Sit a while on the Nightjar bench between late April and early August and you might just see an elusive Nightjar in flight, or though you are much more likely hear a nightjar churring! They are summer visitors to the Wye Valley, arriving in April from sub-Saharan Africa. They like moorland heath and open woodland, just like the habitat to be found here at Beacon Hill, a heathland restoration project. You will find it hard to spot one during the day as they are ground nesting birds and their camouflage is excellent. For your best chance to spot one, take a walk around just as it is going dark between April and July. You will probably hear them before you spot their kestrel-like silhouettes against the darkening sky. They make a most unusual ‘churring’ call that you will instantly recognise. They head off to warmer climes in August.
Most years we hold nightjar walks around the Beacon Hill in June or July.
With the help of some of our enthusiastic volunteers we have been running a nightjar monitoring project on Beacon Hill, with volunteers checking the area as dusk falls. They have been looking for flying birds and listening out for their distinctive calls, to help locate nest sites and understand how many birds are nesting and breeding. Chicks are also ringed to (hopefully) provide information about where they go.
We would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to our Nightjar Volunteers Team – Chris, Finn, Hugo, Isabel, Mark, Paul and Roger, and to Rob, Ben and Hugh from Forest of Dean Nightjars who made this project possible.
Other sites in the Wye Valley National Landscape where you might find nightjars are Broadmeend, near Trellech and on Tidenham Chase.
Photos thanks to Paul Trepte, Ben Locke and Robin Husbands
