Dear All,
Records of Square-tailed [Gabon] Nightjar in Kenya are nearly always
treated with some scepticism, often dismissed as the very common
Slender-tailed. Whilst found virually throughout Tanzania, claims or
specimens have only occurred in this country along the border areas.
In the southern winter there is a withdrawal of southern breeding
birds, and it is at this time that the species does visit us, but
judging from records of road kills the species is certainly uncommon.
Each year at this period the bird does at least visit the Mara maybe
in greater numbers than we realise.
Last Tuesday 29th June, I was on a night game drive with a
group, and
we found many nightjars on Siana Springs airstrip in the eastern Mara.
There were three species present, Dusky, Montane and Square-tailed. We
were able to pull up next to the birds and I took the advantage of
videoing a female Square-tailed, and have attached an image of the
bird to show that Square-tailed are indeed visiting us. There were a
number of the species present, in flight they appeared much smaller
than the other two species, and the short tail appeared
disproportionately so. With Slender-tailed occurring along our entire
border with Tanzania, it is possible that the species is overlooked
and could occur anywhere along this broad front.
Best for now
Brian