Common Nighthawk

MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
edited July 8, 2007 in Wildlife
While on one of my bike rides, I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a nightjar, but it turns out it is a common nighthawk. It was up on some metal awning that served as old entrance way to a ranch just south of where I live. I had never seen a nighthawk before and thought that they perched closer to the ground. Anyhow, after my bike ride I drove back and it was still there. I took this picture of it perching. My birds never seem to want to give me an interesting perch.

Common_nighthawk.jpg

It eventually flew off and I could easily identify the white stripes on the slender wings near the primaries. It landed in the shade of a barn and I tried to get a better picture of it, but the shade and distance were too much to be able to get a pic with nice detail.

Common_Nighthawk5b.jpg

Still though, I thought it was a nice find.
Stephen
www.capture-the-pixel.com

Comments

  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    It's a nice find indeed Stephen.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    Nice catch Stephen! I wish i can go bike riding, too darn hot!!rolleyes1.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • HarvHarv Registered Users Posts: 1,105 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    Good stuff and a great find, Stephen... as well as a timely post. Coincidentally, I saw my first nighthawk yesterday. I was out running my two dogs in a nearby 6,000 acre county forrest when a bird flushed close to the ground from close beside me. At the time we were in an area of open pine forest. I followed it as it made a number of short flushes, finally landing on a low stump. I had no camera with me but made mental notes of the features of the bird and looked it up when I got home. Neat bird.
    Harv
    Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

    http://www.highpointvizslas.com
    http://harveyg.smugmug.com
    http://www.pixel-shooter.com

     Some Canon stuff :D
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    Thanks all. I was quite surprised. I know that these are relatively common birds all over the US and into Canada but I believe them to be rather shy and hard to find so I was happy to have seen it and then been able to photograph it even though it wasn't a great perch for the bird.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    Harv wrote:
    Good stuff and a great find, Stephen... as well as a timely post. Coincidentally, I saw my first nighthawk yesterday. I was out running my two dogs in a nearby 6,000 acre county forrest when a bird flushed close to the ground from close beside me. At the time we were in an area of open pine forest. I followed it as it made a number of short flushes, finally landing on a low stump. I had no camera with me but made mental notes of the features of the bird and looked it up when I got home. Neat bird.
    That certainly is a conicidence! thumb.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2007
    Should have stopped in the kitchen and brought back a nice hunk of raw meat...for waiting for you.:D

    Always nice to get something new to share! thumb.gif
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2007
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Should have stopped in the kitchen and brought back a nice hunk of raw meat...for waiting for you.:D

    Always nice to get something new to share! thumb.gif

    Perhaps, but I think it would have enjoyed more a big, fat, juicy grasshopper. They are insect eaters I believe. :D I am going to go try and find him once again today.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2007
    Good catch and getting the darn bird to perch on something interesting is a constant battle. They just won't cooperate. :pissed
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2007
    Cool find Stephen! I have yet to see one of these guys in the wild! Like the first shot!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2007
    that's a cool find!clap.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2007
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    that's a cool find!clap.gif

    Thanks Dave. I've found six more since including a juvenile, mom and dad. At least I think it was mom and dad.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

Sign In or Register to comment.