Woodlark and nightjars

Woodlark and nightjars

Anyone who goes to the Senne early in the morning will witness a roaring concert of countless bird calls. At dawn, wren, song thrush and many other species draw attention to themselves. A little earlier, when they are still mute, you can listen to the melodic singing of a typical Senne resident: the woodlark. Their plumage is rather inconspicuous with a yellowish brown basic colour. What is striking, however, is its far-reaching singing (a decreasing lu-lu-lu-lu), which she often sings while singing high above the heathland. 

A little earlier, in absolute darkness, a strange-sounding whirring sounds through the heather. A sound that at first does not seem to be a bird. It is the call of the nightjar. They used to be often seen in the vicinity of farm animals. It was believed that at night they suckled the milk from goats and other grazing cattle. This earned it its extraordinary name. Today it is known that it is only attracted by the insects buzzing around farm animals, which it hunts. Like the woodlark, it is a ground breeder. But it does not even build a nest for this, but rather lays its eggs on the bare ground, only protected by slightly protruding vegetation.

Heidelerche (Foto: C. Venne)