Challenging European Nightjar Photography in the Dark. How do they do that?

I can't think of another British bird that I have had less personal experience of than the Nightjar.
An 80 mile round trip to my nearest Nightjar is one reason and the other is I get bored in the dark and want to go home.
This year though I forced myself to put some time into them and I managed one stills picture from 11 nights in the field.
Maybe 2025 will be better.
Mike Lane wildlife photography www.nature-pho...

[@MartinJSmithPhotographyUK]

I think we can give you a gold star for dedication. Well done, Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Gold star for daftness others say!

[@trevorburton4429]

As always I’m impressed by your skills and dedication, but this time your persistence for getting a shot too.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@jamessaxon3859]

That has to be one of the most frustrating photo shoots you have done in quite some time. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Failure is normal in wildlife photography. I am very used to it.

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

Interesting saga of night photography Mike. Thanks for sharing. I once shot emerging cicadas at night using bulb on an old Canon FTb and the flash was from a point and shoot camera. Not the best solution, but it worked.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@gijsvermeulen5248]

Hello Mike,i am only filming in a nature reserve close to my hometown - 2km - and we counted more than 60 nightyears this year.As you say it is hard to find them during the day. and at night it is hard to get good images.Thanks for showing what the flash does on the eyes and how you can resolve it!! Greetings Gijs

[@JamesPetts]

Impressive to get a decent photograph of a bird in the night! Have you ever considered using the Olympus remote control flash system? It's much easier than using a cable, and you can move the flash further off the camera, reducing the red-eye effect and improving the quality of the light. You can also use multiple flashes on stands.

[@stefanoscribano1158]

Such a dedication! Well deserved the beautiful shot

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks

[@IgorIppolitov]

THere is a number of radio controlled flashes (so you don't need the cable). You can also save quite a bit by going with something chinese. My favorite is godox: the remote has decent screen and buttons. And there is a variety of flashes powered by AA batteries. And with that - you can put a flash unit right where you need it =)

[@PeterDolphin472]

Interesting video. You certainly have dedication.

[@mamumonkan]

I remember when I got my first Sigma 300/4.5 in 1985 sitting on a Deer Stand all night and freezing several body parts off in our forest in Upper Bavaria ... I was all fired up but had no idea that the lens itself came without heating ... I guess you could book this as SEVERE USER ERROR :D

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@The3Ladds]

Such patience - you are a Star 😉

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@gertjandezoete8242]

Interesting video. I tried several times to photograph the rednecked nightjar here in Extremadura, but I only managed to get some shots from one that was in front of my car, sitting on the ground. For some reason this species does not often take a sit on an exposed branche, hence I tried this several times.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I have seen Red-necked on roads too. Never heard of the European nightjar doing it.

[@birdwatcherlubuski]

Thanks Mike, very informative video as usual. A week ago I went in me car to a spot in the woods where I had spotted a nightjar last year this time od the year. And surely, the bird appeared almost as quickly as I stopped the car. It sat on a tree top in front of me, so I was very happy. However, as soon as I lowered the window IT flushed. The sound of the electric engine powering the window must have spooked it. I wasn't able to get it to respond to sound stimulation (song, call). It could've been a female this time or perhaps the bird was very cautious this time around (maybe they were already having their seconda brood). Still no luck.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I did not find them easy to spook. Maybe it just flew off to catch a moth. Mine were acting like Spotted flycathcers, flying off and landing again time after time as if hawking insects.

[@birdwatcherlubuski]

@@MikeLaneFRPS I know I heard him nearby. Maybe I was too impatient and it would eventually reemerge on the treetop. Or maybe they aren't very fond of car lights? Maybe I should only turn them on obce Im positive the bird landed on the road in front of me, rights before shooting.

[@vupham.wildlife]

🎉🎉🎉i love your way of telling story too much, wish you alway best healthy 😊

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@peterosborne9802]

👍 brilliant well done, I thought you was going to try just using the iso at full power. ? But I like the result you got.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@leehanley71]

Great video Mike, you gave lots of information on these great birds, much appreciated. I like the image you got. Super stuff

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sonulukose]

Thanks again for giving us the best advice and inspiration every week.!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

thanks.

[@markwhitesell4491]

Loved watching this video, especially noting how you overcame your challenges. I always come away from watching your videos with ideas that I want to try! Thanks for paving the way for me yet again. :)

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I'm so glad!

