Date: 6/27/26 6:32 am From: Brian Fitch via groups.io <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Nighthawk!
Hi Summer Campers,
I woke up at first light, and felt an inner prompt to get up immediately
rather than laze around for awhile. Upon entering my east-facing kitchen,
I heard water drops and opened the casement window to see if it was
actually raining. It had been raining, and the sky was low and stormy
looking, as many of you will see when you look out. I kept the window open
despite the cold, checked the hummer water and found it low, then prepped
some fresh sugar solution at the sink, still with open window.
My wife and I were in Sierra Valley two weeks ago, and had Common
Nighthawks overhead every evening and some mornings, so when that utterly
unique sound hit my ears right here in SF I flipped out, but managed to not
break the feeder or other utensils as I ran back to the window, looked up,
and spotted a nighthawk flying in classic style and calling several more
times as it flew high overhead toward Buena Vista hill. I have no easily
openable window on the west side of our flat, and was unable to pick the
bird up visually again, but it could have chosen a roost on one of the
hilltops here, or moved on to who knows where in this bizarre weather.
This is my first self-found city lifer since the European Robin four years
ago, and fulfills my raincheck of missing the roosting nighthawk at McLaren
Park many years ago. It's also the first new non-introduced species for my
house list in several years. Events like this are why I love birding!
Brian Fitch
On Sat, Jun 27, 2026 at 5:58 AM Brian Fitch via groups.io <fogeggs=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Common just flew over Noe and 14th heading west! Calling!
> Brian Fitch
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