First Woodcock sighting this spring!

[Kenny Graft]

I was on a pay hunt for pheasants this past Sunday in central Ohio not far from were doc Parker lives in Canton Ohio. We had a solid point on the side of the walking path, I walked up and could not see a pheasant anyplace but the dog said it was on the end of her nose! I was puzzled to say the least....this 9 year old Gordon does not lie! Maybe its out in front of her???...very little cover for 10 yards or so, aint no bird here, just bare tree's and leaf litter? I bent over to duck under a limb, took one step and that little bird about knocked me over! What the heck was that....then I saw it as it fluttered off and set back down. They said it was a mild winter, the ground is thawed out and the bird should have lots to eat for now till it freezes up again. Hope the little feller makes it till April and spring really arrives. It was good to see it though, made me happy. SXS Ohio

[Gary Laudermilch]

They have been back here in northern PA for over a week now. Not at all unusual to see the first of the migration now.

[Rick Losey]

i hope they rest there for a while

the ground is frozen here in western NY

that should change in a week or so

right now- its just the thinnest layer of mud over the solid ground to get on paws and shoes to track back into the house

[Garry L Gordon]

Just returned from grouse hunting (maybe a better way to say this is that we were hunting for a place to hunt grouse) in Northeastern Kentucky and got up woodcock.

They are peenting now around our house here in Northern Missouri.

[Gary Laudermilch]

You would be surprised how resourceful they are. They will find a place to forage until the worms become available. Worms are not the only thing they eat.

[Jim Pasman]

81498We're not ready yet in New Hampshire, Kenny

[Dean Romig]

81498We're not ready yet in New Hampshire, Kenny

Eerie isn't it?..... looks like the beginning of another ice age.





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[Jim Pasman]

Eerie isn't it?..... looks like the beginning of another ice age.





.it does....but spring is right around the corner and the edge of that field is woodcock "honeymoon heaven" mid-April

[Garry L Gordon]

Last night might have been a record for peenting woodcock around the house. They were everywhere. I counted at least ten separate birds from my front yard. We are re-establishing a prairie area in the 5 acre field adjacent to our yard, and apparently it is just to their liking (at least three were using the field). It was quite the show for about 30 minutes last evening. Good to have the little guys back in Missouri! I hope to get the pup out this week for some "practice."

We have some birds that nest here in North Missouri, and we see them flighting during the later stages of summer. I've found nests and chicks as early as the 2nd week of March and well into late April during turkey season. We can hear peenting into May some years.

They are amazing creatures.

[James L. Martin]

Last Saturday, last day of Grouse season in N.Y. Catskills, hope no Woodcock showed up. Sorry about photo, even tried to edit no luck.