I was very surprised to find this Cuckoo above Cold Edge dam this afternoon. I managed one or two shots through the digiscope but not very good in the rain at 150 mtrs or so.
Along with the Black Redstart, Little Owls were also nearby along with 1 Whinchat, 1+ Reed Bunting and earlier on a female Merlin went through towards the wind farm. Lots of Swallows.
1 f Goosander on the lower dam at Cold Edge.
If anyone goes for the Black Redstart (it is elusive) please take care and don't go around the ruined farm buildings. They are 200 m or so down the track from the old Withens pub and please be aware (even though you might not think it) that someone lives there.
2 comments:
Now realise I was looking in the wrong place at dusk, I've been on Castle Carr Road!
Did get 4 Little Owls, 3 at once. Also good to see 4 Brown Hares.
A weird looking Rabbit was by the carriages. It was really fat and pale colouring it could have been an escaped pet. First it got chased by the cows and then a Fox but still alive when I left.
Was I on the right side of the valley for possible Nightjar? Are they very similar in shape to Cuckoo?
You were on the right track! The area it was reported was down 2 fields from the end of Castle Carr Road. Take the track to the left of the farm before the top lodge. There is a scrub area with thorns and rocky areas.
Nightjars are smaller than Cuckoos/Kestrels but profile is similar with long wings and tail. At dusk they look bigger than they are as they hunt for moths/insects. They have avery erratic feeding flight. Very rare in Calderdale and as far as we are aware there are no breeding birds but migrants are a possibility.
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