Went camping at Yellowwood State Park Friday and Saturday night. I saw two of the three nightjars found in Indiana, and heard the third.
Friday night just at dusk, a Chuck-will's-widow, an uncommon bird for this area, began to call not far from my campsite. I grabbed my flashlight and tried to locate it, but it didn't call for long, and never called again that night. I suppose that technically I could count the Chuck as a new state and year bird, but I only count birds I see.
As I was searching for the Chuck, Whip-poor-wills started calling. I walked down a dirt road in the dusk toward where one was calling and saw it fly down and land on the white gravel of the road. Before I could get my flashlight on it, it flew. Not a satisfying look, so I'll have to try again one of these evenings for a better look. WHIP-POOR-WILL is Indiana state bird number 197, year bird number 167.
The next morning, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo (year bird number 168) was in the trees above my campsite. And, Saturday night just before dark, I got another nightjar as a Common Nighthawk (year bird number 169) flew over the campground.
Posted by Birdingdave at May 9, 2004 11:10 PM