The First Migrant Species

On today's birdwalk that I went on, we started out at the feeders and each of us wanted to see the first REAL spring migrant of the season (the long-staying CHIPPING SPARROW which we were looking at didn't count). Good winds came through the last few days and we had high hopes for the day. Just a few minutes after we stopped talking about that, an American Woodcock flew right over our heads! Year bird #52! It landed once and then flew off. We searched for it, but couldn't find it again. Then, a birder at the feeders called us over saying he had the COMMON REDPOLL. We all got good views of the bird, which seems to be becoming more cooperative. We then went to the Oven, where another birder on the walk spotted another (same?) woodcock in a stream. Unlike the first one, this one remained completely still and didn't react to anything. The rest of the day pretty much went like this: enter a new area, find a Red-Tailed Hawk. We also went searching for owls at Shakepeare Garden and the Pinetum, but failed, despite Blue Jays being active. When we got back to the feeders, the redpoll was there as well as the Chipping Sparrow. We then went back to the Oven and were suprised that the woodcock hadn't moved and inch from where we last saw it nearly 2 hours before. After that, I left the park to go to a party, but I'd have to say it was really fun seeing a woodcock up close, considering its a new species for the year!