American Woodcock in our backyard - Apr 8, 2014

From around 1:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m., I watched an American Woodcock slowly wobble from the flower bed along the west side our house, southward through our west spirea flower bed. It disappeared from my view when it moved behind the big oak tree at the southwest corner of our yard. During it's journey, it occasionally probed the soft dirt for food. I saw it gulp down a worm.

This is a new yard bird and quite the surprise for a small urban lot.

At about 1:30 p.m., Barney was determined to go outside through the back door. When I let him out, I watched him through the kitchen window. The neighbor who borders the south edge of our yard had his boxer dog out. That's why Barney wanted outside.

The two dogs met at the fence and barked at each other. Then I saw a bird fly up from near Barney. That area of