Crespular Crusade tonight

[Derek]

We have been invited by two of Elaines close friends to join them this eve to go birdwatching with the birdwatching club they belong to (weather permitting). Since we have an interest in our feathered friends, we have agreed to go along with them. We are going to watch and hear, Nightjars (hopefully). We are meeting the other club members in some Forestry Commission and then walking to some forest clearing which is their habitat. I have pasted on to this some info about them. Since it going to be getting dark when we start looking for them, it was suggested its best to wear dark colours etc to merge in with the surroundings. So ... this is how I intend to go. I have also got a pair of all black converse boots with black laces.


Heres a pic of the bird and some info for anyone interested.



Latin name
Caprimulgus europaeus
Family
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Overview

Nightjars are nocturnal birds and can be seen hawking for food at dusk and dawn. With pointed wings and a long tails their shape is similar to a kestrel or cuckoo. Their cryptic, grey-brown, mottled, streaked and barred plumage provides ideal camouflage in the daytime. They have an almost supernatural reputation with their silent flight and their mythical ability to steal milk from goats. The first indication that a nightjar is near is usually the male's churring song, rising and falling with a ventriloquial quality.
Where to see them
Found on heathlands, moorlands, in open woodland with clearings, and in recently felled conifer plantations. Most numerous in southern England with good numbers in the New Forest, Dorset and Surrey heathlands, and Thetford forest in Suffolk. Also found in parts of Wales, northern England and SW Scotland. RSPB reserves with nightjars are: Arne, Dorset; Aylesbeare, Devon; and Minsmere and North Warren, Suffolk.
When to see them
Arrives in the UK between late April to mid-May, they are best looked and listened for at dusk on warm, still, summer evenings. They mainly leave in August and September.
What they eat
Insects - moths and beetles

Iechyd Da
Derek

[McMurdo]

That looks like the perfect outfit for spotting them, a report of how it went would be interesting. I know there are other bird watchers on the board as well.

[Dan R Porter]

My first thought was Whip-poor-will. Thanks for the info!

[Derek]

I will certainly give a report Glen. It was in my late teens when I last went to watch and hear some Nightjars. That was with a local club myself and a few friends belonged to at the time. They are very territorial and I very much remember one swooping close enough to feel the air move a bit, which they are aparently are renowned for doing. I really looking forward to going.
Dan .. Whip -poor- whill, is certainly another fab and mysterious name used widely over here. But also in different countys in the UK where they reside they have even more local variations other to Nightjar ie bracken owl, moth hawk, dew-fall hawk, churr owl. One name in Ireland is a spinner, and in Scotland wheel -bird.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Panache]

The F-H.C.A.G. and I have gotten interesting in bird watching this year.

I too look forward to hearing your report after the excursion.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[JolyStNicholas]

I too would love to hear how it goes. Watch out for the skeeters! Maybe ya don't have the big buggers like we do here!

[GMan]

Mighty fine look, I haven't gone birding for years. Such an inspiration.

[Highlander31]

Derek, looks like you are perfectly dressed for the occasion. Look forward to hearing how it went.

[Derek]

It was a lovely late evening when we arrived at the forestry. Met up with a few others and then took off on a 10 min walk to a forest clearing. As soon as we arrived there we counted 3 individual males 'churring' (sounds like a sewing machine). We seen one or two from a distance flying around like a giant swift feeding. The highlight albeit very short was a Woodcock 'roding' ... something I had never seen before. Heres some info about the woodcock and some pics of the area we were in. Unfortunately none of these are my pics since it was to dark to take any.
Wentwood Forestry




The Woodcock in flight and roding
[IMGhttp://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j16/Cilt/woodcock_gpc300_tcm9-186221.jpg[/IMG]





Late winter and spring are the best times to see Woodcock for then, in the twilight hours, the males perform display flights – known as roding - above or amongst the treetops. Following a wide circuit of the woods on broad, rounded, owl-like wings, Woodcock often use woodland rides as route markers whilst alternately croaking like demented frogs and uttering repeated, high pitched ‘tsiwick’ calls.

There is also an Americam Woodcock.

Iechyd Da
Derek

[Lady M]

Very covert outfit, but also quite fashionable. Looks great!