Posted by Paul on November 07, 2002 at 23:18:16:
At MHOC I was startled by a bird that suddenly broke cover and flew to a small post. Dusk had settled and I once again foolishly was walking the grounds without a flashlight. The bird was dusky colored and at first I thought it was a kestrel but it was far too late in the twilight for them to be about. The bird flushed and the irregular and angular flight suggested a nighthawk or relative. But aren't they gone? I lost the bird in the dark of the hammock and my attention wandered as the mated pair of fox emerged from the woods' border to mouse in the fields. The male took his typical seated stance while the female went about grocery shopping. It was a cool, still evening and there we were respectfully watching each other.."two nations caught in the web of life." Darkness settled and I returned to the car. As I turned on the lights to drive away the car was buzzed by the same mystery bird! Weaving back and forth in the light beams. It settled on the ground some 40 feet distant. I now had the flashlight and "shined" it only to be startled by the red-eye glow. Then, the bird rose and flew erratically through the beam and returned to exactly where it left. It did this three times before it dawned upon me, in the darkness of the night, that the light beam was drawing moths and the bird was flying up to catch them. The bold white tail trim confirmed my suspicions and Shipley did the rest. A Whip-poor-will. It fed in the light beam entertaining me for 30 minutes. This evening in the Garden. Life is sweet.