Hi there
Has anyone had the luck to have heard and seen a Nightingale in the UK
They are a rare find these days.
I heard a lot of these birds in Menorca last year but still never managed to see one. They are so illusive and are clever at keeping themselves well hidden from public view.
Love to hear what people have to say
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Kathy
Another local site for you is the nature reserve at Little Paxton Pits. They have several nesting pairs, and a visit in May when they are in full song is well worth the effort. They even do specific nightingale walks.
Hi guys.
I'm amazed nobody seems to have mentioned Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire yet. This is THE place to come for nightingales!
Paxton Pits has one of the highest densities of nightingales in the country. We get up to 30 singing males each year.
Best of all, our Paxton nightingales our famed for showing really well, giving great views and posing for photographs - if you're patient. Come along in May (I'd recommend the first two weeks for the ultimate nightingale show!) and you will not be disappointed.
The first nightingales arrive at the Pits around the third week of April and unpaired birds can still be singing well into June, so there's plenty of time to catch up with them.
Because there is so much competition between such a density of nightingales here, they sing all day when they've first arrived, but the quality of the evening and night song is really special - and most of the other birds have gone to bed of course. I spend hours watching and listening to the nightingales here each year. I can't recommend it enough!
I live in Little Paxton village and I can even hear 5 or 6 of them singing from my garden at night in April and May - I'm very lucky!
Mark
Ha!
Great minds think alike Trochilus.
You must come along now guys - with two recommendations!
We heard one singing ,out of sight, one evening at Minsmere, absolutely mesmerising, we must have sat 20 mins listening. About an hour later whilst walking across the bridge from Centre an LBJ flew across and landed on a branch in front of us. A nightingale, followed by another - an absolute joy,
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
Hi Ian
That is something that I did not know about nightingales at the Lodge
We visit the Lodge quite a lot, and please let me know if you have any sightings of one {big smile}
Really hope it is at the weekend as it is the best time for Dave and I to go together to visit {smile}
Never been to Minsmere yet, and it is on the list of to do's.
Thank you for your link,
Great to see them so up close and personal
Seymour: Great that you have managed to see them too
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!
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 Colin
Again all these lovely places to visit - Forest of Dean is a must too.
Now the light nights are coming back, and hopefully Dave will work in London in the near future life will be easier all round for visits to Reserves.
Not heard of Wellington Country Park either.
Sounds like you have been very busy looking around all the areas - just the best experiencing {big smile}
Will enjoy investigating the areas
Unknown said: 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
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
Hi Buzzard
Thank you for your suggested haunts, and your link
I think that Alexandra Park will be on my list. After a visit a few weeks ago, it gives an idea of the lay of the land, and it is easy to get the public transport there from where I stay.
I see that there is a walk later on this year so it may be to late to see Nightingales. Still though I will keep my ear to the ground fro information Need to contact the group for any future meetings.
Still more places to visit. I will discuss this with Dave and see what he thinks. It is getting close to Nightingale prime time once more so we will see what we will do.
Buzzard said: Has anyone had the luck to have heard and seen a Nightingale in the UK They are a rare find these days.
Hi Kathy,
the following link gives a summary of the strongholds and also the areas that have seen a severe decline of Nightingales.
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=59
They normally start arriving to southern counties the back end of March early April.
Last years recorded sightings were at
Alexandra Park - London
Suffolk - Landguard Nature Reserve
Scilly - St Mary's
Bucks - Ivinghoe Beacon
RSPB - Minsmere Heath
Regards Buzzard
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Hi mark/Trochilus
Another super reply, and yes .... Paxton Pitts - now that is one place that I have visited quite a lot over the past 3 years or so {only stayed at Bedford for just for 3 years now - it does not feel that long after living in Scotland all my life LOL}
Paxton: Fabulous ... now that is an easy jaunt from where we stay. Great that they do Nightingale walks, and we will attend one of those walks for definate. Will mark in my diary.
You are lucky to stay close to Paxton Pitts, as it is a great reserve to be close to. There is going to to be so many changes in the future as it is an area that is going to be expanded big time. You will have a large Reserve on your back doorstep.
Thank you for all of your replies everyone..I think I am on a Nightingale high now {smile}
Unknown said: Hi guys. I'm amazed nobody seems to have mentioned Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire yet. This is THE place to come for nightingales! Paxton Pits has one of the highest densities of nightingales in the country. We get up to 30 singing males each year. Best of all, our Paxton nightingales our famed for showing really well, giving great views and posing for photographs - if you're patient. Come along in May (I'd recommend the first two weeks for the ultimate nightingale show!) and you will not be disappointed. The first nightingales arrive at the Pits around the third week of April and unpaired birds can still be singing well into June, so there's plenty of time to catch up with them. Because there is so much competition between such a density of nightingales here, they sing all day when they've first arrived, but the quality of the evening and night song is really special - and most of the other birds have gone to bed of course. I spend hours watching and listening to the nightingales here each year. I can't recommend it enough! I live in Little Paxton village and I can even hear 5 or 6 of them singing from my garden at night in April and May - I'm very lucky! Mark
Hi Soosin
Lovely vision you have placed here...seeing the Nightingales close by
Nightingales just have the most flutey tropical sounding song - it is stunning to listen too,
Now it is a question of seeing one for us
Soosin said: We heard one singing ,out of sight, one evening at Minsmere, absolutely mesmerising, we must have sat 20 mins listening. About an hour later whilst walking across the bridge from Centre an LBJ flew across and landed on a branch in front of us. A nightingale, followed by another - an absolute joy,
I've never seen one but I have heard them in Berlin. Fantastic songsters :-))
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/