Trip reports

Nightjar walk on Tunstall Heath

The secretive Nightjar

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

The Nightjar is one of the most secretive birds around. It summers on the Sandling Heaths of Suffolk along with the Dorset and Surrey Heaths. It spends most of the day sitting still and at dusk and dawn it comes out for around 2 hours to feed and display. This year we met at Tunstall Heath near the village of Tunstall. This area was once stands of conifers but felling over recent years has turned the area back to heathland and open areas with small trees which is ideal for the Nightjar. After a showery day the weather was ideal for Nightjar activity with only a slight breeze, warm conditions and lots of insects about for food. Sunset was about 2120hrs and it was about 2130hrs that we heard the first churring call that heralded the presence of a male Nightjar. This individual was active in the area moving stealthily between the small trees. Fine views were had of it feeding over a small group of trees but wing clapping was not heard. Churring continued on and off from well camouflaged song posts and filled the still air with this amazing sound. Possibly up to two other male birds were heard as well. We left the area just before 2300hrs as by then the light had gone, making any visual observation impossible. Another churring male was heard from the car park. Altogether an excellent Nightjar evening with superb sightings and long periods of churring.