Hi all,
The grand nighthawk party at Larch Mountain continues this week. Last week
Christian Hannig and I counted no less than five at once at one of the
upper clearcuts, often four at the same time. Last night we went back to
the same spot around 8pm and could easily see six at once! These birds
were actively insect-catching over the clearcut often swooping very close
to where we stood. I have seen many nighthawks in Oregon but this has been
the only place where I've been able to sit and watch them for so long and
at such close range.
The location is the last clearcut on the left before MP 10 (and before the
state forest sign). We parked at the gate and walked in less than a
quarter mile to the area where the road veers right and there's a newer
clearcut to the left blocked by logs. This is where much of the action
was, but more seen in every direction.
My eBird checklist with location is here:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S24004158
And a few photos from last night here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stoptellingmeitsokay/
We stopped at the clearcut between Brower Rd and Deverell Rd on the way
down and had two more nighthawks pass through.
Good birding!
Jen Sanford
Portland
