Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: dmuirhead on August 22, 2006, 11:20:20 AM

Title: Common Nighthawks
Post by: dmuirhead on August 22, 2006, 11:20:20 AM

Early Sunday evening August 20th around 7 pm saw a flock of 30-40 Common Nighthawks from my balcony at Yonge and St. Clair, heading south. Have never seen that many all at once before - typically just see one or a pair - I assume it was a southerly migration, perhaps of birds from further north. Nice surprise.  

Also saw a local cardinal which from a distance appeared to have black head feathers instead of red. Upon closer inspection with the binoculars it actually was missing feathers and the skin was a greenish/black. Does anyone know what this is attributable to?

Title: Question about cardinals
Post by: Leslie Kinrys on August 23, 2006, 04:49:06 PM

At this time of year, the end of breeding and still plenty of food, birds have started to moult. You will notice bald Cardinals, Grackles and Blue Jays. I am seeing that in my own yard.

Title:
Post by: dmuirhead on August 24, 2006, 10:22:18 AM

Thanks for the response. I checked the Cornell website which confirms it is most likely due to molting. Coincidentally, saw a blue jay in the same state yesterday.

Title: Common Nighthawks
Post by: robgilroy on August 26, 2006, 11:07:46 PM

I was biking home from work last Thursday (Aug. 24) when I observed about 12-15 nighthawks dipping and swooping south of High Park (Colborne Lodge and Queensway) at about 8:15 pm.

Title: More Common Nighthawks
Post by: B. Griffin on August 27, 2006, 07:33:10 PM

Tonight around 7pm I spotted about 15-20 Common Nighthawks flying around over Grenadier Pond in High Park. No doubt getting an early start foraging thanks to the overcast conditions today. Check out Project Nighthawk to get involved with monitoring their migration, I think they are still collecting data for 2006. See: http://members.localnet.com/~risinger/index.html (http://members.localnet.com/~risinger/index.html)

Title: Common Nighthawks
Post by: BC on August 27, 2006, 09:02:22 PM

Having read about all of these Nighthawk sightings I sat on the balcony this evening between 7 and 8pm and, much to my surprise, observed a few dozen of them. They were north of Bloor and south of St. Clair above Yonge St. Good viewing spots would have been Ramsden Park and the Summerhill LCBO. For the most part, they mingled with a fairly large flock of Chimney Swifts.