by Marion Sprague
After a few years of cancelled Woodcock Walks, the Maine Young Birders finally met again on Saturday March 28 to see the ‘sky dance’ of the American Woodcock (aka Timberdoodle). Emmons Preserve is a pretty reliable spot to see their aerial displays at dusk this time of year.
We gathered at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust headquarters on a crisp evening for a Woodcock Walk with a creative twist. The night began at 5:00pm with a pizza social, giving everyone time to catch up, meet new faces, and fuel up before heading out.
From 5:30–6:30pm, Maine Master Naturalist and local artist/author Rebekah Lowell led a fantastic sketching workshop focused on American Woodcock. Participants learned how to draw woodcock in a variety of poses—on the ground as adults, in flight during their display, and even as chicks. Rebekah shared tips on proportions, posture, and how to capture the unique look of this charismatic species, and it was great to see everyone’s interpretations come to life on paper.
Before we even stepped outside, the birding started. Looking out from the headquarters windows, we spotted a hawk perched nearby. At first glance, it appeared to be a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, but once we got outside and observed it more closely, its smaller face and bill suggested a Red-shouldered Hawk. Photos taken during the bird’s flight later confirmed the ID—a great reminder of how field marks can shift with better views.
We then headed out to explore the trails. Along the river, where we’ve seen a porcupine den in past years, we were treated to a surprise encounter when the porcupine emerged and shuffled along the riverbank before returning to its den. Check out the video on our Facebook page. It was an exciting and unexpected highlight for the group.
A stop at the preserve’s stone labyrinth gave everyone a chance to stretch their legs—the young birders explored, ran around, and enjoyed some unstructured time before the evening birding resumed. After a quick warm-up break inside for hot cocoa, we made our way to the field behind the headquarters to wait for dusk.
As the light faded, a single American Woodcock flew overhead, giving us excellent silhouetted views against the evening sky. Soon after, we heard the first “peent” calls from the field, followed by the distinctive wing “titter” as birds launched into their display flights. While views were brief, we were able to locate one bird on the ground and catch the reflection of its eyes in a flashlight beam, allowing distant but satisfying looks. In total, we estimated at least three woodcock displaying during a roughly 30-minute window.
In addition to the woodcock and Red-shouldered Hawk, the group recorded a handful of other species, including Canada Goose, Mallard, and a flyovers of Green-winged Teal—bringing the evening total to eight species.
We are very grateful to the Kennebunk Conservation Trust for allowing us to use the Trust HQ for our gathering and to Rebekah for providing a fun way to study the adaptations and field marks of these unique little birds.
Check out our full eBird checklist for the evening: https://ebird.org/checklist/S314271405
In April, we’re heading to New England Falconry in Woodstock, VT to learn about raptors and some hands-on time with these amazing birds! Please register early, as space is limited.
