a nice bit of fun - I did well but not made the top 10 apparently. But then I did find a real one in Hudds area this year at a brand new site . I really think these are under-recorded in HBW - just need a bit of wandering about on't moors and edges in the dark: can be spooky but rewarding

good to hear Alf - I did see others in south of our area - altho these were very def in our area, unlike some of the ones that get reported in the annual reports,  I don't count them as on a new site: rather they have helpfully newly occupied territories this year where a change in habitat has extended traditional nesting areas actually within our area. minimum 3 males.

The one I came upon this year was miles away. This and with a diff bird at a diff site 2 years ago plus 2  elsewhere me and DHP have found in the past confirms my suspicion that enough looking will eke them out - tho' for some reason, these territories seem to last no longer than a season, maybe 2: perhaps these are 'vanguard' birds searching out new areas. No less welcome for that tho. The new site also turned up LEOs when DHP/NWM went to check in my absence which was good because I only found one def LEO pair this year with juvs, which disappeared - whether weather-related or something else I don't know. One day, I'll get round to doing an article in annual report about the joys of dusk/night-time birding in HBW - woodcocks, njars LEOs - love 'em.  Failed to get up for vis mig today - will post sightings so far later.

what nightjar survey was that Alf?

it's funny about habitat - some that looks perfect to the human eye I have tried year in and out - with no result! probably some ecological reason beyond my ken.

ah I see. Another probably under recorded species I'll bet. I found a woodcock feather in Marsden this year - Mike Pinder who's red hot on the birds of Marsden parish told me it was only the 2nd record for the Parish!
just in from Gunthwaite dam - no crakes - 6 teal and a kingfisher is all.