Jar on a Log

Took these images at the beginning of the month :-

Re-edited with free software from 'Picnic'

Jar nest with 2

 Took this image a week or so later.... after the downpours......

Jar nest with 2 floating....

 Watched these marvelous creatures at 3 NE locations during 2011, although the year ended, as we can see on a rather damp note.....

Looking forward to spending more time in their company in 2012.

Dayjar

We called in passing at a forest location hoping to catch up with Woodlark - a very rare species in the north east of England, it was a half hearted attempt, we were travelling home & it was looking like a stop too many, however we did connect, but sadly only got a few quick glimpses of a single bird over very rough terrain.....

We packed in somewhat frustrated & decided to find a place to eat before driving back.  

Lady luck was certainly on our side when we discovered a Nightjar (or should it be dayjar ?) literally yards away from the edge of our picnic rug !!

At first we thought it was merely a log, but it flitted up & perched superbly in open view.

 

Im pretty sure it must have been drawn in due to a certain person waving the white hand wipes about to get rid of the flies !!!

A very nice surprise indeed.

Show Starter

A couple of trips to Hamsterley between the downpours at the start of the week:-
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As soon as this forest edge Tawny moved off, the show began & the first male Nightjar appeared in good light - sadly, i fluffed all the photo opportubities, but the birds put on a superb display, 4 males, 2 females & at least 2 fledged juvs. (different size, shape & weak flyers)
Earliest i heard churring was 8:10pm - although this burst may have been in responce to the prescence of a Jay near the nest area.

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#Clip, male Nightjar circling above us, moves off contact calling "goo-ick" & flies on, persued by a fledged juvenile.

Nightjar going away

# Camera phone image of 1 going past 15' away - taken well after the light had gone @ 10:40pm

A couple of fledged juvenile Nighjars were flying around , occasionally begging, with one crash landing into a tree !
Also begging were fledged Woodcock young ( couple of ads still roding )trailing adults & Green Woodpecker with fledged young too:-

One Nest site was close to the track :-

Fragment of hatched Njar egg