THE elusive nightjar, close to being wiped out in the Forest only a decade ago, is making a slow but sure recovery.
At one stage numbers were reduced to no more than two or three but now their famed 'churring' sound can be heard at dusk in a number of places. Bird expert Ivan Proctor believes there could be as many as 15 birds in the area with perhaps five or even more breeding pairs.
"It's all credit to Forest Enterprise. They have created more open spaces and areas of scrubland and the result is that this summer nightjars are having their best year for some time. If more heathland sites could be extended the future could be even better for them," said Mr Proctor.
Nationally there are estimated to be 3,400 nightjars in Britain with the greatest concentration in the New Forest and on the Dorset heathlands.
The birds are among the last of the summer visitors to arrive from Africa – though this year the first was heard in the Forest on May 10. They have one or two broods and are on their travels south early in September.
• For places to watch and listen to nightjars read Ivan Proctor's Forest wildlife feature in Page 6.