Weather: sunny but cool, dusk to darkness. From 8pm.
After Titchwell a trip to Roydon for dusk.
From the car-park in the agricultural field on the other side of the road a Buzzard perched in the hedgerow before flying off & also the distinctive song of a woodlark could be heard though not seen coming as it was from the other side of a clump of trees.
Heading up the path: singing Yelowhammer & Meadow Pipit; male & female Stonechat on bushes at different sections of the path.
After taking up a viewing position & waiting for sunset: Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Black-Headed Gull, Curlew, Swift, House Martin & Stock Dove.
Towards the back of the common next to the agricultural land a foraging Kestrel, probably taking some of the larger insects that were numerous as the sun set; as I watched a scimitar winged bird also briefly appeared, much larger than a swift & a possible hobby but it didn't stay visible for long enough & the light was not good enough to tell for sure.
Finally the sun set & no sooner had it than the main draw of the summer heathland habitat revealed itself: up to a dozen Nightjar at various points on the common along the path. One even flopped onto the path in front of Kim & I where it sat apparently checking us out, much to our amazement, for a minute or so before taking flight again. We also had close views of flying birds, with the males showing distinctive white wing patches. The main activity seemed to be near the car-park where there is a stand of trees, so next time we can sit cosily in the car & wait for dark.
13 species, none new.
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