About 9:30 this evening I was doing a little twilight gardening in my
yard in NW Seattle when I heard what I thought was the call of the
Common Nighthawk. As I hurried out into the alley, it was repeated
about 4 times, but always seemed to be coming from behind or over some
large trees in neighbors' yards, though the source seemed to be moving
somewhat. Visibility was still good, so I should have been able to see
the bird easily if it had emerged from behind the trees or been high
above them.

Very disappointing, since in my youth in Colorado the nighthawk was
easily my favorite summer bird (not that I knew many summer residents).
I loved to see them crossing high in the sky in a seeming skirmish line,
or swooping just over the surface of the trout pond near my
grandmother's cabin, but I took for granted their abundance.

Can anyone think of something with a similar call I might be confusing
with the nighthawk? It must be at least a dozen years since I heard
one, so I don't feel too confident with the ID, though the time of day
was right, and the sound seemed instantly familiar.

Mike Wagenbach
Seattle