Just returned to MD after 6 days in NC and DE, and as expected, all the migrants have left from our yard and property.  I went for a short birdwalk here, and was shcoked to find a WOODCOCK!  I flushed it from an area of thick understory next to a wood edge, and watched it but did not see it land.  I searched carefully for it for 45 minutes hoping to get a pic with a camera, but could not refind it.  I gave up and was waking back to the house, and flushed it again!  Agh!  I don't know if I simply missed it before, or if it came back in after I had passed by there and the bird thought I was gone.  Regardless, I left it alone, as it clearly was jumpy and since it may be a breeder I didn't want to disturb it.  We are solidly into the safe dates for woodcock but they are very rare here as breeders now.  I found one with chicks (not sure what they are called!) about 1/3 mile from our house during the last Atlas project (2002-2006).

Happy Memorial Day to all-
Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD

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