Whatcom Birders and Tweeters,

Yesterday afternoon, June 25, I spent some time birding along the Mosquito
Lake Road and Forest Road 38 up the Middle Fork of the Nooksack-- an area
I've never visited before. Late in the evening (but before sunset), I found
2 different Common Nighthawks along the Mosquito Lake Road, some distance
apart, but both within about 3 miles of the Mount Baker Highway (WA 542).
The first one was heard only, but the second one was actively feeding right
overhead, calling as it went.

Common Nighthawks have become quite rare in recent years in Whatcom County
and the entire Puget Sound area, especially in and near urban areas.
However, although still rare, they seem to be holding their own, or perhaps
even increasing a bit, in rural areas around recent clearcuts, where I
suspect they are breeding. There are certainly a few such clearcuts near the
Mosquito Lake road. Perhaps we should put more effort into looking for them
in places like this, which aren't often birded.

I didn't see any other unusual species, but finding the nighthawks was
reward enough for visiting this area.


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net