initially flushes - there's an explosion of 
wing beat (I think it is intended to startle or confuse a potential predator), 
followed by a flight path that typically places structure (trees, brush, etc.) 
immediately between you and the bird as fast as possible.

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD