The Heath at Dusk

There are few sounds more evocative of the British summer twilight than the eerie, mechanical churring of a nightjar. As the light fades over a lowland heath, the air cools, the scent of heather and pine drifts on the breeze, and a strange, insect-like purr begins to rise from the scrub. It is a sound that has haunted the imaginations of naturalists for centuries — and one that every countryside lover should experience at least once. Nightjars are summer visitors from Africa, arriving in May and departing by September. They are masters of camouflage, spending their days motionless on the ground or along a horizontal branch, and only revealing themselves at dusk. Listening for them is a gentle art, requiring patience, a good ear, and a respect for the fragile heathland world they inhabit.

The Churring Song

The male nightjar’s song is unlike any other British bird sound: a sustained, vibrating churr that rises and falls in pitch, often lasting for minutes on end. It is often described as sounding like a distant engine or a sprinkler, but the effect is wholly organic and strangely hypnotic. The churring serves to advertise his territory and attract a mate. It usually begins about half an hour before sunset and continues intermittently until darkness falls, then resumes again before dawn. Alongside the churr, you may hear a sharp, repeated ‘coo-ick’ call in flight, and witness the male’s spectacular wing-clapping and bounding flight as he patrols his patch. Females are quieter, but both sexes share the nightjar’s cryptic plumage — a mottled mix of grey, brown and buff that makes them almost invisible against lichen-covered bark or leaf litter.

Where to Hear Nightjars

Nightjars are birds of open, scrubby habitats: lowland heathland, the edges of young conifer plantations, and occasionally moorland fringes. In the UK, the strongholds are in southern England, particularly the New Forest in Hampshire, the Surrey Heaths, the Dorset Heaths, and the Breckland of Norfolk and Suffolk. There are also populations in parts of Sussex, Kent, and the West Country, with scattered pairs in Wales and southern Scotland. The key to finding them is to look for large areas of heather, gorse and birch scrub with plenty of open spaces for hunting moths and beetles. Many heathland nature reserves open to the public at dusk, but it is always worth checking local notices and keeping to marked paths. A warm, still evening after a sunny day offers the best chance — nightjars are less active in cool, wet or windy weather.

Watching and Listening: Practical Tips

To make the most of a nightjar evening, plan ahead and arrive well before sunset. Find a quiet spot on the edge of the heath where you can see and hear without disturbing the birds. Bring a torch — but cover the lens with red cellophane or a red filter to minimise disturbance, and use it sparingly. A pair of binoculars will help you pick out a churring male silhouetted against the fading sky, often perched on a dead branch or fence post. Insect repellent is essential in midsummer, as are warm layers and a flask, because the temperature drops quickly after dusk. Most importantly, be patient: sit still, listen intently, and let the sounds of the heath come to you.

• Best time: Mid-May to late July, with peak churring in June and early July.
• Ideal conditions: Warm, still evenings (above 15°C) with little wind or rain.
• What to bring: Red-filtered torch, binoculars, insect repellent, warm clothing, and a cushion or mat.
• What to avoid: Bright white torches, loud noises, and approaching too close to a singing bird.

Watching Responsibly

Nightjars are legally protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes it an offence to intentionally disturb them at or near their nest. Responsible watching is therefore not just good manners — it is the law. Keep a respectful distance from any churring bird, and never use playback recordings to lure them closer. Playback can stress birds and disrupt their breeding attempts, and it is widely discouraged by conservationists. Stay on paths, keep dogs on leads, and avoid trampling through heather or scrub where nests might be hidden. If you are lucky enough to see a nightjar in flight, watch quietly and resist the urge to follow it. The best encounters are those where the bird is unaware of your presence, allowing you to observe its natural behaviour without interference.

Nightjars and Rural Life

Lowland heath is a man-made landscape, created over centuries of grazing, cutting and burning. Without these traditional practices, heaths would quickly scrub over and nightjars would lose their habitat. Today, many heathlands are managed by conservation organisations, local authorities and volunteers who work to keep these open spaces alive. Rural communities often play a vital role, from practical conservation work to monitoring nightjar numbers. The bird’s return each spring is a welcome sign of summer, a link between the British countryside and the African savannahs where it spends the winter. To stand on a heath at dusk, listening to that extraordinary churring, is to connect with a long tradition of rural observation — and to be reminded of how much we owe to those who care for these fragile places.