Buzz, Buzz, my phone making me casually look right to the phone on my desk. I had to read the alert three times but there it was. Oh my days..............
This was a MEGA of epic proportions that needed an instant departure. Typically, the Squire had left his phone at home and was out at work. Fortunately, his son saved the day by running around the corner to tell him to get home quickly as I was en route. Most birds we twitch these days are three hours away, so to get something within ninety minutes was an absolute gift.
Wantage resident, Lee Farmer discovered the bird sitting on his garden fence at 7am. He considered it might have been a Sparrowhawk, but thankfully informed a friend who considered it to be a Nightjar. They, in turn, contacted Ian Lewington the County Recorder, who went to investigate thinking it would be a Nightjar, a very good record for the county anyway. Following Lee's permission and volunteers were in place to manage the crowd, news was released.
Our journey was very smooth, following the parking instructions, but we were still very close to the birds' location. We duly paid our £10 donation each when the volunteers told us "it's on the fence behind the red audi". We were both expecting to view down a long garden with a queuing system, but no, there was the northern american rarity just sitting in the open in the cul-de-sac off Springfield Road. It was simply amazing.
There were around 40 birders present (including twitching buddy the Captain) which grew to double that during our amazing visit. The bird had a stunning cryptic plummage which no doubt gave the bird confidence it was in a safe location. Every fifteen minutes, the bird shuffled in half-circle motion, rocking from side to side. Speaking to another birder, it was identified as a female juvenile by a dull white patch on its primaries, lack of white on the tail and a barred throat patch.
You can only think the juvenile was blown off course in the recent hurricane over Canada, but in truth no one will actually know. What I can confirm is that over £4,000 was collected for two local charities, a hospital spinal unit & Little Foxes, a wildlife charity. There were over 400 very happy birders, that is for sure.
The bird took flight south at around 7pm and there was no sign the following morning, very much as predicted.
The Common Nighthawk is a very rare visitor with there being just 25 British records and three in Ireland.
YouTube Video from Oxon Birding
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