American Woodcock at Lake Waco Wetlands

November 17, 2008, Monday, 8:00 AM—10:30 AM; Lake Waco Wetlands; Sunny, very light winds, no clouds, 44F—66F.

The best bird of the day came as the last bird sighted. Walking up the trail from the tree berm toward the road, I came within 45 feet of an American Woodcock which was sitting underneath a cedar. It startled from that place flying low to the ground (approximately 3 feet off the ground) in a NNW direction rounding a bend in the trail and into more dense brush. It was burnt orange on the belly and rump, fat bodied, short pointed wings and mottled back. 30 species total.

Great Egret 2
Great Blue Heron 5
American Coot 25
Red Winged Blackbirds 26
Red Tailed Hawks, imm, 2
Blue Jay 2
Carolina Chickadee, numerous
Tufted Titmouse 7
Northern Cardinal 17
Bewick’s Wren 1
Osprey 1
Double Crested Cormorant 15
Mallards 60
Northern Pintail 20
Green Wing Teal 75
Northern Shoveler 10
White Throated Sparrows 4
Spotted Towhee 3
Belted Kingfisher 2, h
Ruby Crowned Kinglet, numerous
Song Sparrow 1
Eastern Phoebe 6
Carolina Wren 5
Loggerhead Shrike 1
Black Crowned Night Heron, imm, 1
Turkey Vulture 46
Northern Mockingbird 5
Killdeer 3
American Crow 5
American Woodcock 1