Ray Duffy reports that he saw American Woodcocks displaying last night in Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus around 6:15, and because of the full moon, he got some good looks as they did their courtship display.
The woodcocks should be appearing nightly for most of the month.
Tonight's full moon is called the Worm Moon, and since worms are the woodcocks' favorite meal, it could be prime time.
Thanks, Ray!
(We'd would love to post anybody's pix from the Meadowlands of these amazing birds).
Reliable reports say that they can be heard in the vicinity of the Valley Brook ball fields as well, but I haven’t seen/heard them personally.
I heard one last Saturday at 6:20 p.m. on Dispsoal Rd., near the construction entrance.
Is anyone going to Laurel Hill Park tonite???
Whereabouts at Laurel Hill have the Woodcocks been seen/heard?
For woodcocks, the most reliable spot I’ve seen at Laurel Hill is to park at in the lot across from the Boat Launch (it’s the first parking lot on the left by the cricket pitch). You can either sit in your car with the windows open or wait outside. The calls start around 6:15-6:20 last night. There will be calls all around the park, but at least one likes the wooded patch between the lot and the fenced in Turnpike lot.
I cannot go tonight, but how about next Thursday night? I understand there will be a birding column about Woodcocks in The Record next Thursday….
Jim W.