American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Although the leaves on the ground might suggest the fall, these pictures of an American Woodcock were actually taken on March 31, 2006. A Woodcock is probably one of the most un- expected birds that I thought I would be able to take a close up photo of, for of the ones I had seen before were usually viewed from the tail end of a quickly departing bird. However it was a late afternoon in March '06, when looking out onto our bird feeder area I saw this bird steadily feeding right below our window! I had the opportunity to take many, many pictures and when I turned from the window, it was still feeding.