Hi All, Today, while Lynda and I were having lunch with Fred and Janice Martin and Dave Worley at the Peking Restaurant in Grundy, we ran into one of Lynda's former students. The young lady was asking about the bird club, and she told us of seeing a "Timberdoodle" (her word choice) or American Woodcock about a week ago at the mouth of Poplar Creek west of Grundy. She said the bird was doing its customary forward and back bobbing motion as it crossed the road. It might be interesting to check out that area to see if there is a singing area there where the male Woodcocks do their mating flights in an attempt to attract a mate. By the way, for those who don't know, Timberdoodle is one of the many names used for Woodcock. Some of the others listed in the National Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds are: Big Eyes, Big Headed Snipe, Big Mud Snipe, Blind Snipe, Bog Bird, Bog Borer, Bog Sucker, Hookum Pake, Labrador Twister, Night Partridge, Siphon Snipe, Whistler, Whistling Snipe and Wood Hen, though Wood Hen in this area usually refers to the Pileated Woodpecker. From what I could find Hookum Pake was or is a name for Woodcock used in Maryland. I couldn't find the origin of the word. For those who have never seen a Timberdoodle a photo is attached. Roger Mayhorn
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Woodcock 5-22 2007.jpg
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