Common Nighthawks, Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford

[Bill Lamond]

Hi everyone,

Tonight there were 47 Common Nighthawks viewable from the lookout along the S.C. Johnson Trail in Brantford by Glenhyrst Gardens. They were distant but easily counted with a sweep of the western sky with the scope. This is perhaps the highest number I have yet seen in Brant. There have been several here the last week with 28 observed on a recent night. They are likely the same birds, and building, and they have picked this as a migration staging area probably as there is an abundance of food.

Also here were the continuing 19 roosting Great Egrets in the same dead tree along the river along with 15 cormorants. A roosting Osprey was close by. A surprise was a flock of 32 Hooded Mergansers in the water below.

Bill