Eurostopodus argus

5 Spotted Nightjar at Throsby, ACT

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Identification history

Eurostopodus argus	28 Jul 2024	MatthewFrawley
Podargus strigoides	28 Jul 2024	CarbonAI
Eurostopodus argus	28 Jul 2024	DPRees125

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Significant sighting

MatthewFrawley noted:

28 Jul 2024

The first confirmed sighting of the Spotted Nightjar for the ACT and the first sighting for Canberra & Southern Tablelands Nature Map

User's notes

One from my archives, which I recently remembered I had and I think now its time it should be put on Canberra nature map as there are no others locally, so that others can be better prepared should they come across this bird in the ACT and surrounds. This record was accepted at the time by the COG rarities panel as a new record for the ACT, especially as I was able to record the wing pattern when it took off, which you can see here. Given the technology of the day the video camera I used did a reasonable job as it was running at 25fps. This clearly shows the bird having large white apical wing patches, indicative of the Spotted Nightjar, a species widespread in inland Australia, rather than the east coast White throated Nightjar, which does not have these large patches but is known to be a regular summer visitor to the Canberra region. In addition there are no white patches on the tail, - which rules out the Long-tailed Nightjar of Qld, the only other resident Nightjar in Australia Location marked is approximate based on my memories and notes For a more immersive experience you can watch the video of the sighting at https://vimeo.com/73926269

4 comments

MatthewFrawley wrote:

28 Jul 2024

Fantastic record David and thanks for submitting this to NatureMapr. I've only ever been lucky enough to see the White-throated Nightjar in the ACT.

KMcCue wrote:

6 Aug 2024

Matt
like this How many other rare bird observations have there been in the ACT in the last 3 years? is there any way to interrogate CNM to check?

DPRees125 wrote:

6 Aug 2024

Most bird records don't go onto CNM, Ebird is more usual. I have put this here to make people aware of it and the posibility of finding them again in the region

KMcCue wrote:

6 Aug 2024

Thanks DPRees, a pity. The order should be reversed, think local, act local.

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