Date: 2/26/26 7:13 am From: Anita Schnee <000003224553d416-dmarc-request...> Subject: Wood ducks, ring-necks, snipe, and no-show woodcocks
Great excitement in East Fayetteville on the Brown Farm this morning. Josh Brown spotted two wood ducks. He's only seen them on the property once before in his long life (which he has lived mostly here). He dragged me away from morning chores, and was most patient with me until I finally saw them too. A pair, crouched under some branches in the shade. It took some diligence and patience to see the male turn his head ever so slightly to flash his colors at us. Meanwhile, two ring-neck pairs proceeded along with their own morning chores. This past Tuesday at the Shorebird Stopover property, I counted 20 snipe. And educated myself about their amazing beaks, configured so they could leave them buried in the mud and still use their hinged upper beak to nibble at this and that down under there without having to extract the whole shebang ("rhynchokinesis," who knew?). And a group of us then awaited the Woodcock Ballet -- which was evidently postponed. Surely they weren't off watching the SOTU address? We may try again tomorrow. --Anita Schnee, happy to be alive
