Nightjars and Dartford Warblers have been recorded at Brownsea Island for only the second time since the 1980s.

Thousands of nature lovers helped the National Trust record sightings of the rarely-spotted birds as part of the organisation's largest ever BioBlitz survey campaign.

Nightjars, nocturnal birds which hawk for food at dusk and dawn have a similar shape to the kestrel, and are an RSPB 'amber status' bird.

The RSPB says: "They have an almost supernatural reputation with their silent flight and their mythical ability to steal milk from goats."

Nightjars were recorded at Brownsea in the 80s and 2006.

Dartford warblers are also an RSPB 'amber status' bird.

The population of Dartford Warblers crashed to a few pairs in the 1960s, since when it has gradually recovered. It was recorded at Brownsea in 1968, then again in the 80s and in 2005.

The bird, a small, dark, long-tailed warbler with a rust coloured chest and grey head and back, also resides at Arne and in the New Forest.

In total, 789 species were found at Brownsea during the BioBlitz, including several species of locally important and scarce cranefly.

Across the coastlines of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, more than 3,400 species were recorded at 25 locations.

The surveys were organised to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the National Trust’s Neptune Coastline Campaign.

Dr David Bullock, head of nature conservation, said: “The data from these bioblitzes will play an important part in giving us a greater understanding of the species that live along our coastline.

“The shifting nature of our shoreline means that we need to think ahead about what is happening to coastal habitats and how we might secure the future of the wildlife that lives by the sea."