Hedgerow Netting Forcing Nightingales to Nest in Guildford Gutters

Published on: 1 Apr, 2019
Updated on: 31 Mar, 2019

Have you seen this bird?

Guildford birdwatchers, known as twitchers, have reported sightings of a flock or “watch” of rare nightingales nesting in town gutters, believed forced there by widespread netting of trees and hedgerows by developers.

The actual sites are being kept confidential and some hope they will settle in and their remarkable songs will begin.

The birds, the size of robins, usually arrive in April and nest in thick undergrowth but the pre-Spring warmth seems to have brought them slightly before their time.

The birdwatchers are worried that heavy rain would ruin the nests and householders fear that may cause blocked drains.

Usually, in Surrey, the songbirds can be found at Witley and Milford Commons, Bookham Common, Limpsfield Common, and Hydon’s Ball and Heath.

A bird protection officer said: “For nightingales to nest in town gutters is most unusual and very likely dangerous for them, but so many of the dense hedgerows they prefer have been netted. We’ll be sending people along to see if we should move them to a safer environment.”

Those who believe they have spotted nightingales are advised to record the birdsong so that their sightings can be confirmed by experts.

A great wartime favourite song was worded:

“I may be right, or I may be wrong,
But I’m perfectly willing to swear
That when you turned and smiled at me
A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square”

Perhaps somewhere in Guildford we may have our very own tuneful “Berkeley Square”.

But not everyone is impressed with the thought of extra romantic avian music. Town centre resident Ms Carrie Oakey said: “What! As if we have got enough to put up with without these bids singing at us. I blame the council. Aren’t they in charge of noise abatement?”

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