On Badger Road late this morning, a brownish bump on a White Oak's gray bark
looked a bit out of place. Well, it turned out to be a bird head -- Common
Nighthawk. Which was not at all out of place, as we've had several reports of
C. Nighhawks there. Most recently, I believe, by Dan Perkuchin. And, as I
recall, first in a prior year by Gabriel Mapel.
Along with finding a second C. Nighthawk in flight, Greg Moyers and I watched
two Red-headed Woodpeckers excavating a nest hole. Sorry to report that when
both birds briefly left the job-site, starlings snooped at the hole. Among
other finds were Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrows.
Diane Lepkowski
Harrisonburg
PS - We saw a flying C. Nighthwak first, then searched trees from every angle
imaginable after studying Cornell's 'Birds of North America' website for info
on the species' preferred daytime roosts. Just a tiny window in the
fully-leafed oak offered a view. (This bird had apparently not done its
homework...it was facing west on a west-facing limb, a 180 degree spin from my
reading of its likely position(!))
A few pics:
http://birdtrek.smugmug.com/Animals/Shenandoah-Valley-VA-Spring-2015/48359800_hDPkR8#!i=4080607547&k=Wwjw3Q9