[@penorvoll]

I'm impressed over your knowledge, skills and creativity! I'm always looking forward to your Saturday morning videos. 😊

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@TheodoreSchnell]

This was a great how-to video. I do not have a thermal imaging camera, but you showed us improvisationm or thinking outside the box, in the field, and the results were pretty darned good. Thank you!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@StephenJStephen_Photography]

Very informative Mike! Thanks for your perseverance in trying to get a keeper still shot.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@rogerhance5883]

Excellent video Mike. It shows just how dedicated you are.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Or daft I am!

[@m0ntague977]

Naightjars are in my top 3 favorite birds after falcons and tubenoses. You got a great photo! Few people even manage to hear them, let alone take a photo. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to see them 2 times in my life very close, and the first time it was a male and the second time it was a female. Female flew right from under my feet less than a kilometer from my house and then I heard them singing about a month later. I really want to take a photo of them, but I can't even imagine how to find them without a thermal camera

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thermals are new and make it easier, but folk managed to do them before. My problem is the distance from home.

[@johnpark8297]

Top work Mike, really enjoyed seeing this, thanks for sharing 👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@louisswaim7024]

I admire your determination and patience.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@cliftonwhittaker260]

Well thought out experience, Mike. There used to be an old motor pool area about 20 miles for where I live. It was occupied by bullbats, which are very similar to nightjars. I would sometimes see them sitting on the ridge of the roof of one of the old buildings just before dark. Not a chance of getting a shot of one in the old film days, but they were a curiosity to see and I always looked for them.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I had to Google bullbats. Nighthawk is a name I have heard of. Thanks.

[@ianspendlove4776]

Fantastic Mike, I believe there is a bulb mode where you can press once to open then again to close the shutter or you could possibly use live composite and fire the flash manually from a greater distance

[@liamfinch4129]

Persistence paid off! Good work.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@Peter-Hantswildlife]

Fair play to you mate for giving it a good go. Need to go back to the drawing board 😊

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Maybe next spring.

[@marchumphreyphotography]

Wonderful perseverance Mike! Glad you managed to get your shot at the end - I always find flash work incredibly fiddly

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

In the days of K64 film I would use flash daily. Now it is less frequently used and a struggle

[@artesorobaserria]

Impressive method! Thank you for sharing!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@frikartii]

A couple of years back, I stumbled upon one on the ground in daylight whilst I was looking for Wasp Spiders. It was an amazing experience, total fluke and yes, I grabbed a few pictures before retreating. Although there's a few very close by, at the same place, I've never gone actively looking for them, maybe I should. We met at Ham Wall a couple of years back, in the Avalon Hide, I was using the Sony a1/600 f4 and you had just switched to the Olympus, either that or you were about to. We discussed the Cirl Buntings. Of course I don't expect you to remember that but keep up the great videos and good luck.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I think you ID me by the bungee rope on my tripod! If so I remember. I want one in the daylight too.

[@CheikoSairin]

I have never photographed nightjars at night but have photographed them during the day. But I like your technique of photographing the nightjar. Thanks for sharing. 1 big LIKE for the video. Greetings from Singapore birder.👍🔔

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@philbooth319]

Interesting video Mike, think I'll pass on trying Nightjar for myself! 😆 Great meeting and chatting with you yesterday at Bempton! Phil

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Hope you did you well with the owl?

[@philbooth319]

@@MikeLaneFRPS pretty good....saw both the SEO and the Barnie make catches....haven't downloaded the pictures yet though.

[@encrovision9315]

Awesome and well done...

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@mamumonkan]

I still would like you a possible "Night Vision Mode" as Panasonic S series implements together with EVF LOG PROFILE SETTING it is really unbelievable at what little light you can still MF focus - it puts all my Sony Cameras to shame !

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The Om-1 has a night vision mode.

[@Molybdan42]

We were in Croatia this year for our vacation and heard Nightjars every evening but we never knew what animal made this weird noises. It were even stranger und crazier sounds than in your clip. It annoyed me that I couldn't figure out what it was but try describing that sound in google 😅 As soon as I started your video I was immediately yelling for my wife - finally I can sleep peacefully again. Thanks Mike!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

There is a free mobile phone app called "Merlin". It identifys bird songs and is excellent.

