Nightjar. 2019

[Hellem]

23:09 Female left but returned quickly
23:17 The female flew away
23:20 The cam light changed to IR

23:44 The female is back on the eggs

[Shanta]

23:09 Female left but returned quickly
23:17 The female flew away

Hellem
Thank you for report!

23:09 Don't think it was the female, for me it looks more like the male (white at tail and wingtips) came back and incubated for few minutes

[Biker]

Hi, everyone!

by Shanta » June 6th, 2019, 2:49 am it looks more like the male (white at tail and wingtips) came back and incubated for few minutes

yes, the male. white wing patterns. thanks Shanta.

[mogga]

Hellem
Thank you for report!

23:09 Don't think it was the female, for me it looks more like the male (white at tail and wingtips) came back and incubated for few minutes

I find it difficult to distinguish between female and male. I have here 3 pictures, does anyone feel sure to judge it? (With the pics from about 23:00 o'clock I made a slight tonal value correction to be able to recognize it better.)

So far it has been assumed here that probably only the female incubates the eggs, that's how I understood it. I am insecure... Is it at all possible to distinguish it from a sitting nightjar?

[mogga]

Hi, everyone!

yes, the male. white wing patterns. thanks Shanta.

Ok, I see. With a flying nightjar it's much easier...

[Biker]

indeed it is
but what i' ve read, is obviously not right, concerning caring for eggs. at least a bit care we have already seen.

Edit the difference lies obviously in the detail: brooding and keeping eggs warm when the female is on the way.

[mogga]

°°°

What I learn first: You need a high degree of deep relaxation when you observe this nest. And you should reverse your sleep-wake rhythm.

No comparison with ospreys, black storks, white-tailed eagles.

I made a time-lapse video just for fun from yesterday. 8 hours (04:17-12:17) in 2 minutes. Hope you enjoy it...

June 5th, 2019
4:17 - 12:17

[Biker]

thanks, Mogga.
the only way to stand this boring period , if you don't want to miss something.

[Hellem]

23:17 The nightjar flew away, eggs alone

[Shanta]

I find it difficult to distinguish between female and male. I have here 3 pictures, does anyone feel sure to judge it?
So far it has been assumed here that probably only the female incubates the eggs, that's how I understood it. I am insecure... Is it at all possible to distinguish it from a sitting nightjar?

Male and female to distinguish it from a sitting nightjar is nearly impossible. In your first pic there is nothing of the white patterns to see, but in the last pic you can see a bit of the white.
So far I know, the male comes sometimes to incubate the eggs only for few minutes if the female leaves but it doesn't wait till the female comes back.

Ok, I see. With a flying nightjar it's much easier...

Yes, it's the best way

21:45 For the female it did not work with the appetizer (looks like a wesp)

[Hellem]

00:06 The female is back on the eggs

[Marfo]

I just discovered this forum and camera with a nightjar! Wow, one of my favourite birds. And a woodlark singing so beautifully now!

1:53 an ant is crawling right in front of her but she doesn't grab it. In fact many insects are seen around the nest.

[yitmoth]

The eggs were exposed from 02:45 to 03:06, and then again from 03:14 to 03:17. No audible disturbance that might've caused the female to leave the nest. Male (I assume) heard singing on both occasions, and some loud calls just before the second return (at 03:17). So I guess this is just how it is with brooding nightjars.

Here's another major event from last night:

(23:14:20)

[Biker]

*
Hello, everyone!
yitmoth
"major"
thanks for this great animation.

[Biker]

looks like the female bird, which both times returned on the eggs

[mogga]

Male and female to distinguish it from a sitting nightjar is nearly impossible. In your first pic there is nothing of the white patterns to see, but in the last pic you can see a bit of the white.

Thanks for your reply, Shanta. Yes, in the last pic the white can be seen. I am beginning to realize where exactly I can be aware of the white spot...

[Biker]

14:05

[Hellem]

23:24 The nightjar flew away
00:03 She is back on the eggs

[yitmoth]

The female mostly stayed at the nest last night. After the time Hellem mentioned (picture below), I noticed only one short break, from 02:53 to 03:02.



Nightjar song heard in the background from time to time, but it didn't seem to come from very near.

[Fleur]

good morning.
a beautiful webcam. thank you