the Harborne Flyer
Well-known member
Both of these species breed in the West Mids region but are very localised; nightjar breed on Cannock Chase and perhaps near Newcastle under Lyme ; nightingale in England is on the edge of its European range and is just clinging on by its fingertips in the southern part of Warwickshire ( only 2 records in 2017 as per WMBC Annual Report) and 15 pairs at 6 sites in south Worcs in 2017.Please explain?
Both are rarely seen on passage away from breeding sites and in the case of nightingales recorders usually count singing males ,such is their skulking nature . Many nightjar will have already arrived in the UK but there may be some still migrating through so you may have seen one, but to see both species in the same wood on the same day is statistically improbable.
Nightingale's range is contracting to the east and south-east of England with the most northerly birds on the Notts/ Lincs/ Sth Yorkshire border near to Doncaster. The numbers are also declining and deer are being cited as the main cause due their habit of grazing the lower branches of coppiced trees, the domain of the nightingale where it feeds, nests and sings to establish a territory,
Hope this clarifies things.