Farnham Heath Evening Walk (14 June 2025)

26 people including 7 non-members had an enjoyable walk around Farnham Heath starting at 19:45 and leaving reluctantly at 22:30. We are indebted to Mark Crisp the warden, volunteer Anna Cronin and intern Ellie for making our trip possible. Ellie opened up and accompanied us on our walk, patiently giving lots of extra detail about the reserve and its unique heathland species.

As always there was the anxiety of wondering if we’d actually find Nightjars, but I needn’t have worried. I followed warden Mark’s advice and took the group to the pond area on West Heath for a change this year rather than East Heath. He’d seen 5 birds there on his survey earlier in the week. There was plenty of churring and views of at least 3 birds perched and flying but in addition we had 3 flyover Woodcock and what I’m told (by Frankie) is likely to have been a Noctule Bat – it was so big I initially mistook it for a Woodcock until it was pointed out that it didn’t have a beak!

Before positioning ourselves by the pond we had a wander around the heath and found a Spotted Flycatcher high up on a branch overhanging the main path, 2 Woodlark singing on the ground then performing song flights, a female Redstart well camouflaged in dead branches, family groups of Stonechat, Linnets, singing Goldcrest, the odd snippets of Dartford Warbler calls and lots of beautiful song from Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaff. To be honest just closing your eyes and listening to the heath as dusk fell would have been a magical experience in itself, even without any views.

by Rebecca Dunne

Comments: “Thanks so much for a magical evening 🤩. I enjoyed it so much.  My friend Belinda was so impressed by everyone’s friendliness and generosity with their scopes.”

“It was a beautiful evening to be having a stroll around the reserve. I’m glad we managed to hear & see the nightjars … Andrea thoroughly enjoyed the event as she has never seen or heard a nightjar! She has now popped Merlin on her phone & was testing it out in her garden yesterday!!”