Nightjars at Haldon  22nd July

We met up at the Obelisk car park near Mamhead, for our traditional Nightjar evening meeting.  Across the road from the car park there is an open area which is one of best areas to see nightjars near Exeter.  Although it had turned cloudy and cooler that evening, we did not have to wait very long before we started to hear the nightjars calling in the distance, and starting their distinctive churring.   Soon, they were flying along the edge of the clearing, with a distinctive jerky flight on stiff wings.  We got some good views through the telescope when they perched on the bare branches while they churred away.  They flew around the clearing, and through the trees several times.  One of them hovered in his display flight, almost as well as a kestrel. As the light faded, we wandered slowly back to the car park, happy to have encountered a really special bird.

Richard Swinbank