I was up early yesterday morning with around 20 minutes still to go before sunrise. I was welcomed into the kitchen with a "chonk...chonk...chonk" sound coming through the window. I know this call very well as I often go to sleep to it and sometimes wake up to it but seeing the maker is rare. It comes from a large-tailed nightjar, with its amazing ability to catch insects in the air at night just using its eye-sight.
This one sounded quite close so I crept outside hoping for a glimpse. I guessed it would be perched on a fence post and with the help of binoculars in the dim pre-dawn light I could make out a dark shape that flashed its white tail patches when it moved. Another one briefly hovered around the first then perched on the next post but only the first one made the chonking call. I guess a noisey male and quieter female. I left them to it and crept back indoors for a cup of tea feeling like the day had started brilliantly.
For the last six or so years I have had glimpses of this bird which has become one of my favourites. What I have managed to learn barely tells me anything about them but from their chonking I know they are always around.
This illustration is a little homage to this bird that shares our garden. They seem to do well in the area as I can hear them elsewhere if I am ever out on my bike after dark. So as a background I have added Petchaburi town's most distinctive landmark of Khao Wang Palace up on its hill which is almost visible from our garden.
Only once have I found one during the day. I only saw it when it took from the ground but the fact that it landed again nearby made me suspicious. A quick look confirmed it had an egg on the ground so I backed away to leave it in peace. Later I went back and got a decent photograph without having to get too close. Unfortunately, it had not chosen a good place to nest being right next to a footpath not walked by people very much but regularly used by cats and dogs. Within two days the egg and the bird had disappeared. However, they must be breeding successfully so I guess they are usually better at choosing nesting sites.
Can you see it?
Its egg was much more obvious without the parent on it.
