Nightjars in the Ashdown Forest

Wednesday 15^th June 2022

Old Airstrip, Ashdown Forest

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

(28 members present)

Trip Report

A combination of great weather and some excellent coverage of nightjars on BBC Springwatch produced our best ever turnout for a nightjar walk.   

• We had to wait until 9.50 pm to hear the first nightjar churring at the far end of the airstrip.  Most members then got a glimpse of a couple of nightjars.   

      

• As we made our way back along the track to the car park, more and more nightjars were heard and seen.  

•  By the time the last members left there must have been at least 4 territories identified.  The males were churring away but in the fading light it was difficult to pick up the flight.

The first phase was very successful.

 

 

Wednesday 22^nd June 2022

Hindleap, Ashdown Forest

East Grinstead RSPB Local Group

(18 members present)

Trip Report

We enjoyed great weather again this evening for phase 2 of our nightjar walks - this time at Hindleap.   With another bumper attendance, we moved from the car park down the hill to Brian and Jane’s seat.       

• Around 10 pm we were rewarded with good views of 2 nightjars as they flew down the hill after churring away from the trees further up the hill.      

• We then moved up the hill to see another nightjar sitting in its favourite oak tree on the track that parallels the road.  Most of us saw it as it flew off.  

 

• Even better was to follow as a nightjar flew directly over our heads, “ke-wicking” as it went.

 

Breathtaking!