Very privileged to be shown a nightjar spot on Exmoor. Night jars arrive from Africa in the spring and are gone by late August, ancient folk tales refer to them as goat suckers as they were meant to steal milk from your goats at night. In actual fact they eat mostly moths and bugs. In america they are known as nighthawks.
We went last year and took this very grainy fluke shot at almost a million ISO, out of focus but very atmospheric.
Returning this year with an updated strategy and hoping that the birds had not moved on as the scrub was growing and not therefore ideal nesting conditions.
We wait as the sun sets.
And then you hear the first churring sounds, as the birds stir, described by a companion as;
a cross between a cats purr and the noise of crickets.
One appears on the track in front of us for a gravel bath.
More appear and are very curious about our presence.
Looking for goats to suck.
They fly within touching distance.
It’s a truly magical experience.
A few overpasses,
and then they’re gone into the night.
As are we.
FUJIFILM.
Without stating the obvious:
It’s very difficult to take pictures in the dark with a normal camera.
And.
As that is all I’ve got, I’ve had to make a plan.
One things for sure, digital sensors are way better than my old film cameras at night photography.
The instant playback means that you can make adjustments on the fly,
auto ISO is a given, and then hope that you can recover some detail in post.
It’s an ongoing project, dependent on weather, the birds, my availability and
inclination to make a 80 minute drive unless conditions are perfect.
DM me for my Fujifilm settings.
Keep watching for updates.
And you can buy me a coffee at ->
Thank you
esterspears 
Richard Jenyon
July 17, 2023
Very impressive photos and commentary Andrew Well done
From Richard Gina [your cousins husband of 35 years ]
estpix
July 17, 2023
Hi Richard and Gina, thanks for your kind comments and hope that you’re both well x