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Nightjars

4 Extra Debut. Chris Sperring is in Somerset at the end of summer to find a bird that’s one of the first to leave before the autumn. From 2014.

Chris Sperring is in Somerset during the last days of summer to find a bird that is one of the first to leave before the autumn.

As the light fades a strange whirring sound fills the air and silent masters of flight hawk for moths and other airborne insects.

Producer: Ellie Sans

First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in October 2014.

Available now

20 minutes

Last on

Tue 19 Oct 2021 02:30

Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)

The webpage image featured here is courtesy of Mike Richards (rspb-images.com).

Β© Mike Richards / rspb-images.com

Ian Parsons

Ian Parsons

Ian spent twenty years working as a ranger for the Forestry Commission and it was during that time that he got to know the Nightjar.  They are a bird that he has worked closely with over many years, from leading guided walks to see them and giving talks about them to finding nests for ringing purposes or for television filming.  Nowadays Ian runs a bird watching tour company in Extremadura, Spain where red-necked nightjars, a slightly different species to the one in Britain lives, but is still just as fascinating.  When Ian is not leading birding tours he’s writing magazine articles and books on birds and other wildlife.

Andy Harris

Andy Harris
Andy is "Community and Recreation Ranger" for the Forestry Commission in Somerset and East Devon. His role is to support visitors and local communities engage with the public forest estate whether it's through recreational opportunities such as trails or through education and awareness raising such as radio interviews. Personally, I like doing this by joining up the connections between sustainable timber production and the benefits this creates for diverse wildlife habitats and public access.

Available to download for free

This programme is available to download for free via the '' podcast.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Oct 2014 06:35
  • Mon 18 Oct 2021 14:30
  • Tue 19 Oct 2021 02:30

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