Nightjars at The Lodge.
One of the birds on the new heath. Image credit Ben Andrew
We wish to announce the fantastic news that we have a pair of nightjars on the new heath at RSPB The Lodge.
The story started on 3 June, when Neil Bostock, the wind turbine surveyor, was doing one of his regular checks of the site and came across the churring male.
He then saw both birds, clearly intent on using the site for breeding. We then carried out watches each evening, and were quickly able to confirm the pair were behaving as though they had a nest.
We took the decision with our ecologists at this point to let local birders know, and be open with people who asked, but not to announce it publically with all the possibilities for disturbance and egg-collecting
that could result.
We invited volunteers to help with a watch rota so that each evening there would be someone on hand to monitor the progress of the birds, engage with birdwatchers, and prevent disturbance.
Thanks to all of the volunteers and staff that have helped, and for birders for behaving without exception in a responsible manner while watching these amazing birds.
It is a great success story for The Lodge and for everyone who has been involved in the heathland re-creation project.
On Thursday 2 and Wednesday 8 August we will be on site to show the nightjars and have arranged for the car-park to be open late. Meet at 20:45 in the Gatehouse car park for 21:00 walk to nightjar site. (No need to book and will not run in rain or very bad weather)
Please note that the security barrier is generally locked at 8pm, so there is very limited parking at the entrance.
A brief history of nightjars at The Lodge
Nightjars regularly used The Lodge when the neighbouring woodland (now the RSPB’s new
heath) was freshly planted with young conifers.
In 1968 we recorded six pairs! As the conifers matured, it became less and less suitable for them and they last bred at The Lodge way back in 1973!.
We bought the 59 hectares of pine forest on Sandy Warren in 2003, and started to re-create heathland in October 2005. The last conifers were taken off the site in January 2007 and following seeding with heather, the first new heather plants were discovered in September 2007.