Common Nighthawk

DRH · 08-30-2022, 01:22 PM

Has anyone else seen seen a number of Common Nighthawks swooping around about 100+ high in the late afternoons recently?

For the past two days at around 5pm we have seen a group of over two dozen Nighthawks darting around through the sky, apparently feeding on insects, over our back yard. They swoop this way and that and are very agile, somehow avoiding colliding with each other. They stay for about 10 minutes and then move on.

When we first saw them on Sunday we didn't know what they were, but we identified them in "Birds of the Squam Lakes Region" which was recently published by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

We're hoping to see them again this afternoon!

Here's what they look like: (Photo courtesy www.allaboutbirds.org)

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-04-2022, 06:45 PM

Wow! What a treat!!! I get so much enjoyment out of run of the mill birds like, hummingbirds, swallows and others. It must be highly entertaining.

I must say that I’m kinda over the eagles these days. We have what seem to be a pair very close to our place on the island. They are amazing and majestic, but I truly feel that our Cairn Terriers might look tasty to them. I put lines on the dock posts to inhibit a flying swoop to grab a woofer. Thankfully these two don’t hang out on the dock alone without me.

Beautiful photo, Don! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

tis · 09-05-2022, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Wow! What a treat!!! I get so much enjoyment out of run of the mill birds like, hummingbirds, swallows and others. It must be highly entertaining.

I must say that I’m kinda over the eagles these days. We have what seem to be a pair very close to our place on the island. They are amazing and majestic, but I truly feel that our Cairn Terriers might look tasty to them. I put lines on the dock posts to inhibit a flying swoop to grab a woofer. Thankfully these two don’t hang out on the dock alone without me.

Beautiful photo, Don! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

An eagle killed a mallard about a week ago. We thought it got the baby loon as the loons went after it. The eagle couldn't fly-apparently got it's wings too wet. I worry about the eagles getting my pups too. I don't like them around.

thinkxingu · 09-05-2022, 08:19 AM

The only nighthawks I've seen recently.

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Woody38 · 09-05-2022, 10:16 AM

Great picture. Incidentally, we still have 2 Hummingbirds visiting the feeders.

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jimkberry · 09-05-2022, 05:49 PM

Thanks for posting this. Last weekend we were out on our dock (Governor's Lake, not Winni) and a pair of Nighthawks flew over at about 100 feet. I'd have never known what they were if you hadn't posted the picture with the distinctive bands on the wings.

08-30-2022, 01:22 PM	#1
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,201 Thanked 675 Times in 178 Posts	Common Nighthawk Has anyone else seen seen a number of Common Nighthawks swooping around about 100+ high in the late afternoons recently? For the past two days at around 5pm we have seen a group of over two dozen Nighthawks darting around through the sky, apparently feeding on insects, over our back yard. They swoop this way and that and are very agile, somehow avoiding colliding with each other. They stay for about 10 minutes and then move on. When we first saw them on Sunday we didn't know what they were, but we identified them in "Birds of the Squam Lakes Region" which was recently published by the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. We're hoping to see them again this afternoon! Here's what they look like: (Photo courtesy www.allaboutbirds.org) Attached Images __________________ DRH

09-04-2022, 06:45 PM	#2
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Wow! Wow! What a treat!!! I get so much enjoyment out of run of the mill birds like, hummingbirds, swallows and others. It must be highly entertaining. I must say that I’m kinda over the eagles these days. We have what seem to be a pair very close to our place on the island. They are amazing and majestic, but I truly feel that our Cairn Terriers might look tasty to them. I put lines on the dock posts to inhibit a flying swoop to grab a woofer. Thankfully these two don’t hang out on the dock alone without me. Beautiful photo, Don! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

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09-05-2022, 08:19 AM	#4
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,212 Thanks: 1,167 Thanked 2,048 Times in 1,271 Posts	The only nighthawks I've seen recently. Sent from my SM-G990U1 using Tapatalk

09-05-2022, 10:16 AM	#5
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 577 Thanks: 46 Thanked 110 Times in 81 Posts	Great picture. Incidentally, we still have 2 Hummingbirds visiting the feeders. _____________________________ I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

09-05-2022, 05:49 PM	#6
jimkberry Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Meredith Neck Posts: 27 Thanks: 5 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks for posting this. Last weekend we were out on our dock (Governor's Lake, not Winni) and a pair of Nighthawks flew over at about 100 feet. I'd have never known what they were if you hadn't posted the picture with the distinctive bands on the wings.

The Following User Says Thank You to jimkberry For This Useful Post:
DRH (09-10-2022)