I had the opportunity a few years ago to get some photos of a woodcock that paraded in front on me only a few feet away.  I interpreted what I saw that day as a warning or distraction display.  These photos are what I got.  The bird didn't seem to be bothered by my presence or activity at all except for this display.  It hung around for quite a while but only displayed like this when it got very close.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bugtrumpet/3718911415/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bugtrumpet/3718899465/in/dateposted-public/

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of inga schmidt
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2016 5:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] woodcock - geauga co.

I was pulling garlic mustard in the woods, when I saw a woodcock running along not far from me.  I never see woodcock unless I inadvertently flush them, and then they typically fly a short distance in sort of an arc, and drop down again.  This bird was sort of hunched up, and had it's wings lifted just a little bit away from the body. It kept moving pretty steadily, and then reversed direction and started going back again.  I could watch it moving on the ground for several minutes.  It took only one or two small hopping flights.  I'd sort of lost track of it behind the ground cover when I saw it fly  up and come down again.  Very close to the place where I had flushed one from it's nest a few years back.  So I started thinking that this could have been distraction display? 
though it is no where near as pronounced as say killdeer. 

Inga Schnidt
Chagrin River Road Geauga Co. at the Cuy. Co. koine

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