Woodcock in my garden

[natasha38]

We had a Woodcock in the garden today, he was there for quite a while pecking around in the borders that the dog had recently dug up for us I was over the moon as I'd never seen one before.

Just wondered how common this was & what the likelyhood of him returning was? It made me day actually!

[Wild-Woman]

It's not unheard of but it's usually a sign that the weather is pushing them into places that they wouldn't normally be in. Expect the unexpected in a cold snap.

[david156]

A lot of Woodcock migrate into this country in the winter building up numbers so as the winter gets harder they will often be seen in gardens.

Cheers David.

[Dogghound]

If you live close to woodland or farmland, or are coastal, with plenty of trees they often vist gardens, especially when its cold.

[aeshna5]

During hard weather they can turn up in some more unusual places + also seen more by day. Last winter in bad weather quite a few people reported Woodcock + Snipe in their gardens.

Sometimes on migration (migrate at night) they turn up in some strange places- a few have been found in built up parts of London. Night hunting Peregrines sometimes take advantage of this. A juv Peregrine close to me in Ealing had taken a Woodcock with the head + wings found below the church the raptor was using.

[natasha38]

In some ways it was a great start to the day but then again a bit worrying when birds have to start ventuirn to more unusual places for food.

If he becomes a regular visitor is there anything I could put out for him; mealworms, dried insects or something?

[RobS]

That is one hell of a garden tick. I did see Woodcock from my old house flying over but not a hope in hell here!

Rob S

[natasha38]

Originally Posted by RobS

That is one hell of a garden tick. I did see Woodcock from my old house flying over but not a hope in hell here!

Rob S

Definitely. Had another on Friday .... a barn owl hunting in the field behind our garden... amazing!

[Deb London]

I wish it were in my garden Natasha. I'm very envious.

[werdnal]

We had one in the garden several times last January when we had a week of lying snow here. He came to drink from our pond, which is fed by a natural spring and because the water in always moving it rarely freezes. Often see them flying over, but never seen one inthe garden before then.