Stars and Nightjars at Farnham Heath

Summary

Join astronomy guide David Phillips for an evening of stargazing on Farnham Heath RSPB Reserve. Meeting at 7pm we will walk a short distance across the heath and look for Dartford Warblers and Stonechats flitting across the heathland, and also hope to see Woodlarks, Tree Pipits and possibly even a Crossbill if we’re lucky! As the day draws to a close and light levels fall, the heath comes to life with several species of bat and churring Nightjars – a highlight of a visit here in the early summer! With luck, we may catch sight of these migratory birds, which breed on the lowland heaths of Hampshire and Surrey, their slow wingbeats and crepuscular nature give the bird a strange, almost ghostly appearance. The birds will likely have stopped churring at the end of August, so we should not expect to hear them after this date, although we may still be fortunate! Woodcock may also be seen flying over the common in low light.

As the skies darken we will watch as the first bright stars appear. In May the constellation of Leo will be high in the sky at dusk with the bright stars Spica and Arcturus shining brightly. By July and August the ‘Summer Triangle’ an asterism made up of the three bright stars: Vega, Deneb and Altair will be in the sky and they point the way south along the Milky Way. To the north, Ursa Major points the way to the Pole Star. David will explain the movements of the stars and planets through the sky and point out some objects that can be seen in binoculars or a small spotting scope.  If we are lucky, we may also see satellites crossing the sky and meteors burning up as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Those attending on the evenings of 11^th and 12^th August will hopefully have a wonderful evening spotting multiple meteors, or ‘shooting stars’, as this is the peak of the Perseid Meteor shower, an annual event as our planet passes through the remnants of comet debris in space. We aim to end the evening at midnight.

• Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, Woodlarks, Tree Pipits and possibly even a Crossbill
• Listen for churring Nightjars
• Look for constellations, satellites and meteors with a guided tour of the night sky