Blackheath Common 15 June 2023

The sultry evening drew a large attendance of 24 to the annual nightjar walk, this year returned to an old haunt conveniently located near Guildford. The evening began auspiciously with the clear call of a Cuckoo that persisted intermittently throughout the walk. A couple of Chiffchaffs were singing before one of them perched in view on a bare branch. Before long the hoarse rasp of a Dartford Warbler was heard and an eagle-eyed member quickly spotted its perch in the mid-distance. Behind an enthusiastic Garden Warbler was pumping out its melodic tune but although its location could be confidently identified it emulated its’ species habit of staying in impenetrable cover. A few more paces on a Willow Warbler was trilling; it too was hard to spot, giving just glimpses as it hopped though foliage. A few minutes’ wait for dusk was necessary at the Nightjar arena. In the interval what sounded like calls from a roding Woodcock were heard and then one flew right overhead before returning a short while later. Meanwhile the churring of Nightjars was starting. At first it was distant and punctuated with periods of silence but then flight calls could be heard though frustratingly the birds were keeping below the horizon. Even when the churring came closer sightings were at best fleeting but the presence of at least three birds could be confidently identified. A rewarding evening produced not only the target species but also a good quality supporting cast in a list totalling thirteen. 

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