Tuesday 23 June 2020

Lovely evening with the Nightjars.

We made a late decision to travel to the Brecks to get our annual Nightjar fix.
Setting off at 7pm we have arranged to meet up with Brian at Kings Forest around 9 30. Jimmy & I set off early so we could pop into Cavenham Heath as we need to tick Stone Curlew, arriving just after 8pm. Just before heading down the bumpy track, I got lucky when a Woodcock flew up from the grass verge & gave me a good year tick a bonus for me as Jimmy & Brian had seen the one at Titchwell that I missed.
So a good start to the evening, only a couple of fellows looking as we set about getting a look at any of these funny looking Stone-Curlew's.
It takes us nearly an hour before we find a group of four birds walking along in front of the grass mounds just in front of the fence posts, as we get the scope on them we see a family as two of the birds are babies with Mum & Dad, well pleased with that sighting.
Off now to meet up with Brian in the forest, keeping social distance in mind we meet up & wait for any sign of Nightjars.
It's great here as we only have to wait 20 minutes before we hear the churring of a few birds & a Nightjar flies right over our heads & lands in a big tree by the crossroads clearing, that gives us great views as it sits out in the open before flying off to be replaced by other Nightjars flying around us.
We get to hear more calling & clapping before another one comes & lands on the same tree & starts churring away.  ( lovely )
A Tawny Owl starts to call to give Jimmy & I a year tick, been really lazy here as we live only a mile or so away from Epping Forest & had been putting it off going to get the Owl ticked & then lockdown stopped everything, so a welcome tick here.
Off home now after a great evening with 4-year ticks to my list arriving home around midnight.
Brian the only one that took a camera.

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