A Nightingale sang in Berkshire. Monday 6th May 2019

Actually 4 Nightingales sang heartily away on our visit to a heathland near Newbury on the May Bank Holiday Monday. We'd learned of the site, on a disused Air Field a couple of years ago and have visited each spring for our Nightingale fix since then. Nightingales just have to be heard every spring! Of course my regular reader will know that we have already seen the most special of all songsters this year (see Essex) but we just had to get another session in with them.

It wasn't a particularly nice morning weather wise with a fairly strong breeze and clouds threatening but at least there were a few brief sunny spells to warm us, and the birds, up a bit. Not that the Nightingales were bothered, we could hear one singing immediately on exiting the car. The said singer was reciting its rich and varied song from within a Hawthorn bush just 20 yards away and as soon as we were ready we stationed ourselves close to the bush. This wouldn't be easy though since the Hawthorn was heavy with blossom and all of its leaves were unfurled. After over half an hour of intense scrutiny of the bush, during which time the bird sang almost continuously, I finally found the it! Well I could see a bit of it anyway......

Nightingale! 

But, as is often the case, patience paid off when the Nightingale broke cover and went on a tour of its territory boundaries. We had good views of it flying low into a bramble thicket and then an equally good but brief look at it hopping on the ground where it was joined by, presumably, a female. The Nightingales last stop was high up in a Silver Birch tree where it sang full on again. Despite this being a much less densely leaved tree it still took me several minutes to locate it. It never ceases to amaze me how Nightingales can conceal themselves so well.

The Nightingale returned to its favourite Hawthorn tree and sang once again from deep cover so we decided to walk out onto the common initially in the hope of finding a Dartford Warbler or Woodlark. We could hear another couple of Nightingales singing from other areas of the common and earmarked looking for one of them on our return. The weather, as is often typical for a Bank Holiday, had closed in somewhat and now threatened rain. This was to my favour though since a flock of Swifts appeared, however much to Mrs Caley's disdain since me trying to photograph Swifts is a constant source of annoyance to her!

Swift

The Swifts left so we studied the small patch of bushes and brambles where we had heard another Nightingale singing before. It was still in full voice and initially was even less obliging than the first one. However, patience was our reward once more, when the Nightingale popped up for us and sang briefly in full view.

Completely forgetting about the other previously mentioned targets, we stayed with the Nightingale and tracked it around its territory. This enabled us to pick a spot to sit and wait and after a short wait we were treated to some more views at it sang from within the tangle of a Gorse bush.

It then jumped to a slightly more open bush where it sang much more enthusiastically allowing us even better views. This particular Nightingale after starting out very elusive had now turned out to be a very seeable bird indeed.

We checked in one of the other Nightingales on our walk back to the car but that one was very tricky to see, our views limited to typically obscured ones only. Taking a bit of time to locate a singing Nightingale, along with finding similarly reeling Grasshopper Warblers, is great sport though and a challenge that I never tire of. 

Without wishing my life away I look forward to the Nightingales returning again next Spring already so that I can play the game once more!