Gary Howard's birds and wildlife

A hot sunny day gave way to a hot sultry evening. I was due to play tennis but decided that it was just too hot, instead I opted to go looking for Nightjars. It was a lovely long summer evening, only just past the longest day and with a near full moon.

Over the past 30 years I've watched Nightjars at many sites in Kent but sadly some have become unsuitable due to habitat change. The biggest problem is that many areas of coppice are no longer worked and this excellent habitat for Nightjars all too soon becomes virtually useless to wildlife. I did not want to go too far tonight so opted to explore an area near Ide Hill that I used to find Nightjar's on; Goathurst Common.

When I arrived I was stunned by just how un-common like the area has become. It was perhaps 10 years ago that I birded this area and the conifer plantations have taken over and left mainly wide rides left. I called a mate, Chris Gibbard, to see if he had any info and he basically said that a Nightjar had been churring in the oak under which I  stood as I made the call! Sure enough, soon after 9.30 a male started churring and I eventually got some good views. I had a look around but as well as finding little suitable habitat I heard no other Nightjar.

Pleasingly I also had a roding Woodcock and 3 glow worms.

Some of the old former coppice in the area now stands nearly 30 foot high, I had a Fallow Deer in it but nothing else.