Breath-taking nightjars and other night dwellers
friday 24th - Sunday 26th June 2022
breath-taking nightjars and other night dwellers…
Light sandy soils are responsible for Suffolk’s wild lowland heath known as The Sandlings that formerly stretched unbroken along the coast from Ipswich to Lowestoft. The area is steeped in history hosting old Viking burial grounds – the world-famous Sutton Hoo being one of them. In more recent times, they were valued for rabbit warrening and sheep walks. The heart of the heaths are within a few miles of Bawdsey Hall and the spectacular flowering heathers now provide a home for Woodlarks, Stonechats and Dartford Warblers and, not forgetting, the impressive colonies of Silver-Studded Blue butterflies.
One of the most mysterious and interesting birds that inhabit the heathland slopes is the Nightjar. It is inactive by day, but as dusk approaches, visitors are treated to a display that has to be seen to be believed. As soon as the last Blackbird finishes saying goodnight through its persistent alarm call, a quiet, eerie “churring” starts, followed by silhouettes of Nightjars. Some display to their partners by wing-clapping, others by hawking moths. The Nightjar was formerly known as the Goatsucker as shepherds thought that they sucked the milk from their goats, hence their Latin name Caprimulgus, when they were actually foraging for insects that were attracted to livestock.
Owls are almost guaranteed at Bawdsey Hall with Barn, Tawny and Little Owls nesting within the grounds. Long-eared Owls are more elusive but have been known to breed on the heath and late June is peak time to hear the squeaky-gate, food begging calls of the chicks.
This course aims to provide you with the following:
An overview of heathland birds
Learning the nocturnal songs and calls of night dwellers
Identification pointers for a range of common birds.
Specific guidance on distinguishing between similar-looking birds
Opportunity to practice your identification skills in the field.
We’ll have our evening meal in a local hostelry and then venture onto the heath after this. Upon our return to Bawdsey Hall, you can enjoy the night-time wildlife from your bedroom window which could include Badgers, Muntjac and owls. As the course will run late into the evening there won’t be any early starts however guests are free to walk around the nature trail at Bawdsey Hall before breakfast.
COST:
2 nights/3days (Friday- Sunday courses):
£400 per person