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If you require accommodation locally, we recommend the Speech House Hotel which is only around 500m from the meeting point. 

A magical evening with Nightjar
A chance of Wild Boar in one of their British strongholds
Roding Woodcock possible
Enjoy the varied birdlife of the Forest of Dean
Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart & Spotted Flycatcher all breed here
Crossbill and Firecrest possible

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Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

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The Forest of Dean - An evening with Nightjars (Day Trip)

Tour Code: GBR269

An evening in the Forest of Dean with a focus on watching Nightjars, with the chance of also seeing Woodcock and Wild Boar.

£60

Land Only

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Highlights

• A magical evening with Nightjar
• A chance of Wild Boar in one of their British strongholds
• Roding Woodcock possible
• Enjoy the varied birdlife of the Forest of Dean
• Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart & Spotted Flycatcher all breed here
• Crossbill and Firecrest possible

Summary

Join us for an exciting evening in the Forest of Dean with a focus on enjoying a very special species – the wonderful Nightjar! Meeting at 6pm we will have time to take a walk through the forest with a chance of finding a range of birds before the Nightjar show begins. We may encounter Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart or possibly even Firecrest and Crossbill, as well as some of the more common woodland species. As we move out onto a more open glade we will look for Stonechats and Tree Pipits and as the light starts to fade, it’s an excellent time for encountering Wild Boar. As the day draws to a close and light levels fall, the heath comes to life with incredible churring Nightjars – a true highlight of a visit here through the summer! We can hope to watch these special birds floating around us, often at close quarters with the males performing a beautifully buoyant wing clapping display flight. Their crepuscular nature really gives the bird a strange, almost ghostly appearance. Woodcock may also be seen “roding” in the low light and when the display has ended, we will make our way back to the car park and look for Wild Boar, Fallow Deer and Tawny Owl as we go. This is sure to be a most memorable and magical evening.

We will walk for around 3 miles during the course of the evening. Some on narrow forest trails and mostly on wider tracks. There is a gradual incline up onto the glade where we hope to hear and see Nightjars. We will be stopping regularly to watch wildlife and moving at a slow pace and we recommend comfortable, waterproof walking boots/shoes as it may be muddy underfoot. It is worth bringing some insect repellent and a troch for the walk back to the car park. We stay on the glade until it is almost dark and then it is a 20 minute walk back to the cars so it can be a late finish at around 10.30pm.

If you require accommodation locally, we recommend the Speech House Hotel which is only around 500m from the meeting point. 

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Reviews

C.W & A.W., Oxfordshire, June '25, Jul 2025

Thank you for a superb evening’s trek in the Forest of Dean. So many great sightings for our first trip with Naturetrek, the highlights of both the nightjar and a beautiful pine marten exceeding our expectations”

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Day Trip Location

Dates & Prices

2027

Thu 10th Jun

1 SPACE £60

Book Now

Land Only

£60

Book Now

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

• The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
• Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
• Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

Why Choose Naturetrek?

50+ Trustpilot Reviews

45+ Google Reviews

Click any badge to read more reviews

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