Guisborough Forest Nightjars

[Col D]

If you are intending on looking for Nightjars in Guisborough Forest this year please read this very important message.

Harry and I went this evening and a concerned member of the public must have seen us entering the forest towards dusk and subsequently called the police. Unfortunately instead of being reported to the police as two birders, we were inexplicably reported as four men wearing ski masks!! This resulted in two police units, the dog section, the 4x4 armed response unit and most embarrassingly the police helicopter all searching for us whilst we were blissfully unaware and enjoying watching a displaying male Nightjar. The police even checked my registration number and made a late night call to my wife to ask if she knew where I was and what I was doing. When we finally returned, my car was surrounded by police and moments from being loaded on to the tow truck and then carted off to the police pound, if that had happened then I would not have been able to collect it until the next day and there may have been a recovery fee. It may seem a bit over zealous by the police but they were only doing their job and in view of the report of four men wearing ski masks, I for one think it is a reasonable response. The police also explained that unsavory activities and crime has been on the increase in the forest of late. Going forward, they have asked that anybody intending on visiting the forest at night contact the Police control room on 101 with the following information.

1. The registration of your car, where it is parked and how many people are entering the forest.
2. How long you intend on staying in the forest.
3. If you are a keyholder and intend driving in the forest at night for survey work, please contact the control room with the registration of the vehicle entering the forest and how long you intend to be there. In addition to this, please advise them if you are taking passengers and if so, how many and the details of their cars (car registration and where parked).

Please remember that to a non-birder, people entering or driving in the forest at night seems very unusual and they may report it to the police. Failure to advise the police in advance means they will not be aware of your intentions and may treat your visit as suspicious, this could result in a police search, your car getting towed and a costly and time consuming recovery of your vehicle.

Cheers

Col
   

[Jamie]

It doesnt say a lot for the police when they failed to find you in the open with all that effort!

[Mike McGrory]

Sobering experience Col! Thanks for passing on the details.

[Col D]

There was a genuine reason why they failed to find us Jamie which I won't go into. Must say, I have nothing but praise for them and the way they conducted themselves with me and especially the officers that made the home visit to Elaine.

[Ian Foster]

There was a genuine reason why they failed to find us Jamie which I won't go into. Must say, I have nothing but praise for them and the way they conducted themselves with me and especially the officers that made the home visit to Elaine.

You were both dressed up as Sheep weren't you? Blending in with the surroundings not to be noticed...or maybe one of them Pantomime Cows? Was Harry the back end?  

On a serious note the Police were only doing there job (Harry was also stopped and questioned by the Power Station Police that morning, he must look very suspicious!) but it's a shame you now have to inform the police if you want to go for a walk into the Forrest on an evening...sign of the times maybe.

Ian.

[Col D]

I was going to go as Mother Goose instead of a pantomime horse but Kinghorn would probably try and tick me 😂😂 it is a shame we have to notify the police but when you think about it, there are very few legitimate reasons for respectable people to visit the forest at night.