Nightjar Walk - 20 June 2005

Rob Carlyle

Eddie Cochrane – you got it wrong!
When the Mansfield and Ashfield group visited Budby Forest in the north of the county just before midsummer, we sure found a cure for the summertime blues!

Andy Lowe Natural Connections Officer for Mansfield and active birdringer with Birklands Ringing group led 30 of us on a fascinating evening adventure.

Andy described how the precious heathland habitat in Sherwood was being promoted with careful conservation measures. Encroaching bracken had been controlled and tall grasses were now beginning to thrive. Interesting how Ministry of Defence sites are often so useful for wildlife!

At the beginning of the walk we were delighted to listen to a tree pipit’s lovely song and watch in its characteristic parachuting flight.

Some of us, at some distance, saw a woodlark. Unfortunately, the bird did not sing and flew off as the group approached. Tantalisingly Andy described its song as the loveliest of our native birds. Oh well, next time!

Much less shy were the local woodcocks. As dusk fell, the males emerged in their looping circular flights above the tree tops, ‘looking for lerve’. To entice the females they make a noise like creaking shoes as well as having a high-pitched peeping call which announced their imminent arrival some seconds before they come into view. Looking like large snipe, these birds are very characteristic of Nottinghamshire woodlands. Wonderful to see and hear.

Then into nightjar country. The nightjar is an extraordinary bird in every sense, and we’re lucky, with Nottinghamshire being one of its summer homes. Andy is clearly an expert and talked knowledgably about the bird. He talked about its nocturnal habit and

the behaviour of unattached males. Very assertive, sometimes landing on the ground near to walkers and flying close above their heads. The males have characteristic white wing markings. Females are almost invisible on the nest which is a rudimentary affair on the ground. No nests were disturbed, you’ll be pleased to know. The real treat was listening to the birds ‘churr’. Their nocturnal call, reminiscent of a generator, is quite unmistakeable and unique. After the ‘churr’ a wing clap and the male took flight, its lazy journey like that of a large moth in the dusk. Members of the group got excellent views as a bird passed directly above our heads. Wow!!

As we waited for the nightjar to call, a huge noctule bat flew over. As large as a swift, this is our largest bat – and a first for many of us.

Tawny owl chicks called from the conifers. Tawny’s look cuddly but are voracious killers and will eat anything and so nest boxes have had to be sited away from nightjar territories. They’ll even eat their long eared owl cousins. We were able to contrast juvenile tawny owl calls with those of the much-rarer long eared owl. The long eared owl young have a call like a squeaky gate!

So, tired and ready for a cup of tea we returned. A great night – thanks Andy!