High Ridge Trailhead, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

5:45 PM to 7:00 PM

Contact: Ben West; benjwest@gmail.com

Join us for the 2026 edition of the Timberdoodle Trek! Early spring is the time to enjoy the fascinating twilight mating displays of the American woodcock (a.k.a. timberdoodle). This year, we have permission from the Missouri DNR to linger after sunset at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park‘s High Ridge Trail to (hopefully) enjoy this annual treat. We will also enjoy the sunset and look for any other evening bird activity that develops. Meet at the High Ridge Trailhead at 5:45 p.m. Parking is available in a gravel lot across the road from the trailhead, with overflow parking along S. Rock Quarry Road. From the trailhead, we hike to the top of the main hill on High Ridge Trail and wait until twilight for woodcock displays. Total walking distance will be ~1 mile roundtrip on a mowed grass trail with mild elevation gain. Sunset on the trip date is at ~6:09 (note: Daylight Savings Time kicks in the following morning).

As described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,

American Woodcock spend most of their time hidden in fields and on the forest floor, where they probe for earthworms. They often rock back and forth while walking along the ground. On spring nights, males perform very conspicuous displays, giving a buzzy peent call, then launching into the air. Their erratic display flight includes a distinctive, twittering flight sound and ends with a steep dive back to the ground.