New Species for my Home List
After living in the same home for over 20 years it is a rare event to add a new bird species to my “home list.” So it was a delight a few days ago when I disturbed a Spotted Nightjar in our little patch of mallee scrub. It flew before I had seen it roosting on the ground. This is not surprising because the spot where it was sitting was covered in leaves and twigs from the surrounding trees. The spots on its wings were diagnostic, and it was not a Brown Falcon as was my first reaction. Too small, wrong colour and the spots – it had to be a Spotted Nightjar.
Spotted Nightjar
A few hours later I did a thorough search of the area where it might have landed, but it was not to be seen. With its amazing camouflage I may well have walked within a metre and not seen it. While it is exciting to have such a species in our little patch, I am concerned about its future if it hangs around. Being ground roosting during the day, it is in danger of being stumbled upon by the neighbour’s cat. This pet does regular patrols through our garden – despite some attempts at discouragement on our part.
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What a wonderful addition to your home list. I’m green with envy.
Yes indeed – but then we don’t have Spinebills in our garden. Can we occasionally do a swap for a week or two?
[…] Nighthawk. I’ve not seen a photo of this species before but it reminds me very much of the Spotted Nightjar of Australia. Wednesday August 15th, 2007 | Categories: Non-Australian birds; Birds in the News […]