Bird of the Month – Nightjar
In the fifth instalment of our “Bird of the Month” blog we look at a nocturnal visitor that is making a return to Fingle’s open spaces.For many of us, the start of July marks the arrival of high summer, bringing long hot days and balmy nights. If you talk to a birdwatcher however, they will probably tell you that in some ways they consider the 1st of July to be the start of Autumn! For most species of birds, both resident and migrant, the breeding season is all but over. Many will become very secretive, as missing flight feathers during their summer moult affect their ability to avoid predators. Some species, such as Cuckoo and Swift, will be preparing for their southward journey back to their wintering grounds, while others will be resting and feeding themselves up in anticipation of making the same journey in a couple of months’ time.
Text, pictures and recordings by Tom Williams
