Woodcock?

Acipiter · #1 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 08:36 PM

While doing my daily creeping around in the woods today, I flushed something out in front of me, I did not see anything, what ever it was it was "very quick" all I heard was a sound of wings beating, not unlike the sound a partridge makes when its flushed, but just a bit different, if that makes sense. I know this sounds a bit vague, but could it have been a woodcock?.

thebeard · #2 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 08:47 PM

very well could have been. i flushed one a few weeks ago but wasn't sure what it was, but when i was volunteering a few days later another one was flushed and flew right past me. Undoubtedly a woodcock, and the first i've seen. In flight i thought it looked like a stocky female mallard, but obviously with a longer bill!

Acipiter · #3 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 09:04 PM

Ah thanks, that makes my first, even if I did not see it

this is quite a large wood, which is why I did not think it could have been a partridge, and it did not have quite the same sound that a partridge makes when its flushed. Do partridge spend time in the middle of woods? I am not too clued up on the behaviour of game birds to know or not. Thank you.

htcdude · #4 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 09:51 PM

You sure it wasn't Common Snipe, or even Jack Snipe?

Nige

solus · #5 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 10:12 PM

Much more likely to have been a Woodcock than a Snipe in woodland!

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solus

Much more likely to have been a Woodcock than a Snipe in woodland!

Very true + suspect more likely, but I flushed a Snipe from damp woodland in Richmond Park a couple of weeks ago when the lakes were largely frozen.

Acipiter · #7 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 08:17 AM

Thank you all, I will have to mark that one down as very quick large brown job.

pliers · #8 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 08:37 AM

Seems to have been a large influx up here in Northumberland.

bigdave60dog · #9 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 08:51 AM

Sounds pretty "Woodcocky" to me. They don`t generally roost in open ground but more among trees. If it walks like, quacks like - - - - and so on.
Dave

shagbat · #10 (**permalink**) 21-12-2010, 02:34 PM

Read your post this morning and a few mins ago was mooching about
in a tiny copse. We'd put a few pigeon to flight and then something came up behind us, where we'd already walked.
My son said pheasant and I remembered your post. So quick I couldn't even see its tail, before it had dissappeared. I would describe the wing beat eactly as you did.
Wish I could be more helpful, but I couldn't do any better than you
Regards
S