Hi Everyone,

With the perfect weather yesterday evening, my wife Becky and I decided to attend the woodcock performance at Southwest Area Park. Shortly after the sun moved beyond the horizon, we heard our first peeants. We moved to the east end of the baseball field and stood quietly on the field edge so that displaying birds would be backlit by the setting sun. Repeatedly, we were able to watch the full display of the birds, flittering and twittering madly, reaching their shockingly high apex, and then zig-zagging down to earth. It was hard to decide if it was more enjoyable with binoculars or naked eye. I felt confident counting at least 11 AMERICAN WOODCOCK calling and displaying. As we departed, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT crowed behind us, a perfect end to the day.

The east end of the baseball diamond, looking west, is particularly ideal for getting views of the displays. Yesterday, using the sunset as backlighting, we repeatedly enjoyed our most complete views of full displays. 

Logistics reminder: Access the park from Georgia Ave, park in the light rail parking lot, and walk in. The gate will close before the displays end. Walk in to the T-intersection, turn left, and take your first right. Although Stan Arnold and I historically watch from between the two ponds or from the remote control airplane hill, I now nominate the east end (far end) of the baseball field as the ideal viewing area. 

Yesterday morning we had a migrant FOX SPARROW at our feeders near Fort Smallwood, as well as our first RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs (four drakes) on White Pond. 

Good birding!

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com