9.45pm, July 25th, The Pheasant garden. The sound started from over near Bull Meadow, got closer and closer and continued away towards Reeves Pightle. At the same time a largish bird flew over. A quick visit to the web confirmed our suspicion. Yes – it was a Nightjar!
Nightjars are nocturnal and are out looking for food – moths and beetles – at dawn and dusk. They are similar in size and shape to a cuckoo or kestrel. They are migrants, arriving April/May time and leaving in August. They are on the RSPB amber conservation list and are not normally found in this area – Thetford Forest being the nearest known habitat.
