Black Park Country Park - 7 July 2014

Having seen Nightjar at our local ringing spot we went along tonight in hopes of making a capture. There have been recent reports of Nightjar on Stoke Common too, so we weren't altogether convinced that a single bird isn't wandering in search of a mate.

We set up 220ft of nets and  hoped - firstly that the Pipistrelle echo location was good enough to locate and avoid the nets and secondly that the audiolure ( all appropriate permissions obtained) would attract a Nightjar. A Blackbird was captured as we waited for darkness to fall. We heard wing clapping before we even saw the bird. It flew over the net about 5 times before falling into the top pocket.

 

4M Nightjar

The bird remained in the general vicinity following release and sustained churring continued until we left the site. Fortunately, there were no bats to extract.

Totals - 2

Nightjar - 1

Blackbird - 1