2005 - Whitby Naturalists

Nightjar
Our evening visit to Harwood Dale Forest on the 5*' July arranged with
Brian Walker (Forest Enterprise) had to be cancelled due to heavy
rain. Up to this date it had been thc wettest day of the ycar. Better
luck in 20061 There are about two hundred hreeding pairs in the
North York Moors National Park; thev can be found in woodland in
the latc summer evenings, such as Harwood Dale, Wykeham and
Dalby Forest.
Our clubr is a member of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union who cornpile
an annual report of rare and scarce birds in Yorkshire. Copics are kept
in our library in the Kend:rll room. The Norrh York Moors has rnany
birds classed as scarce incltrding Merlin, Hobby, Goshawk, Hcn Harrier,
Peregrine and Barn Owis.
\7hen you see birds, please look at thern. They might have spent their
whoie iife here, perhaps forty years (like Fulmars), or could just be
passing by on their way to Africa or Antarc.ticar or just visiting from thc
sea to ncst.
Thank you to everyone who has reported bird sightings in the pastyear.
48
RICHARD COOKE