ML618987961

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

**Very early record** Heindel and Heindel (2023) indicate Common Nighthawk doesn't appear in Inyo County until late May with the earliest springs on 18 May 2002 (Independence) and 19 May 2006 (Bishop). Shortly after taking the right fork towards Finkbiener Forest proper, I noticed five nighthawks flying at mid-height over the willow and rose tangles to the north. I presumed they were all Lesser Nighthawks, the only nighthawk species expected before late May. I had been seeing small flocks of Lesser Nighthawks the past few weeks in the Owens Valley, particularly at dawn and dusk. I took this opportunity to study Lesser Nighthawk fieldmarks, including the rounded wingtips (P10 shorter than P9) and pale bar in the wing out toward the tip. I was shocked to see one bird with decidedly pointed primaries and the bar closer to the bend of the wing. I knew the date was a week earlier than we've ever encountered a Common Nighthawk in the Owens Valley, so I took as many photos and videos of the bird before it flew off to the south. I was able to differentiate the Common from the Lessers every time I switched between binoculars and camera. In addition to the pointed wingtip on the Common (P10 longer than P9) and the pale bar closer to the bend of the wing, I thought the wing itself was narrower where it met the body than the Lesser Nighthawk. Photos show a white throat and a band in the tail indicating a male. Unfortunately, the Common Nighthawk was silent.

Technical information

Model

DSC-HX400V

Lens

4.3-215mm f/2.8-6.3

ISO

160

Focal length

71.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

935 pixels x 701 pixels

Original file size

72.34 KB