I received a number of emails on the location of the American Woodcock I've recently spotted at Soldier's Delight NEA (last on 3/6)-- including a couple who were unable to relocate the birds. I reliably find Woodcock each year in the exact same location, though I'll admit in past years, there are nights I've gone and not found them. I figured I'd post the information for anyone else who might be interested.

There is a parking lot on Deer Park Road at the "overlook". The woodcock have been on the Serpentine Trail (or white blazes trail), which is on the same side of Deer Park as the parking lot. The trail forms a loop-- the shortest path to the woodcock location is to take the trail entrance on the right side of the lot (when facing the overlook). After about 10-15 minutes walk, there's a large grass field. About midway across the field, there's a white metal sign marked as "1". A little further, there's another sign marked "14". If you reach the stream, you've gone too far! The woodcock tend to be around the #14 sign, but can occur between the #1 and #14 signs. 

I've had woodcock at the #14 sign location every year for the past three years this time of year. The field is sloped here and approaches the stream, and there are some scattered scrub, tree, and brush here, providing a mixture of opening and cover-- and probably slightly more moisture-- then other portions of the field. The habitat might be better at this end. I've rarely found them in the vast open field where prescribed burns have taken place over the past couple of the years.

I hope this helps! Happy birding!

dcs

David C. Smith
Owings Mills, MD