[JohnN]

OK, each night just before sunset and into the dark,
there's this bird that circles.

He's medium sized - bigger than a mockingbird or dove, smaller than an ergret or a heron.

He's black, on the slender side,

He circles and circles way up in the sky, calls out *Breeek* pretty often

then, he divebombs so fast that his wings flutter and make a wind-resistant ripple sound that's pretty loud.

anyone know what this guy is??? thanks.

[Barkay]

Maybe a kite

[pklein9747]

No it's not a kite. We have several of these night birds in our villa neighborhood in Hadley. They are out all nite...in fact, when the windows are open in the early spring, they keep me awake. Is it possible that they are bats?

[jblum315]

Probably swallows. They look just like bats flying

[cbv0211]

It's a common nighthawk. They are nocturnal birds that hunt insects. The sound they make when they dive is amazing.

[KayakerNC]

"On warm summer evenings, Common Nighthawks roam the skies over treetops, grasslands, and cities. Their sharp, electric peent call is often the first clue they’re overhead. In the dim half-light, these long-winged birds fly in graceful loops, flashing white patches out past the bend of each wing as they chase insects.

Common Nighthawk, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

[pklein9747]

That is it!! Thank you so much!! I always wondered what time of bird it was and have been fascinated by their diving and booming

[THE NEWCOMER]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

"On warm summer evenings, Common Nighthawks roam the skies over treetops, grasslands, and cities. Their sharp, electric peent call is often the first clue they’re overhead. In the dim half-light, these long-winged birds fly in graceful loops, flashing white patches out past the bend of each wing as they chase insects.

Common Nighthawk, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

I'd like to see and experience this in TV! I'm adding this to my bucket list!

[collie1228]

Mr. NEWCOMER, if experiencing this bird is on your bucket list, I suggest you walk around "our block" any morning just prior to sunup. We live in the San Antonio Villas, just off Morse Blvd. in the Village of De La Vista. We have 80 villas in our neighborhood, and if you walk around the block any morning just prior to sunup, you will be dive bombed by a pair of these crazy birds. The first time I heard one it scared the **** our of me. The sound they make is hard to describe - the best description I've heard is it's an electronic buzz. I originally thought they were bats. I have a neighbor who is visually challenged, and he is afraid to walk around the neighborhood for fear of these birds. I walk my dog every morning, and we are used to them now.

[CFrance]

Go here for a recording of the bird's sound. https://soundcloud.com/wildambience/...awk-chordeiles

[pklein9747]

Or come by the Keystone Villas off of Havana Trail in the Village of Hadley. We start to see/hear them just as the sun is getting ready to set.

[asianthree]

just running at 3am they chase you..its not so cool then..scared the crap out of me