I know it's a couple of weeks late - I haven't logged on for a while, but thanks to Ian and Paul for arranging the release. Having tried to see Nightjar at Astley in the 80's it was good to eventually see one there, even if it was under 'artificial' circumstances. Hopefully it will make it to Africa and back and tell its mates about the place!
It apparently looks quite perky again and has fed on glucose and moths Paul has found in his wallet...sorry, shed last night, it is very slightly under weight but not so it's cause for any real concern. There will be no public release when the time comes, this will quite rightly be an intimate affair between it and Paul
It appears to be an adult female, aged by the pale greyish tips to the primaries (especially the inners) and secondaries and a female due to the lack of the white spots to the inner webs of the three outermost primaries.
Dean, the bird was released onto a stump but fell off onto the ground where it never moved for half an hour so it was taken back into care, any news on the birds condition?
The NIghtjar will be released at 9pm. Birders need to be around Rindle Cottages at the top of Rindle Road, Astley (turn off the A580 East Lancs Road onto Higher Green Lane towards the canal, go over the canal, across the small roundabout and carry on until you go past the wood yards then follow the road round to the left, follow this until you come to the last buildings on the left before the railway. Parking will be very limited, so please park carefully on the road around the cottages, up by the railway and I may well have some extra parking sorted by then.
The bird will be being released on the moss so we will be leaving the cars and heading off at 9pm prompt. DON'T BE LATE
RSPCA inspector and county birder Paul Heaton picked a Nightjar up from Trafford today ' in the line of duty'. The bird is in apparently perfect condition and will be released tonight on or around Astley Moss SSSI, I do not currently have a time for the release but those interested should give me a ring after 7pm ish and I'll let them know the time and exact location, I will also update this page the moment I have that information.