If I told you that Woodpeckers eat worms, I bet you wouldn’t believe me, but trust me. Early in the morning, when I first come down and look out the kitchen window onto the back lawn, I will sometimes see a fairly large, solitary bird plucking worms from the now mercifully thawed turf. He/she moves slowly and deliberately and when I see its black bib I know it’s a Flicker. If it had been running and stopping and then running and stopping I would know for sure it was a Robin.

One of my readers wondered about the “song” that Woodcocks make; he thought by flapping their wings. Wings are used but not that way. The male Woodcock, around this time of year, chooses a small damp, clearing and after a few peeps to get the lady’s attention, he flies up to 300 feet and then falls down in great circles and as he falls the air is forced through his wings making a lovely, haunting “song.” Not many of us have had the chance to hear this, but maybe the fancy smart phones could provide it. If you can aim one at a bird song and be given the name of the bird, surely somehow it can give you a song.

Flash!! Peepers have started. So although it looks the dreary same as it has month after month, spring will surely come.

Sidney Tynan

Little Compton