American Woodcock in snow

American Woodcock are among the earliest of migrants to return to Atlantic Canada, usually first appearing in early to mid-March when their breeding grounds are still deep in snow. At this time they are concentrated on south-facing hillsides and roadside ditches where they probe into the mud and soil with their long beaks searching for earthworms and other invertebrates.

This one was photographed this morning (March 28th) along a roadside in Albert County, New Brunswick, not far from Fundy National Park.