La noche pasada tuve una de las mejores experiencias pajariles de mi vida. Pude disfrutar de un chotacabras a escasos metros de donde yo estaba, posado en un poste al lado de la carretera. El ave se mostraba muy tranquila, cazando polillas todo el rato y parándose de vez en cuando para emitir su característico canto monótono pero icónico.
Y, a parte de estos postes, también utilizan mucho carreteras y caminos. No me explico por qué, tal vez las utilicen para cazar o para aprovechar el calor del asfalto.
Una noche estupenda, con un ave estupenda y un comportamiento estupendo...
English
translation of the text:
THE
NIGHT-TIME PHANTOM
Every summer
here in Asturias we spend a couple of evenings trying to get to grips with the
local Nightjars. They’ve got something special these birds. Maybe it’s their
prehistoric look or their night-time habits.
Last night
I had one of the best birding experiences of my life. I was able to enjoy a
Nightjar perched on a roadside post only a few metres away. I didn’t show any
nerves at my nearby presence, continuing to launch itself for moths and land
again on the same post. Every now and then it gave a burst of its
characteristic drumming song.
Apart from
the posts, they also tend to land on roads and tracks. Christ known why; maybe
they use it as a hunting platform or they take advantage of the warmth of the
asphalt.
A splendid
night with a splendid bird performing splendidly.
