NIGHTJAR

 

In 1979, reports from Chat Moss indicated an increase in numbers of Nightjars to possibly 8 pairs, by 1984 evidence suggested that the species' foothold in the county was very precarious as only a single male was reported at two mossland sites.

In 1990 there were no records at all and in 1991 there was only a single record for the year and all records from then to now are as follows:

1991   Gathurst, Wigan 20th Aug  
1992   Great Woolden Moss 17th Jun A male
1994   Astley Moss 29th May relocated south of railway on 16th-18th Jul
1994   Over Hulton area 10th Jul A bird crossed the M61 moving east to west in between junctions 5 and 6
1996   Pearson's Flash 5th May  
1999   Croxdens Peat Works 28th-31st May  
2001   Astley Village 12th Jun A bird at dusk in fields by village
2005   Astley Moss 8th & 10th Jun  
2007   Stretford 8th Aug Found by a member of the public and released on Astley Moss SSSI 9th Aug