About 20 members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club met at 16th and Edgewood
in South Arlington tonight for the annual Nighthawk and Swift watch. What was
probably the highlight of the night occurred at about 7:30, even before the
Swifts headed for the chimney. Someone spotted and we all watched a group of
35 to 40, Common Nighthawks, high up, and seriously migrating SSW.
None of these birds were flying around or feeding; they were seriously
migrating.
The Swift count, about 8 o’clock, was about 200 birds going down into a
chimney.
Many of the group then proceeded down to the Air Force Memorial to look for
more Nighthawks in the lights. We did not find any. So, I then got out my
scope and several of us had really nice views of the bright and red planet
Mars, the planet Jupiter with four moons, and a smallish but crystal clear view
of Saturn and its glorious rings. All in all a very nice evening.
Thanks to Joanna Taylor for organizing and leading the watch.
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Virginia
Sent from my iPad
