Strange apparition in a strange place!

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

As I was coming in from my evening hunt last weekend I noticed something strangely familiar in the left rut of the road just after dark. It was a Woodcock. As I got closer he/she flushed and sped off into the Western sky giving me a classic departing view of something I haven't seen in over 30 years. Now this may not be remarkable to some but it was the first I have ever seen in the South Texas Brush Country. I'd sure like for those little fellers to change their migratory pathway to over my place!

Alan

[ncboman]

How do you know it wasn't a snipe? <grin>

[dave-t.]

I've only seen 4 of them in my life, and every one was in tight growth in low laying areas. They sure have a unique take off. Even though I don't run across them very often, I was never in doubt about what they were.

[Sidekick]

I see one around here occasionally. I actually had one flush at the edge of my yard once. Wasn't real sure what it was at first. Pretty unusual for this area.

[ncboman]

I've killed several of them (woodcock), even one with my bow.

They usually start showing up here just after the season closes. lol

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Oh, I have shot (at) many a Timberdoodle and this was one. We used to find them in stands of hardwoods that had very soggy ground. During their migration we would stand behind levies and shoot them flying into the timber out of the marshes. That was the easiest shooting. Jumping them in the hardwoods was a true test of marksmanship (luck) with a shotgun. I especially like the way they taste(d), although, as I said I haven't had one in over 30 years.

We used to hunt snipe too. They are similar, but easier to shoot (still quite hard) and don's taste as good.

Alan

[ncboman]

They are really good eating.

[Rock Chuck]

They do winter in the eastern part of TX. However, there are a couple dozen species of snipe that look very similar.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/scol_mino_AllAm_map.gif
woodcock on left, Wilsons snipe on right (might be the same thing as a Common). I doubt I could tell them apart in a hurry.
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/MJH_071502_00208A_S.jpg http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/ISJ_070902_00207B_S.jpg

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

The woodcock I'm familiar with are about twice as big as a snipe (I believe the Wilson's is the Common. We always just called them snipe) and has a very distinctive flight pattern from snipe. When a Woodcock gets up and flys away from you they look like they have about twelve wings and that they have the ability to be in four different places at one time. Then they're gone. Snipe fly straight away and then go up. Also as I said, Woodcock are quite a bit larger than snipe, at least the ones I remember. Woodcock are about the size of a quail and snipe compare in size with a dove.

Your map indicates that we are right on the edge of the winter range. It is possible that with all the rain we have had lately that a stray was over checking out new territory.

Alan

[ncboman]

well, you know the difference. ... mainly in the way they fly.

Around here woodcock are slightly larger than quail if I remember right. Quail and snipe are about the same size but we have some big snipe.

Woodcock look like something prehistoric in flight. Snipe don't quite have that quality. As a boy, our bird dogs hated picking up a snipe but had no problem with woodcock. My dad would laugh and say, 'dog's got more sense than you do.'

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

I never hunted them with dogs, so we got to hunt them twice. Once when they flushed and you shot them (maybe) and then again when they were on the leaf covered ground. Best damn camo of any animal I ever saw (or didn't see). I've been looking right at them and couldn't see them.

Alan

[ncboman]

that's right. Unbelievable how they can be there but not be there, right out in the open.

The one I killed with my bow I had to keep 'finding him' to get sighted. Ultimately, his eye gave him away.

[Greywolf]

Them wood cock are my favorite bird to hunt, unfortunatly, they are most often long gone from here by the time season opens. Worms are their mainstay, and worms dont live in the frost thats on the ground at that time of year.
I have actually gotten a few that were never touched by the shot, merely knocked to the ground from the concushion of the shot (from the hip) because of such close qaurters. Alder thickets are the place here in the North East.

NC funny you mention how pre-historic they look in flight. They do have flaps on thier toes showing that they are evolving from water bird to land bird.
Another amazing thing abaout them is that they migrate mostly on foot, at night.
Nocturnal in nature, they are usually sleeping when you flush them.