Common Nighthawks in Homestead on December 14, 2005.

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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 00:59:59 12/15/05

Mark Faherty reported hearing Common Nighthawks here in Homestead at the Publix and Winn-Dixie shopping centers in early December. I waited and searched in those darn parking lots with my video camera three different nights. I also checked other areas with bright lights for Common Nighthawks without any luck. Local birder Roberto Torres went down to the Publix on December 12, and did see and hear two Common Nighthawks at 6:06 and 6:12 p.m. I went down for my fourth try the following evening at the same time and saw and heard nothing!! I must have spent about 3-hours waiting on different nights hearing diesel trucks, car alarms, sirens, loud music, people talking, hot rods and every other kind of noise that you can imagine!! I did not hear one single Common Nighthawk or see one. Tonight on December 14, I had to drive to Pet Supermarket for pet supplies next to the Publix. As usual I got out of my car and listened for Common Nighthawks but heard nothing. After I purchased what I needed I went outside towards my car and what do you know!! Two Common Nighthawks were flying over head with one of them calling at 6:55 p.m. The male was the one calling and he was doing his flight display, flap a little and then gain some altitude, flap some more and gain more altitude etc. He then plunged towards the female in a typical summer time display, I watched as he did it once more just over the roof of the Publix. Apparently the female must have landed on the roof right over the entrance to the Publix. My 4-year old son was with me and heard and saw the birds. We went back home and eat dinner I then went back with my video camera and waited. At about 8:15 I heard a Common Nighthawk call and then video taped a single bird. He called for about 2-minutes and then went silent, I waited another hour and did not see or hear it again. I will but an mpg file on my website later with the call of the bird, for some reason you can't see the bird in the video. I can see it on my camera but not when I upload it to the computer, strange! The video is very poor with the bird quite high up and without much light on it. The audio portion is excellent though which confirms the sighting.

Thanks Mark for reporting your sightings.

Larry Manfredi
Homestead, FL
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com

Follow Ups:

Re: Common Nighthawks in Homestead on December 14, 2005. - Larry Manfredi 08:26:09 12/15/05 (2)
- Re: Common Nighthawks in Homestead on December 14, 2005. - Bill Pranty 10:53:52 12/15/05 (0)
- Re: Common Nighthawks in Homestead on December 14, 2005. - Bill Pranty 10:53:43 12/15/05 (0)

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Comments:	: Mark Faherty reported hearing Common Nighthawks here in Homestead at the Publix and Winn-Dixie shopping centers in early December. I waited and searched in those darn parking lots with my video camera three different nights. I also checked other areas with bright lights for Common Nighthawks without any luck. Local birder Roberto Torres went down to the Publix on December 12, and did see and hear two Common Nighthawks at 6:06 and 6:12 p.m. I went down for my fourth try the following evening at the same time and saw and heard nothing!! I must have spent about 3-hours waiting on different nights hearing diesel trucks, car alarms, sirens, loud music, people talking, hot rods and every other kind of noise that you can imagine!! I did not hear one single Common Nighthawk or see one. Tonight on December 14, I had to drive to Pet Supermarket for pet supplies next to the Publix. As usual I got out of my car and listened for Common Nighthawks but heard nothing. After I purchased what I needed I went outside towards my car and what do you know!! Two Common Nighthawks were flying over head with one of them calling at 6:55 p.m. The male was the one calling and he was doing his flight display, flap a little and then gain some altitude, flap some more and gain more altitude etc. He then plunged towards the female in a typical summer time display, I watched as he did it once more just over the roof of the Publix. Apparently the female must have landed on the roof right over the entrance to the Publix. My 4-year old son was with me and heard and saw the birds. We went back home and eat dinner I then went back with my video camera and waited. At about 8:15 I heard a Common Nighthawk call and then video taped a single bird. He called for about 2-minutes and then went silent, I waited another hour and did not see or hear it again. I will but an mpg file on my website later with the call of the bird, for some reason you can't see the bird in the video. I can see it on my camera but not when I upload it to the computer, strange! The video is very poor with the bird quite high up and without much light on it. The audio portion is excellent though which confirms the sighting. : : Thanks Mark for reporting your sightings. : : Larry Manfredi : Homestead, FL : E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net : http://www.southfloridabirding.com
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