Book Review: Nightjars of the World

When I first heard that there was a new book coming out about nightjars, I immediately became excited. Ever since I seen my first Common Nighthawk at age 11, I have been fascinated by the nightjars. So when I got an email from the publisher's publicity department that I could receive a review copy of Nightjars, Potoos, Frogmouths, Oilbird, and Owlet-nightjars of the World by Nigel Cleere, I quickly jumped on it. And I am glad I did, as I love this book!

Princeton University Press's Nightjars of the World is a hard cover book that covers all 135 species of nightjar. It is set up on the order of a field guide, complete with range maps and biology for every species. However, due to its size and the fact that it covers every species of nightjar in the world, it would be better used as a home reference rather than a field guide in my opinion.

The wonderful color photos (over 580!) no doubt make this book. Every species is photographically represented, including some for which there is no known photos of the birds in the wild. In this case, high quality photos of museum skins are used.

This book will give many the opportunity to learn about species that they would not have known even existed previously. For example, I was blown away when I saw the photo of the awesomely cool wings of the Pennant-winged Nightjar. They look like they have streamers at the end of their wings when in flight. Another cool nightjar, the Swallow-tailed Nightjar of South America has a 16-21 inch swallow tail. There are many more cool looking birds in this book that you will want to learn about!

I also like the fact that this book covers the biology and natural history of the Caprimulgiformes (nightjars) in a way that birders will be able to understand and ornithologists will be able to appreciate. The book points out that there is still a lot of unknowns when it comes to the biology of many of the Caprimulgiformes. This book will inspire many, professionals and birders alike, to want to learn more about this mysteriously cool group of birds.

This is the kind of book that can turn someone with any interest in birds into a full fledged birder. Every birder with a passion for nightjars will want to add this book to their library. A definite must have for the amateur ornithologist.

Nigel Cleere did a fantastic job with his book Nightjars of the World, and I highly recommend it - 5 out of 5 stars!

Disclosure: I had received this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Wordless Wednesday

Polyphemus Moth

Get wordless at Wordless Wednesday

A week from the dining room window

Last Wednesday night I came home from work and peaked out the dining room window. I was expecting to see the osprey sitting on my neighbor's sailboat mast but instead there was a green heron on the boat.

I think he saw me taking his picture. He stood up and posed.

Thursday night I came home to pouring rain. I peaked out the dining room window again and saw a blue heron standing on the boat. He didn't stay long.


Saturday morning I woke up and saw that the green heron was on the boat again.

Sunday afternoon I looked out and saw a big log floating in front of our dock. It had a small shorebird sitting on it. It was about to rain so I quickly ran outside to get a picture. It's a spotted sandpiper. We had one hanging around our neighbor's dock last summer for a few weeks. He stayed for a couple of hours and then the tide took the pole out of our channel and he floated out with it.

Swallow tail kites in my neighborhood

These are the first pictures (and not great at that) I have ever taken of swallow tail kites. It's the first time I've seen them up close. Last weekend the hubby and I were driving into our neighborhood, back from running errands and I saw 2 of them flying around a house. I yelled for him to pull over. I had my small point and shoot in the car so I grabbed that and jumped out of the car and started snapping. The sun was in my eyes and I could barely see what I was shooting. Hubby was watching them and said "Wow, that bird just grabbed a baby bird from a nest high in the tree." I told him it was common for raptors to eat baby birds and he said "How can bird eat another bird?" I said "It's all food to them." We quickly drove home a couple of blocks away and I ran in and got my other camera and long lens. I headed back to the entrance of the neighborhood and saw them flying high in the sky away from me. That was the last we've seen of them since but I'll keep my eyes out for them now.

Moorhen family - Cute baby

I stopped by the zoo last weekend in between the rain storms and found this cute moorhen family. It looks like there was an older sibling in the family. Moorhens often have 2 broods a year. They were swimming in the gibbon pond and stayed close together. That little baby definitely has a face only a mother could love.

My search for a Black-bellied Whistling Duck (NOT)

With the recent reports of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks being seen around the Eastern U.S. and the one up on Lake Erie, I decided to go out and check some local ponds that no one would think to check. I struck out on a BBWD of course, but did find my first of the year Pied-billed Grebe I think. Yes, my first for the year, as I cannot remember seeing ANY so far this year. They just haven't been around. Where are they all???

Pied-billed Grebe and Canada Goose

Also, I found a Green Heron. Not a place one would expect such birds, but I have found some good birds in this pond over the years. (It is that little pond that is under the word "Eastg" and above "Clepper" on the right side of the map)

View Larger Map

I am planning on going back out and checking some more spots that I think might be hiding something good tomorrow.

Baby skimmers growing up

The baby black skimmer colony on Redington Shores beach is growing up. They'll all be gone in another month or two. There were only a few that were still small. The rest looked like the one above, almost grown up. It's so funny to watch them dig a little hole and lay down to sleep in the hole. They seem to do well on this busy little beach. Hopefully, they'll be back next year.