Beaulieu Road Nightjars 29th July

A clear, cool evening. Highlights were hearing Nightjar and Snipe.

We met at Shatterford car park and walked down the path running parallel with the railway. As it was dusk there were no birds active. We noticed the Bell Heather, Ling and Cross-leaved Heath as we walked and a little Dwarf Gorse. As we approached the open grassy area we saw 5 Fallow Deer feeding. They saw us and moved off.
The Nightjars usually sing from a particular area, so we got into position and waited. We heard a few Tawny Owls calling and saw a few more Fallow Deer. We waited. A Snipe called a few times from the marsh behind us. We waited. Tonight was just not our night. We did see a Nightjar in the distance as it flew over some trees and heard one call a couple of times, but no singing and no closer views. As we walked back we saw a couple of Pippistrelle Bats flying around the wooded paths. Out on the heath the full moon was shining brightly casting our shadows as we made our way back to the cars.
Simon Curson