[@Molybdan42]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Thanks for the recommendation, will try it out.

[@CamillaI]

Great work Mike . Although they are relatively close to me in the New Forest I have still had no luck. Some people find them on their garden fence in the morning. I think I will wait until I bump into one during the day, flash is such a flaff, awesome effort 👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I want one in the day. Maybe next year.

[@CamillaI]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Fingers crossed

[@stephenbarlow2493]

Really interesting. I've been surveying, and observing Nightjars, including with a Pulsar thermal imager for some years now. This year I used the thermal imager, less, which isn't mine, as I was using a parabolic microphone, to locate them on a huge site (it's very difficult to use more than one piece of equipment, at the same time). I've had Nightjars hovering in front of my face, just a few metres away, to inspect me. I see and hear Nightjars most times I go out. I have got quite bit of video footage with the thermal imager, including the lying on the ground, on a track, and flying up, presumably to catch prey. But I've never managed to get a single photo, although most of the time, I'm not trying to get photos. One of the problems for me, is it is a bog, so you can't just walk up to a perched Nightjar, to get close, without the danger of sinking in the bog in the dark, not a good idea.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I have wondered is such a mic would be useful as my hearing is not directional. I can't locate sounds!

[@stephenbarlow2493]

@@MikeLaneFRPS It's excellent for locating birds, as it is highly directional, and has absolutely revolutionized my Nightjar surveying. Whilst you can get the direction fairly accurately, you have to guess the distance, by volume. I can hear a churring Nightjar, or cuicking, over 1km away with it. They're not heavy, but bulky, plus you'll need headphones and an audio recorder.

[@paulharvey2396]

Wonderful to have a record of a nightjar on a branch at night but is there an ethical problem about shooting a flash at a bird? From personal experience I know how painful it is to have bright lights shine in the eyes also it must startle the bird. Thank you for this interesting and generous contribution.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The bird was churring (singing) when I took the picture and it did not drop a beat. Just carried on churring. The flash is so brief that I was unsure it had gone off and had to check the picture to see if it had.

[@macg33zr]

Great Mike thanks for sharing your approach, I admire your dedication especially with all the equipment problems! I wondered if an LED torch might work, don’t really like to use strong flash on the wildlife myself. I’ve for years been walking a place in Suffolk where we reliably see them at dusk trying to find one on a horizontal branch in the daytime with no luck so far. I must be missing them, there are so many around at dusk! Being eaten alive by mosquitoes during evening forays is another problem.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I only tried a torch once and it flew off. The bird did not even stop churring when I used flash. The flash is so brief that I was not sure it had gone off until I checked the picture.

[@stevevickers2844]

Really interesting Mike - see you were using the 150-600mm lens is this now yours?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Not yet! It is heavy, but the zoom range so impressive.

[@IanElson28]

These last 2 Years I've been lucky to observe them here on Cannock chase, fortunate It's only 8 minutes drive and not 80 miles.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I wish I was closer.

[@micktoulmin4616]

Superb as always Mike thanks for all the effort you put in and information you share did you use the 150_600 for the stills 📷👍

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes I did

[@GemmaC]

Your problems reminded me of my early efforts in astrophotography, right down to the curse of cables😂might I suggest a wireless remote control for the camera?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I have several as well as the remote control from the mobile phone. What I don't have is a remote trigger for the flash.

[@hansmoller7664]

Hello Mike, thx very much for sharing this difficult experience! My wife and me have been out for nightjars for the first time this year in our home region around Berlin/ Germany, and heard many of them. Seeing and photographing them - equally difficult. So far we have been going for the brightest possible lens, high ISO and perches in rather open terrain so as to catch the maximum of ambient light. Nightjars seem to be curious at the first opportunity, that behavior gave us some fair chances of video. Two questions: Which literature do you recommend on nightjars? And do you find it still helpful to use the Pulsar thermal imager for this or other searches? Thx in advance for any hint!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thermal makes the impossible, possible. I am reviewing the Pixfra A613 currently and it is very impressive. I used to have a large book collection, but no longer buy books. In the UK many use www.NHBS.com. They will have books on nightjar. Otherwise my info comes from talking to others and forums (less reliable).

[@pagsa_]

Looks pretty handy that thermal camera, which one is it, Mike?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Pulsar XP50 Pro. I hope to review a better one soon.

