night hawks

[mc]

is it normal for night hawks to be flying during the daylight.  i have always waited til at dusk before i hear/see them, however, lately we have a night hawk in our area (runnymede/dundas) flying during the day.  chasing gulls....and beaping/buzzing.

[The Observer]

Are Nighthawks common in downtown Toronto? I best get back to my tapes and find out what to listen for. This is the second posting of late regarding a sighting in the heart of the city (Harbord/Bathurst was the other if I recall)!

Any tips on how to spot them or what to look for?

Thanks.

[GStuart]

I've heard nighthawks recently (at night) at the Bond Street ball park in North York.

And when I was in Kansas I found a pair of nighthawks flying around the long-grass prairie around noon, so I guess it isn't impossible to find them in the day.

[Dr. John]

My wife sees and hears nighthawks every year near the U of T campus, so they are definitely downtown. I suppose one might be active during the day if it is protecting a nest - particularly if it is chasing gulls.

-John

[Kin Lau]

I've seen nighthawks flying during the day quite a few times at the Brickworks downtown, Carden, and last year during our trip out west, we had them during the day in several places in Sask & Alberta.

[Bluffs Birder]

While growing up in East York back in the 70's and playing road hockey out in front of the house, my friends and I used to stop and watch as one, two, or even three Nighthawks flew high above the street calling out, flapping their wings to gain height and then diving at high speed with a swoosh like nothing else we'd heard before.  It was just fascinating to watch.  So sad that I see very very few of them these days.

Last summer I saw one in the College/Dufferin area during the afternoon and heard one a few weeks later around the College/Spadina area late at night.

Walter

[Mathieu Siol]

Last summer I actually had the amazing sighting of more than 30 Nighthawks hunting insects with a lot of Chimney Swifts and Gulls in full daylight at around 6.30pm from my balcony (I live in the Annex). They flew there until the night. and probably kept doing so after dark.

Best

Mathieu