Woodcock Locations and Tips

 

You're not going to get a look like this when they 
display, but they will be interesting to watch.

   Right now is the right time to see American Woodcocks do their mating dance. Their ritual is one of the weirdest for a North American bird. They start the ritual a little past sunset when the male repeatedly makes a sound that sounds like a "peent". Then it flies up into the air in a strange flight that can go up to three hundred feet. Then it comes almost straight down at lightning speed and lands to do it all again.

  Woodcocks start their dance near dark. I tell people that they will start flying the second it is too dark to take a photo. I know many people are interested in seeing the Woodcock mating display. I suspect some people just don't know where to start while others may be put off because they will be driving home in the dark. I can't help you with the latter, but I can shorten the trip. I asked a bunch of birders throughout the state where to see Woodcocks display. They gave me spots throughout the state. Hopefully one of them is close enough for you to go see them.

  First some tips (and a story). I went to Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Marshfield, MA last week. We walked the trails and stayed late enough to see the Woodcocks. Also there was a lady that has heard them "peent" but hadn't actually seen one take off in her life. Daniel Webster is a great place to see Woodcocks display. There are a lot there and they are pretty much a sure bet. We talked to the lady as she staked out her spot near the field. We went up the small hill to the observation stand (I can't call it a tower, it is only three feet high. From our vantage point we had the same field in front of us. The tree line was at least 150 feet from us and we looked towards the sunset. 

   Sure enough we had Woodcocks. I heard at least seven all at once. We had great displays as we saw countless Woodcocks. They started while it was still light enough to follow them in the binoculars. We really couldn't see them go up until they cleared the tree line. Once in the sky they were easy to spot. It was cold and we had our fill after a few flights. We walked back towards the woman, pretty excited that she must have had great looks. She told us she didn't see any go up!

   I realized that she had put herself in a bad spot. Because she was so close to the trees she never saw them clear the tree line and get into the sky. I felt terrible for her. If I'd have known I'd have been happy to call her over. 

      Finally some useful advice-

So my advice is to try to give yourself a good sightline if you can. Back up to the far edge of a field. If you can get up high it will also help. Even if that elevation is only a few feet it could help. Lastly, the brightest part of the sky will be towards the setting sun. If Woodcocks happen to fly in that direction you will get better looks

Locations-

Honestly, when I want to go see Woodcocks in RI I just go to the Cumberland Monastery. It is only thirteen minutes from my house. However, I have seen them in other locations. Below is a list of locations I've seen them at or places birders I asked have seen them

Cumberland- Cumberland Monastery

Johnston- Snake Den (inconsistent)

South County- Trustom, Ninigret, Great Swamp

East Bay- Touisset Refuge (Warren) Mt Hope Farm (Bristol) Colt State Park (Bristol)

                I fully suspect Doug Raynor in Barrington

Aquidneck Island-  Norman Bird Sanctuary, Sachuest NWR (inconsistent) 

Jamestown- Fort Getty Rd,

Coventry area- Tillinghast Pond Management Area (loaded), the fields above Carbuncle Pond

Chepachet- Douglas Hill Road and Snake Hill Road

Thanks to Sue Palmer, Jess Bishop, Jan St Jean, Catherine Boisseau, Matt Schenck Al Schenck (not related), Mike Tucker, and Louise Ruggeri