[@johnlord7188]

Very interesting. A few years ago I did a similar thing using off camera flash. The bird sat regularly on the same branch at the top of a tree pretty much every evening. I used a 600mm f/4 with a 2x converter and I focused on the branch whilst there was still light. I purchased some wireless triggers and setup two flash units about 10ft away. I also used a remote trigger on the camera. When it was almost dark the bird appeared and I was able to operate the remote trigger to get some good shots with no white or red eye. Needless to say I was very pleased with the results. One question, what Pulsar are you using as it looks to perform very well?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I need to get a remote trigger for next year. Thanks for confirming what I suspected. The Pulsar was the XP50 pro, but I am now testing the Pixfra A613 and it is better. Hopefully I will rview it on KZbin soon.

[@richardfink7666]

A lot of work, little pay!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

You have to enjoy the experience as failure is normal.

[@richardfink7666]

@@MikeLaneFRPS 👍

[@akhilvinayakmenon]

Mike, I personally don't like using flashguns for nocturnal birds such as owls and nightjars. However a high lumen, high throw steady light torch on the other hand can yield very good results. I personally feel these are safer on the nocturnal birds as opposed to high frequency flash fires. It is also more convenient to control while firing away with the other hand. Just my two cents. Keep up the good work! Hope to meet you if I visit the UK.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I did try a torch on one and it flew off. When I used the flash it did not even stop churring and the flash is so brief I was not sure it had gone off until Iooked at the picture..

[@akhilvinayakmenon]

@@MikeLaneFRPS the challenge I have noticed with torch is that once you turn it on especially on nightjar, you will have to get your shot while the lights on them, the moment you take the light away and put it back on, there is a likelihood for them to fly away.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I shall try with the torch again but next year now. Thanks

[@barcooter8248]

you may be better off using live composite mode and a high powered torch

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I need to try live composite. I have not used it. The nightjar did not like a torch light on it.

[@przybylskipawel]

Ingenious! BTW I assume it was shot at 600mm. What was the aproximate distance to the bird?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I think most of us are poor at extimating distance, but maybe 30 metres. Yes 600mm.

[@blutey]

Does the nightjar fly off after the flash, or it's not disturbed by it?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

The nightjar continued to churr (sing) without missing a beat. The flash is so brief I was not sure it went off until I looked at the picture.

[@ツItzPeter]

where was this? As I recognise the path it looks like Brindley heath Cannock chase.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It was on Cannock.

[@ツItzPeter]

@@MikeLaneFRPS lovely I thought that, where about? Did any come out in the day time?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

@@ツItzPeter No.

[@ツItzPeter]

@@MikeLaneFRPS OK, hope you get them next year. still lovely footage.

[@stratgirl62]

Which camera pack are you using with the 150-600mm lens?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It's a Tenba, but there is no model number on it. It is old enough that they probably no longer make the same model.

[@stratgirl62]

@@MikeLaneFRPS thank you!

[@mamumonkan]

why are there so many commercials prior to playing your video ?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I make films. The commercials are nothing to do with me. KZbin put up the commercials just like ITV put the commecials on television. You wany commercial free viewing you watch BBC on TV and pay a licence fee. Same on KZbin. Pay a subscription and no more commercials.

[@mamumonkan]

@@MikeLaneFRPS I don't mind the 3sec types you could click away in the past, but now they upped it to 15-30sec and you can NOT click them away ( I am not sure you knew? )

[@edwardrussell5413]

Would it be worth trying live comp on the OM and using the flash by test button? - As always informative , thx

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I am not familar with live comp. I was with Roger Hance over the weekend. should have got him to demo it.

[@edwardrussell5413]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Well in theory it should work, the shutter opens and takes a "reading: then shutter again and only records "new light" - shutter stays open until you hit button again, you could use flash or a torch to light paint the bird in as long as it does not move. Worth playing with- Roger always a good font of knowledge. I need to try it here on the hedgehogs.

[@daran0815]

@@edwardrussell5413 Light painting works fine only as long as the subject doesn't move. So in this case I'd expect very blurry results.

[@welshfowler]

i thought using a flash for nocturnal birds was a no no??

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Not true. Some disapprove and others are okay with it. Nothing in the Nature Photographers Code of Conduct published by the Royal Photographic Society against the use of flash. The bird did not even stop churring (singing) when I took its picture. That is the only evidence I need.