This morning returning from yoga I stopped several times to pick up cans that had been tossed aside along the road. A gesture that was rewarded, as my truck climbed the mountain, with the sight of an American Woodcock (Scolopax minor), slowly dancing across the road.

What a joy to see! This chunky little speckled brown bird had such personality, taking one firm step, rocking back and forth, another firm step, rocking back and forth, all the way across the gravel strewn road giving me and my approaching truck no notice at all.

The American Woodcock is 10 to 12 inches long from the tip of its tail to the end of its 2.75 inch long bill. That prehensile bill is used to poke into moist soil searching for earthworms and other invertebrates. They also eat seeds. Those oddly placed eyes give this little bird the ability to see what is going on as it probes the soft soil looking for dinner. This is the first Woodcock that I can recall ever seeing but I have heard them, while roaming the trails up here, making their funny little nasal peeeent.