Memorable Moments on the Heath 2: Nightjar
Welcome to the second in a series, compiled by Warden Mike, featuring the Thames Basin Heaths Partnership team recalling memorable moments on the heath.
Communications Officer Nicky: Nightjar
Deciding to undertake an MSc in Wildlife Management and Conservation I carried out my dissertation at Chobham Common – on ants of all things! I was one of the fortunate few to get a ranger role with Surrey Wildlife Trust later on. Learning all about heathland habitats, and the incredible species they home, takes years and years and I learnt an awful lot at Chobham. Not surprising seeing as it is a National Nature Reserve. But there was something about Nightjars that just seemed extra special. Probably because they travel all the way from Africa, breed on our UK heaths for a short window of time and can be quite elusive. I’d attended and run many Nightjar walks during my time at SWT but one day an opportunity came to join the British Trust for Ornithology for an evening catching and ringing Nightjar. I leapt at the chance!
I recall a buzz of excitement on the night from everyone in the small group involved, not just from the insects buzzing around our heads. Sitting in a chair on a heathland path on a sultry summer night is just unique. Of course so as not to deter any Nightjar nearby you really have to dampen this down and hold the excitement in! Chatting in low voices, waiting in anticipation.
When finally a bird was caught we waited patiently in turn to view it one at a time as they weighed it, measured its wing length etc. No torches distressing the bird or taking photos with flash. I just felt privileged to see one of these birds up close – extraordinary wing markings and that quirky, gaping mouth of theirs, perfectly suited to scooping up insects during flight.
Nightjar photographed during the survey (credits: Nicola Buckland)
I was respectful and had my couple of minutes, and although a short interaction, it will remain as one of my most memorable wildlife encounters of all time. Well, there was that time I saw a Nightjar perched on a stump in broad daylight but that is another story…
The Nightjar I saw in broad daylight at Chobham Common!
Nicky
Thames Basin Heaths Partnership