Timberdoodles

It was 7o'clock and time to meet larry for the annual woodcock hike on Jsmith Prairie. The warm weather and some extra advertising had summoned a small mob to see the birds. Larry made his small talk about the birds and we proceeded onto the prairie. I noticed some clouds coming in from the west- dulling the sunset and diming sunlight. Those same small ducks flew over head as they had done last night. I asked larry what they were- "I dont know," he told me.."I didnt see them.... Probably ducks"- Thanks, Larry.

We got to the end of the gravel pathway that will soon lead to a viewing deck. Larry gave a last few comments about the displays of the male bog-sucker and the crowd hushed. For a long few minutes the only thing to hear was the shuffle of feet in the grass.

I took a single exposure this evening. Didnt come out too bad.

It wasnt long before the first "Peeent" of the evening was let out of the woods to the SW. It was faint and distant, but was followed my another confirming Peeent

A few minutes of the nasal call led to the whistle of the birds wings as it shot toward the moon. Its tiny silhouette circled the stars once and came down singing an almost song-bird like sound. The song was repeated faster and faster until it came to an abrupt stop.

A woodcock flew above us- out of nowhere and only a few feet above our heads. I couldnt believe its wingspan. I'd seen the birds before and remember having the same reaction every time.

I stood in the massive group for about 20 minutes. We listened and watched. Every person held motionless by the fear of spoiling the experience.

The sky grew very dark, though a hint of light stood in the west and the moon was bright enough to cast a shadow of anything that interrupted the rolling hills. Traffic and city lights were heard and seen as if we were in the middle of the city... can you imagine!?

A plane overwhelmed all other sound for only a few seconds. Larry shown the spotlight on a bird who came in for a landing about 80ft to our left.

The wind picked up rather quickly. With no warning at all we found our peace among the woodcocks blown away by a Strong gust of wind that lay the dead stalks of sunflowers and grasses in a more horizontal position. another drowned out all sounds and songs from the timberdoodles, the city and even the whispered conversation within the group.

Peent!

The bird was close and had caught larry's attention. Larry blinded the dead and burnt vegetation in an attempt to spot the bird on the gound. Those in the air were becoming very hard to see!

He waved his light back and forth over the bare-ish ground. Stopping now and then to confirm the presence or -lack there of- of the bird.

Peent!

with every call larry was driven crazy. He could not find the bird and his light began to move quickly and cover more land in desperation. His light stopped on a particular 10sqft of dirt and brush and stayed there for several second. He advanced a few steps and then a few more. Our mob followed and Many got the opportunity to see the relatively small, awkward-looking timberdoodle go about his business in between bushes. He did not seem to disturbed by the light and went about Peeent-ing.

Cant exactly show you this in a photo, and certainly cant do it justice with words, so Ive created a sketch of the birds flight. See it, put a night scape behind it and imaging his funny and beautiful sounds to experience what we did tonight. It is only the males that display this behavior and clear, calm, warmer nights from late feb to early April are the only time to see it! The birds inhabit the woodlands edge and are fairly common in the area .