Nighthawk

Sunny spells, 15°, breezy W.

Both out along the Bunk line this morning, Alan earlier and myself later.

I was halfway out and not seeing much when a message came thru of a Common Nighthawk in Wantage!

My first thought was “What’s a Common Nighthawk (an American relation of a Nightjar and a mega rarity in the UK) doing in Oxfordshire?

Anyway I immediately about turned and phoned Loren to say we were off to Wantage and made it back home as fast as possible. And by around midday we were off.

We arrived onsite fairly quickly and joined a small band of local Oxon birders already present and surprised to see the Nighthawk perched atop a fence in plain view.

This species is crepuscular/nocturnal and rests up during the day and its cryptic plumage helps to camouflage it on trees, logs etc.

Ian Lewington had earlier received a call from a Wantage resident regarding a bird sat on his garden fence that was believed to be a Nightjar but on viewing it, Lew realised it was a rare American cousin and put the news out. A first record for Oxfordshire.

A couple of Oxon birders had also organised a collection bucket for birders to donate to the residents preferred charity as he allowed people to view the bird in his garden.  

As time wore on more birders started to arrive so after approx. and hour, we decided to leave to make room for the crowds that will inevitably turn up later.

Good to see a couple of other Cholsey birders there. Alan and Tony. And thanks to Lew and the local residents.  

Not strictly Cholsey but a bird worth a mention.