|
English and Scientific names: |
Lesser
Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
|
|
Number of individuals: |
one, sex, and age unknown
|
|
Locality: |
St Charles
|
|
Specific Locality: |
Bonnet Carre Spillway; west of
the Spillway Office and just west of the remote control airplane field.
|
|
Date(s) when observed: |
12/4/2010
|
|
Time(s) of day when observed: |
after dark 6:00 pm
|
|
Reporting observer and address: |
Mary Mehaffey
Folsom,
LA
|
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Cham Mehaffey,
Glenn Ousset, Shelley and Shannon Antoine
|
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
none
|
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
after sundown;
enough light to see to walk, light from area lighting in distance; bird flew
over us about 10 - 15 ft above
|
|
Optical equipment: |
8 x 40
binoculars, 3 yrs old
|
|
Distance to bird(s): |
10 - 15 ft
|
|
Duration of observation: |
30 seconds
first observation; 20 seconds second observation a few minutes after the
first observation
|
|
Habitat: |
open field with area wetlands
|
|
Behavior of bird: |
flying low over meadow about 10 - 15 ft above ground, flying batlike
with rapid wing beats and quick directional changes. Returned
when call was played, but did not call.
|
|
Description: |
We were
birding in the late afternoon waiting until dark to see the Short-eared Owl
previously reported which did not make an appearance.
about the same size as Am. Kestrel 9"
in length; the nighthawk had rapid up
and down wing beats with quick directional changes and did not hover like the
kestrel does. the
nighthawk was dark brown above and below, no rusty color noted and had
distinct white wing patch.
|
|
Voice: |
Did not call
|
|
Similar species: |
Am Kestrel as
described above; Common Nighthawk does not fly low over meadow as this
nighthawk did; also wing beats were more rapid than Common Nighthawk and it
made quick directional changes; batlike
|
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
None
|
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
have seen Lesser Nighthawk in two different areas
of southern Arizona and in two different areas of west Texas |
|
Identification aids: |
used Sibley's Guide to Birds;
discussed bird's behavior among ourselves
|
|
This description is written from: |
description is from notes made during observation
(12/4/2010) and from notes made the day after (12/5/2010) |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Yes |
|
Date and time: |
12/27/2010 12:30 pm |