Woodcock "Exact Location" ???

[vorticity (Rick Taylor)]

One of the issues with the Woodcock is that no one has posted a log that says exactly where the bird is. And I am not sure I know either.  But after contacting some who saw it on Sunday I can say this: 

 

Willow Ponds are just southeast of the intersection of Interstate 25 and CO 16.  Take I-25 Exit 132 east (Mesa Ridge Parkway), then south on US85 about a 1/4 of a mile. Turn left (west) on Willow Spring Road.  Follow that west and north 1/2 mile past the "No Outlet Sign."  Best parking is found by taking a spur to the left (southwest) and parking in the fartherst south Willow Ponds lot.  (As Brandon mentioned there have been break ins.  I normally open my glove box and uncover everything in the auto so that "they" can see there's nothing of value).  Walk over mushy, icy trail south about 1/3 of a mile. When you see the concrete gazebo in the distance, you will also see Trail Marker 18 (concrete, 3 feet tall) on the left (east) side of the trail.   The Winter Wren was seen on the 10thof February in the cattails on the west side of the creek adjacent to this mile marker.  For the Woodcock, continue south to the gazebo.  Stand on the bank over the creek and search the muddy areas below and to the south.  Do not climb down on the rocks.  I did this on the 10th at 8:15AM and flushed the bird.  Had I been more patient, we might have been able to pick it out in the brush, but I feel blameless because I did not know where it was a the time. 

So, stand on the trail adjacent to the concrete gazebo. Do not attempt to step down on the rocks. The woodcock is working the tiny, thawed mudflats below, and slightly to the south of the gazebo on the creek below the trail.  If you look closely you can see tracks and evidence of holes in the mud from feeding. 

 

If that's not what someone else recalls, please provide a better adjustment.  Tromping through the woods is going to scare this puppy off.

 

Rick Taylor

Colorado Springs, El Paso County