This odd bird shows up below the feeder late this afternoon. Happened to look out at the rain and there it was coming out of the thicket behind the feeder. Acting rather strange as though its injured. Continues to forage in the yard and we watched for several minutes. A little research and turns out to be an American woodcock. Turns out its 'walk" is normal as i watched a couple videos of it. Never have seen one before and wonder of it will be back. I love nature stuff.
I was on a bird forum earlier tonight and that little woodcock had a similar post...Although his post was titled odd looking human and he posted a picture of you!! Just Sayin'
That’s cool. I’ve never seen one walking around. They used to be in “the pasture” occasionally when I was a kid. The pasture is the area where my bridge is with all the maple trees that I don’t recognize as trees. They were tiny saplings back then Migratory,,,,,not sure if he’s here for the summer or just taking a break.
That is cool! Im not sure Ive ever seen on around these parts. What we do get a lot of at work, is Killdeer. They nest in open places: large parking lots, our graveled railyards. The eggs blend in with whatever ground they're on. One doesnt know theres a nest there till mother killdeer flops off the nest, dragging a wing and acting injured to draw predators away from the nest. We have to watch and not step on the nest though. .
Don't have those here, neat bird though. Last weekend when I was out at the wood pile, the crows were hanging out near the ground messing around with Maggie, so I took her inside and went to see what the crow's were so interested in. Sure as chit, one of the 2 new borns fell out of the nest. I figured to let nature take its course, the wife was having none of that. Seeing how we raise birds here and have all the gear for it, my loving wife decided to save it. Now I have a small crow schitting all over the laundry room. Going to let it get all its feathers in and then let him go, they follow me around when I mow the fields and catch all the mice here, so I don't mind them around. Plus they warn me of predators hanging around. We call him Jake. Brooks had a pet crow on Shawshank redemption named Jake.
For clarification, the bird is in a cage with a grass nest built by the wife. But what we didn't know about crows is that they go off the sides of the nest, and what a mess it can be. Nest is cleaner than the surrounding area.
Around here wood cocks are also called snipe’s. Look up snipe hunting some time for some great stories of rural mischief!
There used to be a season for them here as well. Not sure if it is still open or not. Hunted them growing up .
we have enough where I see and hear them almost every spring. if you can spot them on the ground, you could hunt them with a tennis racquet while on the wing Takes them a little bit to get off the ground and moving horizontal
wood cock / snipe, there is a season here for them- migratory. Fun to hunt if you are quick enough with a shotgun, like to use my 410 for these and doves.
Yes migratory. Fun hunting with a 410. I remember when they take flight they would fly straight up and then out , used to wait a couple seconds to shoot until they started flying straight and not to try and shoot as they were going up.