Subject: Buzzed by a nighthawk
Date: Jul 24 09:31:36 2004
From: Tim OBrien - kertim7179 at yahoo.com


Friday morning, I was out in the wee hours of the morning in the hills north of the Elma/Satsop area. I was hoping to catch some owls, but none were heard. There were several Common Nighthawks flying over different clearcuts. At one point, I had stopped along a logging road in the middle of a clearcut and noticed a nighthawk circling not too far overhead. I walked around the car a few times and surprisingly the nighthawk pulled its circling in really tight to me. I began to get concerned because it was getting really close. Then it moved down really close to the ground and disappeared. A few seconds later it re-appeared and it had been joined by another nighthawk. I have to say it was a hair-raising experience when it got really close. Are nighthawks territorial or perhaps do they nest around here?

Also, as I was ending my drive, I stopped at a swampy area bordered by clearcuts at the end of Newman Creek Rd. I spotted a single Common Nighthawk there roosting in one of the dead alder trees. This is the first nighthawk I have seen roosting. It was clearly at rest with its head tucked. I snapped a few pictures, but the distance may have been too far for good quality.

I also got long looks at a Ruffed Grouse along of the one logging roads. It had flew off at one point, but while I was pishing for some smaller birds nearby the grouse actually came back. I must try pishing for grouse more often!

Good birding,

Tim O'Brien
Elma, WA
mailto: kertim7179 at yahoo.com



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