Nightingales

Not in the UK unfortunately although I have been lucky enough to hear them in France and WOW, what a song! It would be a wonderful thing if they did become less scarce!

 

Hi,

Nightingales are on the edge of their breeding range here in GB, nesting in the southern half of the country. Males sing in late April- May and normally cease by early June. Migrants will often sing on passage in spring and it is possible to catch up with autumn migrant birds - I've seen them at Holme Norfolk on a few occasions skulking under bushes.

The best sites are probably- in no particular order...

Lee valley country park London , Pulborough Brooks, Arlington reservoir, Blean woods Kent, Thursley/Milford and Bookham  commons Surrey . They also  breed in several places in Norfolk and can be heard early and late. Details of sites are in Neil Glenn's BEST BIRDWATCHING SITES IN NORFOLK-  a staggeringly useful and well produced book :)

S

Never seen one. They don't venture as far north as Lancashire.

My mum had one in the woods at the back of her garden, used to sing every night, her and her husband thought it was lovely to begin with, until it kept them awake every night for weeks. They live on the Norfolk Suffolk border.

hi Seymour

Thank you for your information and I will look into where the Reserves are for any sightings that you have mentioned.

The book you have mentioned is one I already have and it is a worthy purchase - will refer a little more to the Reserves that you have mentioned.

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Regards

Kathy and Dave

 

Hi Marjus

You are like me and have heard Nightingales abroad. 

I remember taking a lot of time trying to see the bird that was singing.  Each time i stood beneath the allocated tree - the same bird started singing from the tree further away.  They are clever at sneaking off elsewhere, and still continue the same song.

The song is very powerful and I have heard the volume is on the same level as a motorbike exhaust pipe - something else to know.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

We occasionally get nightingales in the scrub on and around the reserve here at The Lodge. If any turn up this year i'll try to post about it. Last year was a no show unfortunately but i remember about three years ago we had a couple of pairs in the surrounding area.

Minsmere however always attracts a good number, the last time i visited in May you could here them from the car park!

 

Ian H said:

We occasionally get nightingales in the scrub on and around the reserve here at The Lodge. If any turn up this year i'll try to post about it. Last year was a no show unfortunately but i remember about three years ago we had a couple of pairs in the surrounding area.

Minsmere however always attracts a good number, the last time i visited in May you could here them from the car park!

 

 

Hi,

 LOL I'd forgotten about Minsmere carpark as I havent been there for about 12 years :)

Used to see them running about under the carpark bushes in the 70's :)

S

 

Other good places (especially if you're further west) are the Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester (look out for nightingale walks run by the CWP Society) and Highnam Woods RSPB reserve between Gloucester and the Forest of Dean.

Also, no idea if they are still there but Wellington Country Park (close to Stratfield Saye House in Hampshire) used to be good. I heard and saw nightingales there years and years ago when I was a super keen YOC member doing a sponsored birdwatch!

Good hunting!

Colin