About two years ago I was thrilled to see my first American woodcock at Glacier Ridge Metro Park near Columbus. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bugtrumpet/3718911415/in/set-72157623937316177/ My first thought was that this bird looked like the old drawings of birds that, when I first saw the drawings brought the word "absurd" to mind. I thought the drawings more reflected an approach to drawing/painting in the 19th century than to reality. I have since come to realize that they are well adapted to their environment and are fascinating birds. I have never seen the courtship display and would love to see it. I have not seen the woodcocks again a Glacier Ridge though. Can someone suggest an area around Central Ohio where there is a good chance to see these birds? Thanks Tim Hutson [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MikeSmith Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 11:11 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Timberdoodles-Lorain Co. Charlemont Reservation, Lorain County Tues. 8 March 2011 5:30pm - 7:00pm 40's, cloudy/overcast, calm I went out to Charlemont this evening hoping to see my first woodcock of the year. When I got there, I first walked back to the stand of pine trees I reported seeing long-eared owls in on the 20th of February, no owls in the pines today. I got over to the wetlands area, which is on the south side of New London Eastern Road at 6:15pm. The peenting started at 6:40pm, followed by a good number of courtship display flights. I'm reporting 25 woodcocks observed, but that is a conservative estimation. Barred owl was heard only, from the southeast corner of the wetlands area. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]