Quail at Cold Edge

Sorry for delay. I took notes and made a sketch at time (Wednesday afternoon - sunny,calm.)
I flushed a small game-type bird from long grass and rushes to right of track just after Moorlands Farm going towards Cold Edge Res. Before the shelter belt which is on right. Much smaller than grouse or partridges.

First time it flushed it flew c.10m, second time c.500m. It flew on flickering down-curved wings reminiscent of a common sand's action. Very short tail. The general colour was light brown with feint dark striations, with no black or white flashes or other colours. It was silent. These were the notes I made on the spot.

Dave Sutcliffe was in area so when I texted it out he came along but together we couldn't flush it from the long grass/rushes where it had gone down, which was over toward the fields with bare soil. You would need permission to search these rushy fields from the elderly gent who lives in the farm with the scrap cars outside. He will probably be OK about it if you explain.

I am saying quail after looking it (and corncrake) up. The latter has chestnut wing patches and its legs dangle in flight, neither of which I saw. I have experience of both species but not recently, and not seen corncrake fly. There is possibility of escaped quail. Dave has had possible quail running at this site in the past.