Night Life on the heath

On Sunday 28th August, Warden Steve lead a twilight walk at Hazeley Heath. He called it “Night Life” and hoped to see bats, moths and maybe even a last glimpse of a Nightjar. Here’s his account…

Thirteen people gathered at dusk at RSPB Hazeley Heath to see and listen to wildlife after dark.

In the dying daylight we were treated to a flypast from a female Nightjar, pretty good views (for a Nightjar). Some distant churring led us further into the reserve where we tried the ear cupping method to hear more clearly. As it was now dark, we tried a thermal camera that displays warm objects as white. We spotted a distant Nightjar and could follow its flight and again it flew over our heads. No churring this time and we would have missed it but for the gadget.

Time to pause for a comedy group photo before heading back!

Now, back at the cars, we used a bat detector and watched Pipistrelles using the avenues between trees to hunt for insects, listening to their plippy-ploppy echolocation calls. Then a distant Tawny Owl (or t-woo?) signalled the end of a lovely evening. It was nice to be out on the heath at a time when most people are settling down for the night and to experience the night coming to life.

Warden Steve