Chevin Forest Park GeoTrail #14: Grunting Roder Icon (Short Multi)
The 14th cache in the series, a small camo-taped plastic pot, is hidden near this popular viewpoint at the top of The Chevin with a wonderful 360o vistas - but particularly to the north over Otley and the Wharfe Valley.
For background info on the Chevin Forest Park and the series, including a map showing parking options for alternative starting points, trails and cache locations, see GCB7RA1.
To access the cache location: from #13 head up and out of the quarry to the top of the ridge and the T-junction with the main trail at N 53 53.640 W 1 41.879 then head right (east) across the ridge to the cache location.
Note: parking at the Surprise View alternative starting point is available nearby.
To Find the Cache: at the published coordinates you will find a toposcope – a horizontally mounted metal plaque showing the direction and the distance (miles) for the various places which can be seen from this stunning vantage point.
Examine this and then using the distances (miles), work out the following to give you the coordinates of the cache. A helpful hint will be provided along with the GeoCheck green tick confirming correct coordinates.
N 53 53.(Norwood Mast + Airport)(Leeds -Beamsley Beacon)(Brimham Rocks -10)
W 1 41.(Almscliffe Crag)(Great Whernside – Emley Moor Mast +2)(Kilburn White Horse/6)
One of the most iconic animals of The Chevin and a key part of Otley’s history is the Woodcock. Dusk and dawn in the summer are the best times to look for it, as the male patrols his territory (‘roding’) croaking 3 times like a frog.
The Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) is one of the UK’s most elusive and fascinating birds. See its extensive distribution range below (green = breeding, dark green = non-breeding, blue = resident).
With its cryptic plumage and crepuscular habits, this wader - more often heard than seen – is an enigmatic presence in both ancient woodlands and rural folklore. While it is most associated with damp woodlands and shaded glades, its story is one of migration and conservation concern.
It is a chunky, short-legged bird about the size of a pigeon, but with a longer bill and more rounded wings. Its plumage is a wonderful camouflage, with mottled browns, buffs, and greys that make it nearly invisible when motionless among the leaf litter. Its large, dark eyes are set unusually far back on the head, giving it near 360o vision - ideal for spotting predators.
Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days hidden on the woodland floor, emerging at dusk to feed, probing the soil with its long, sensitive bill for earthworms, which make up most of its diet. Its feeding technique is highly specialised - flexible upper mandibles allow it to grasp prey while the bill is still underground.
The UK has a small but significant population of resident woodcock, supplemented each winter by 1,000s of migrants from Scandinavia and Russia. Breeding woodcock prefer large tracts of damp deciduous or mixed woodland with open areas for display flights. Males perform a unique courtship ritual known as ‘roding’ - a low, repetitive flight over woodland clearings or rides at dawn and dusk. These roding flights, accompanied by distinctive grunts and whistles, are often the only sign of the bird’s presence.
Females nest on the ground, typically laying 4 eggs. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching. Remarkably, there are reports of female woodcocks carrying their chicks in flight, tucked between their legs and body. Though rarely observed, this behaviour is considered a possible anti-predator strategy.
While around 55,000 pairs breed in the UK, winter brings an influx of as many as 1.4M from mainland Europe and Russia. These migrants seek milder conditions in the UK and are more often found in coastal areas, farmland edges, or even suburban parks during particularly cold spells. Despite their abundance in winter, woodcocks often go unnoticed due to their excellent camouflage and nocturnal habits.
It is of conservation concern in the UK. Although the winter population is still healthy, the number of breeding birds has declined significantly in recent decades. Habitat loss, changes in woodland management, disturbance, and increased predation are all contributing factors. In 2015, it was placed on the UK’s Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern. This designation highlights the urgent need for improved habitat management, particularly in breeding areas. Initiatives lie creating open glades, managing undergrowth, and reducing deer browsing pressure can help restore suitable breeding conditions.
Historically, it has held a place in British culture, particularly in game shooting. It was once considered a prized quarry due to its erratic flight and challenging nature. The ‘woodcock moon’ - a term used by hunters to describe the full moon in November, when migrating woodcock are most active - still features in country lore. However, increasing awareness of its vulnerability has led to calls for stricter controls on shooting, especially during the breeding season.
The bird is the subject of the circular Otley Woodcock Walk, a poetry trail with accompanying poem 'Roding' written by official Town Poet Matthew Hedley Stoppard with a guide on the poem and associated wildlife, sound recordings by nature conservationist Richard Marsh and stone sculpture by Shane Green (who carved the Geology Trail marker stones). It highlights the responsibility of shared land ownership and taking care of species, such as the woodcock, which are threatened by our actions. See here for the audio files. This is a joint project of the poet, Friends of Chevin Forest Park and Leeds City Council. It is hoped that the poem helps more people learn about woodcocks and respect the need to keep some parts of the Chevin undisturbed.
The area of the trail is covered in Walk 1 here which starts in Kirkgate, Otley to head up to Johnny Lane and the White House and on to Surprise View.
The Woodcock is the symbol seen on various signs across the Chevin and was chosen because it represents the balance between nature and people on the same piece of land. Because they nest on the ground they are easily disturbed by dogs off leads and bikes leaving the paths.
There used to be Woodcock on the Danefield side of the Chevin – as shown in a famous painting by Turner showing someone shooting them there, but it is not known how many pairs still breed on the wooded slopes. As of 2021 they were still nesting near the White House.
See here for more info on this iconic bird.
See short videos here (calling in flight, female on nest), here (pair on N Pennine moors), here (nest with eggs), here (feeding) and here (foraging and in flight).
