Nightjar Satanic (Eurostopodus diabolicus) endemic – Sulawesi, Indonesia – Click for Notes

Full Size

Seeing and photographing this pair of rare Nightjars was one of the most debilitating searches. We had to walk, climb some 6km (3.7 miles) through a rough jungle path that sometimes was a narrow water gully.  At an altitude of 217m (according to my camera GPS) our guide found the pair of Satanic Nightjars in a reed bed.  The scientific name “Eurostopodus diabolicus” had me smiling as I thought it aptly described a commissioner of the European Union!  We climbed a further 250m, had lunch when it started to rain so returned to the main road.  This strenuous trek at the start of our birding expedition created aches and pains all round as despite being assured “moderate fitness” was required, this exercise was for the very fit!

The Satanic nightjar, also Heinrich’s nightjar, satanic eared-nightjar, Sulawesi eared-nightjar, Satanic goatsucker or diabolical nightjar is a mid-sized, spotted, dark brown nightjar endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Wikipedia