Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor (Forster, JR, 1771) (1, 2)
Photo © Cliff Smith
Status
Nearctic. Polytypic.
Overview
The first two European records.
RECORD
1). 1927 Isles of Scilly Abbey, Tresco, female, shot, 17th September, now at Isles of Scilly Museum.
(N. B. Kinnear, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 48: 41; H. F. Witherby, British Birds 22: 98-100; BOURC (1928), Ibis 70: 321; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 8; Penhallurick, 1978).
History N. B. Kinnear, Editor (1927) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XLVIII. p. 41, at the 313th Meeting of the Club held on 9th November 1927 at Pagani's Restaurant, London, says: 'The Chairman then exhibited, on behalf of Major Dorrien Smith, an example of the American Nighthawk, Chordeiles virginianus, which had been shot this autumn by the latter at Tresco Abbey, in the Scilly Isles. This was the first occasion on which this species had been taken in the British Isles.'
H. F. Witherby (1928) in British Birds, Vol. XXII. pp. 98-99, says: 'Three birds new to the British List have been admitted by the British Ornithologists' Union List Committee since the article in Vol. XX. pp. 11-16.
These new birds are described below and Mr. Jourdain has supplied paragraphs on their breeding habits and distribution abroad....The American Nightjar. - Chordeiles virginianus virginianus (Gm.).
A specimen of this bird was exhibited at the November 1927 meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club by Dr. P. R. Lowe on behalf of Major Dorrien Smith, who shot the bird at Tresco Abbey, Scilly Isles (Bull. B.O.C., XLVIII. p. 41). It was a female and was obtained on September 17th, 1927.
This is the first known occurrence of the species in Europe. In America it is a common bird, known as the Nighthawk, with a wide breeding range in North America and migrating through Central to South America in winter.'
Admitted nationally in the Sixth List Report as the first for Britain (BOURC (1928) Ibis 70: 321).
Comment The other two new species were the Hebridean Wren and the American Red-necked Grebe.
1950-57 RECORD
2). 1955 Isles of Scilly Lighthouse and Parsonage, St Agnes, two: female and juvenile, 28th September, juvenile remaining until 5th October.
(B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons, Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report 1955: 35-36; Penhallurick, 1978).
History B. H. Ryves, H. M. Quick & A. G. Parsons (1955) in the Cornwall Bird-Watching & Preservation Society Report, Vol. XXV. pp. 35-36, say: 'On September 28th, at about 7.15 p.m. (B.S.T.) we were asked by Mrs. Lewis Hicks to come and see two Nightjar-like birds that were flying round the Lighthouse and Parsonage trees on St. Agnes.
The birds were about the same size as Nightjars (Caprimulgus Europaeus), with the characteristic Nightjar flight, with wings raised in a V, but much more rapid and dashing. Light was still adequate, and we could all see clearly the long, pointed wings, with large white patches on both upper and under sides, and the forked tail. They wheeled both below and above us as we stood on the slope of the hill, and frequently passed within ten yards. The wings and upper parts looked a very dark brown, almost black, and the under parts lighter, with some chestnut colour showing on one of the birds.
It is thought that they were a female and a juvenile. On following nights, until October 5th, only one bird, the juvenile, was seen.
It appeared very accurately on time (7 p.m. B.S.T. and 6 p.m. G.M.T.) regardless of the state of the light, and was watched for about half an hour, after which it apparently ceased its flights, for it would still have been visible against the sky. After three days it changed its beat from the trees on the hill to a freshwater pool and grassland by the shore. It often hawked at ground level, taking no notice of human observers, and skimming past sometimes within arms' reach.
On one sunny evening its first appearance was in good daylight, and it was possible to see more of its markings than ever before. The bird moved too fast for detailed "marblings" to be seen, but the broad outline of the pattern was: Primaries black, with a brilliant white patch halfway between the carpal joint and the tip; across the shoulders and back, a pale warm buff V-shaped patch (like the pattern on a Tarrock Kittiwake), contrasting sharply with the black edges of the wings, and the tail - the whole effect being extraordinarily brilliant. The head was dark, in abrupt contrast to the pale underside of the body, which was barred with greenish grey; the underside of the wings also appeared pale, except for the black and white primaries. No white chin patch could be seen.
The Handbook gives no suggestion of the speed, beauty and grace of the Nighthawk's flight, which (except when the wings were in the V position) recalled to one observer that of the Alpine Swift. We were impressed with this flight as being an aid to recognition in the dusk. When hawking over the pool, the flight was more like that of a Swallow, dipping to the water, and skimming the rushes and ground. During high flights its tail was constantly fanned.
The wind on September 27th, the night before its first appearance, was N.E., but changed to N.W. and later to W., with mild weather, in the course of the following day. During the rest of the time the weather remained mainly fine, with some light rain, and wind between W. and N. light to moderate. On October 5th, there was a strong N.W. wind, increasing to near gale, and some heavy rain. On that evening the Nighthawk was not seen, nor has been since. (R.H.B., H.M.Q.).'
[Only one American Nighthawk has been reported previously from Europe, and this was from Tresco on September 17th, 1927. - Eds.]
