Three churrs for the elusive nightjar

It is the only practical way of telling if these most nocturnal of birds are present.

Nightjars are rarely seen during the day, spending their time hunkered down in grass or bracken or laying, perfectly camouflaged, along a tree branch.

But as dusk falls they begin their jerky puppet-on-a-string flights, hunting insects or displaying their brilliant white wing patches to attract a mate.

Nightjars seemed to be heading for extinction only 30 years ago as their traditional heathland habitats disappeared under dense conifer plantations.

But, paradoxically, it is these plantations that have provided one of their major strongholds – as mature trees are harvested, clearings are created which are ideal for nightjars to hunt across and nest in.

The main Yorkshire stronghold for nightjars is in the North York Moors forests where numbers which had already reached a record level and are still climbing.

A national nightjar survey in 2004 found 209 churring males in the forests compared with 85 in the previous survey in 1992, an increase of nearly 250 per cent. It seems that numbers have continued to increase since then.

Brian Walker, Forestry Commission Wildlife Officer for the area, said that reports and field visits by members of the North Yorkshire Forests Bird Study Group so far this summer had found more than 80 churring males in just one forest, and an estimate taking in all suitable nightjar habitats came out with a total of more than 430 males, a staggering increase.

The importance of forest management for the nightjars has been shown by bird ringing.

A nightjar ringed in Dalby Forest in 2004 was found back at the same site this year, supporting the view that nightjars will return from Africa to the same forests year after year until either the bird dies or the trees become too big to allow nesting.

One site, once a popular place to listen for nightjars, was Skipwith Common, near York, where they have not bred for a number of years.

But it has now become a National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England, and work has already begun to manage the habitat so that nightjars will return – one was heard there briefly this summer, an encouraging sign.

The other major nightjar stronghold in the region, again managed by Natural England, is on the Humberhead Peatlands reserve covering Thorne, Goole and Crowle moors.

This has been a particularly successful breeding season for marsh harriers at Blacktoft Sands with around three young produced from each of the nine nests on the reserve. Wardens will be on hand between 11am and 4pm tomorrow (Sunday) to point out these youngsters as they begin to take their maiden flights.

A family party of two adult and two juvenile peregrine falcons are being seen daily at the Fairburn Ings reserve near Castleford.

Along the east coast, an immature king eider was seen at the end of Filey Brigg, while an Alpine swift was seen over Spurn.

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CW 17/7/10