The peregrine falcons are the star attractions at Malham Cove, but there are also many other characteristic upland bird species to be seen and heard in and around the area. Why not pay a visit to the viewpoint, and see how many species you can see?
Green woodpecker
Green woodpecker.Image © Debbie Heslop.
The loud laughing call, or ‘yaffle’, of the green woodpecker can frequently be heard echoing around Malham Cove but you will often need to be patient to get good views of this elusive bird. They can be slightly easier to see early in the year before new leaves appear on the trees, by carefully scanning through the upper branches of trees.
At other times of the year one of the best places to see green woodpeackers is on the ground that forms the sloped edges of Malham Cove, searching for ants. Ants and other small insects are some of the green woodpecker's favourite food.
Later in the summer, after what we hope will be another successful breeding season, the young woodpeckers are more likely to be seen searching the limestone grassland for ants or other insects.
More detailed information on the green woodpecker can be found on the RSPB website.
Redstart
Redstart.Image © Debbie Heslop.
One of the highlights of the spring is when the brightly coloured male redstarts return from their African wintering grounds in late April and May. You should keep a careful look out on the tree tops at this time as several males can be seen around Malham Cove and along the approach path, using high vantage points as song posts.
Later, in June and July, the adult birds spend more time collecting food for their young, and you can get superb views of the redstarts as they regularly perch in the bushes next to the viewpoint.
More detailed information on the redstart can be found on the RSPB website.
Little owl
In previous years a pair of little owls could be regularly seen keeping a watchful eye on what was going on at the Cove from their favourite hawthorn tree. Unfortunately, however, it looks like these wonderful birds have suffered in the last couple of long, cold winters as they have not been seen for several years. There are still a number of pairs in the Malham area and so we hope it won't be too long before another pair turn up at Malham Cove.
Little owl.Image by Whitfield Benson.
Unlike most other owls, the little owls prefer to hunt by day when they can search for beetles and earthworms. Little owls were originally introduced into this country in the late nineteenth century and they are perfectly adapted to living in the Yorkshire Dales where their cryptic plumage can make them difficult to see against the similarly coloured limestone countryside.
Despite their small size they can be quite aggressive birds and will regularly see off any magpie or jackdaw that comes too close. Little owls readily nest under rocks or in drystone walls, and one year they even managed to evict some rabbits from their burrow so that they could use it to nest in!
More detailed information on the little owl can be found on the RSPB website.
Other birds around Malham - what to see and where
There are many other bird species that you can see on a walk in the Malham area. The links in the text will take you to more information about each species on the RSPB website.
Dipper.Image © Debbie Heslop.
Around water
The path to Malham Cove follows Malham Beck - keep a look out for two bird species feeding on insects: dippers bobbing in and out of the the water and grey wagtails plucking them from the air. You might also see them on and around the beck on the way to Janet’s Foss waterfall.
Spotted flycatcher.Image © Debbie Heslop.
In woodland
You should be able to see and hear willow warblers, blackcaps and spotted flycatchers in the woodlands around Malham, on the way to Malham Cove and surrounding Janet's Foss.
At Malham Cove
House martins and swifts have nest sites on the face of Malham Cove, and you should be able to see them zoom around overhead as they speed to and from their homes.
Raven.Image by Whitfield Benson.
On high ground
If you decide to enjoy a walk on the high ground around Malham, you should be rewarded by seeing wheatears flit across the limestone scenery and, earlier on in the season, you could hear and maybe see sky larks singing away above you. You should also listen out for the deep ‘kronking’ call of the raven, as in recent years they have been seen more regularly in the Malham area.
Lapwing.Image © Debbie Heslop.
At Malham Tarn
If you would like a longer walk, it is well worth following the circular route from Malham village to Malham Tarn where great crested grebes and other wildfowl can be seen. There are also several species of wader to be seen en route, including lapwing, curlew and redshank. It also is one of the best areas in the Dales for seeing yellow wagtails.
Further information
For more locally relevant information on the birds that can be seen at Malham Cove and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park see the Nature in the Dales section of the website. You can also select from the links below for specific species:
