The light of a woodcock moon

Nidderdale Moorland Group

We have been sent some beautiful pictures this morning of the full moon as it lit up Nidderdale last night .

Known as the Beaver Moon, or to many the Woodcock Moon as 'Falls' of Woodcock are most often noticeable around the November full moon as they migrate here to join our resident population and escape freezing weather in their breeding grounds of northern Europe.

The number of migrating Woodcock varies each year as it depends on the severity of cold weather in Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, Siberia and the Baltic States where they breed, but as many as 700,000 to 1,200,000 birds can arrive here to spend winter in our milder climate where they can still access food by probing damp unfrozen areas.

Although normally a secretive bird with cryptic plumage allowing it to blend into its woodland surroundings, Woodcock are most active at dawn and dusk when they come out to feed on open ground such as damp pastures and fields, but during migration they have being known to turn up anywhere including in towns and gardens as tired birds stop for a rest.