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Posted by Leo Weigant on 18:16:30 07/30/12
Yesterday (Sunday, 7/29) the last day of our yearly birding trip down to South Florida, we decided to follow Reinhold G's and thank you, RG, for the Swallow-tailed Kite (a Lifer for Karen) but we were most intrigued by a startling bird-on-a-wire silhouette - - the car left black streaks when I hit the breaks.
Getting out confirmed our amazement. It was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK sitting in 1:30PM sunlight, probably 93º or more. It stayed in place for 15 minutes or more, lifting up to show us the underside of its opened wings, then would settle back down. It did not seem to be panting in the heat.
In 25+ years of birding all over the country I've never seen such behavior. Is this common in Florida? Can anyone explain it to us? Leo Weigant / Karen Caurso
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