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Subject:

Woodcock Parties at SWAP

From:

saundra byrd

Reply-To:

saundra byrd

Date:

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 09:08:20 -0700

Hi All, 

After checking for nests around the Elkridge area yesterday morning with Brian Sykes i picked up mom for lunch and birding for  the rest of the day . We started at the Cedar hill cemetary in Brooklyn park as ive been checking there for WW Crossbills ( none here ) . Ive also been hoping to get a photo of a bird on top of a gravestone which i was lucky enough to finally get . Im calling it a juvenile RedShouldered Hawk after looking at the field guide even though i wanted to call it Coopers because i believe it to be long and slender not short and stubby . guess the rule does not always apply . or maybe im wrong . Heres link to photo 
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3340744981_574bf09bd3_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3559/3341535172_6c77dcd3fb_b.jpg

After dinner at the Stoney Creek Inn we hurried to Southwest Area park for another try for the Woodcock show . Weve  tried at least  10 times at  UMBC , SWAP , and Race road since the 2007 season. So not knowing all this other news of the weekend Woodcocks  we went straight to the boat ramp and i walked up the hill to the open area between 7-730 . The only thing i seen fluttering up there was the Bat that was trying to take my head off . I hurried back to the car with my jacket over my head hoping  to get out before being locked in .After leaving the parking area we heard some noises so i stopped and turned off the car . PEEEEEEENNNTTT    !!!!!! We got to watch the mating ritual and listen to PEENTS for about 15 minutes then while doing a drive thru of the ballfield and shining my bright lights all around i disturbed a guy standing there all alone which I think  made him decide to leave . We sat there for a minute while my mother was saying hear that ,
 hear that , at which i couldnt hear that so we headed out to the closed gate. After letting myself out the guy caught up to us so i asked him if he was looking at Woodcock and he said yes he was part of the group who had already left. So there were actually 2 Woodcocks parties going on . !!!!!!!! Great Day !!!!

Saundra Byrd 

baltimore