Think I just heard a nightjar

[werdnal]

We had one here years ago, quite close, only a few fields away, which is quite unusual for our area. Sadly it didn't return the following year and not heard one since. Watched Springwatch this week and enjoyed the Simon King item on the NJ's, and that sound we remember so well.

A couple nights ago, I was out putting our chickens to bed, when I thought I heard one - very distant, but definately the same noise, but by the time I got my ear in tune with where it was coming from, it stopped. Just been out again this evening, and heard it again. Its still very distant - the same sort of direction as where the cuckoo is calling from this year. We have had a lot of heathland restoration going on around the area recently - the local clay mining company is landscaping some of their tips and pits, for conservation and nature, and reseeding the natural heather moorland vegetation.

Sadly it started to rain immediately after heard it, and the noise of the rain drowned out the NJ. Must go out again and try to hear it tomorrow .

[Dorts]

One of the most remarkable sounds from any British Bird.
Why not try to work out roughly where it is calling from and get a lot closer.
If you are lucky enough to see him flying and clapping his wings behind his back as he goes, you will know he is over his mate while she sits on the ground below incubating her egg/s.

[Guinnessman1974]

Are Swifts and Nightjars related as a species?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Not at all. Swifts are Apodiformes and Nightjars are Caprimulgiformes. So not only in different families, but different Formes too.

Cheers,

Adam