Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Night of the Goatsuckers

Most summers, around this time, or sometimes later, there is an evening when the sky fills with nighthawks (Chordeiles minor), making their way south.


Tonight was the night. I must have seen 100 or more of these beautiful birds, twirling and swooping across the sky, wave after wave.


I just wish I could have gotten a picture that captures the experience, instead of these of specks, that I'm publishing nevertheless, to mark the occasion.

3 comments:

Duncan said...

What an interesting sight Pamela, and an interesting link, the bird looks much like our nightjars.

Pamela Martin said...

Yes, apparently there are closely related species almost everywhere. Nightjar, goatsucker, and other names came with settlers from Europe. There's a great post about the whole family over at Rigor Vitae: Glorious Goatsuckers.

John B. said...

I am looking forward to seeing nighthawks again.