This afternoon at dusk I could have sworn I heard woodcocks singing their songs. Not the distinctive buzzing courtship flight sounds, but mostly the nasal "peeeeent" sound. I've only ever seen woodcock on one other occasion in AL, but it was next to a river, just like this area. I also busted a nice covey of wild quail, which nearly gave me a heart attack. Must've been at least 12-15 that got up, then landed 20 yds away and ran around. They were fun to watch through the binos.

Pretty cool to know they're passing through. I don't have a dog or I'd take a crack at hunting them.

Anyone ever had any luck hunting these birds?

I’ve only seen one or two and they don’t stick around long. By the time you register ‘that’s a woodcock’ they’re in a different zip code

We hunted timberdoodles down here a lot when we were young. Other then the whistling wings when they took off, I never knew they were vocal till I started hunting in Alabama. Took me a while to figure out that noise they make when they are on the ground. They also make whistling noise when they do their flight straight up in the air. I guess it’s some sort of courting thing. It’s funny to watch them.

Their courtship dance is hilarious. Used to hunt them hard and kill plenty during the 80s at Seven Mile. See several around here every year. Ive seen some with chicks in March. They make a sound when they flush but I can’t hear it.

It must be the snipe that startle when you spook them walking through the grass. They make that abrupt chatter when they spook.

Yep, if they would shut up and just fly off they'd probably have better odds against hunters, well that and not circling back to where you came from.

I heard about a dozen different woodcocks making their “peeent” sounds last weekend. It’s their time of year. Believe it or not some of them actually migrate down here.

They make a 7 note call when they come into roost

They’re always in very wet, brushy areas.

Used to kill them near wet spots in cotton fields after stalks had be cut. Greasy birds

Got one that lives out behind the house. Hear it a lot late!y. Just be 70 gazillion of them at my russell county lease. Dang things are everywhere down there.

I follow project upland community on FB. It will make you envious. They have a lot of info In migrations of woodcock. Woodcock with gps tracking collars show just how far they migrate. I’ve talked with some biologist that have done extensive research work here in Alabama. They’re a really neat bird with specific habitats and weather patterns.