20.06.2025 - Outdoor Meeting : Nightjar evening, Broadland Country Park

Leader: Nick Edwards
Reporter: David Laurie

This event is our latest start time and shortest walk, with a trek of only 50 metres from the car park. Also one of the most weather dependent, and on this occasion we had a warm, clear day that promised a good evening.

Arriving a little before the scheduled time a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling, a Chiffchaff was briefly in song and there was time to see a little of the park before the full group of 16 settled to watch over the cleared area of heath by the picnic benches.
A Stonechat was seen flitting about, and a Chinese Water Deer was spotted grazing out in the heathery undergrowth. As the sun set a Hobby flew over.
Nightfall was understandably late as we were on the eve of the longest day but around twenty to ten we heard short bursts of churring a good way off. As the time neared ten two Nightjars were seen flying along the edge of the woodland over to our left.
This prompted a move to a spot even nearer the car park and this proved a great choice on Nick's part.
A Nightjar flew directly overhead before one perched on an exposed branch at the top of a nearby birch tree and serenaded us with its long, churring, reeling song. Check out Rosie's video on the WVBS WhatsApp group!
It perched long enough for excellent views with telescopes and for pictures. Great to see one so clearly before it eventually flitted off, showing us what a graceful, elegant bird the Nightjar is in flight.
This is possibly the only outing where we will encounter bats and as night gathered there were Common Pipistrelles and possibly others overhead. At this point the Nightjars had turned silent so with thanks to Nick for organizing a very successful evening we headed home.