Nighthawk Watch at Stebbins Refuge

With fingers crossed, we scanned the early evening sky for nighthawks.  Eighteen birders had gathered in the parking area for this annual ritual.  Birding got off to a very slow start.  We watched flocks of blackbirds fly into the reeds and heard a chickadee call.  When we moved on up to Tina Lane and the open area there, the first nighthawks began to pop up over the tree tops.  Not the best count, but we did see 31 nighthawks before it became too dark to count.  

Also getting our attention were the many green herons (9) flying to roost, and the trees at the back of one of the ponds that had attracted 9 Great Egrets and 4 Double-crested Cormorants.   Another highlight was a Peregrine Falcon that perched long enough for everyone to enjoy close views in the scope.  The watch ended as we listened to the call of a nearby screech owl for a total of 27 species.