ML51389471

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Just amazing. Four in view at once at Triplets Bridge -- three actively feeding, probing deep in the mud and under the snow (saw them nab the occasional worm!), and one roosting in the sun near a rock, not moving the whole time I was there. The bird in the picture briefly flew out of the stream and onto the snow, where it entertained the crowd with its wiggle walk. Then, at the Oven and the stream leading into it, I had at least four birds -- perhaps more, but the birds in the area were being flushed repeatedly by a pair of immature Red-tailed Hawks, one of whom was finishing up a woodcock meal when I arrived. There was a second pile of feathers nearby. Apparently the park's raptors were having quite the feast -- other observers were relating stories of multiple birds being taken by hawks and falcons throughout the day. Birds were reported in double digits over the last couple of days. According to eBird and word of mouth, nothing like this has been recorded here in recent memory. Apparently the late heavy snow coincided with woodcock migration and left them nowhere to hide. Hope most of them make it out alive.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D7100

Lens

70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

ISO

400

Focal length

300 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/2500 sec

Dimensions

2500 pixels x 1667 pixels

Original file size

1.38 MB