Page:Condor11(5).djvu/17

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Sept., 1909 FALL NOTES FROM EASTERN KANSAS 159 17. Antrostomus vociferus. Whip-poor-will. These birds were common both years, but were seen only a few times. Promptly at dusk they began to call, and sometimes half a dozen could be heard at once, in the different draws near camp. We always noticed that the birds began calling from the hillsides away from where we had hunted during the day, and so inferred ?that they flew ahead of us, and thus avoided being seen. Considerable time was Spent in looking for them the first year, but none were taken. The second year as we were finishing supper one evening, a single bird flew into a big tree above camp, and sat there for a few seconds, chucking harshly. As it flew out it was shot. I have no doubt it was attracted by the unusual sight of the tent under the trees, and came down to investigate it. 18. Chordeiles virginianus virginianus. Nighthawk. Nighthawks were fairly common during both years, but not as much so as in a more open locality. The greater part of them past to the west of our camp, outside of the line of hills, and we noticed them often in the evenings in that direction. Sometimes, however, a flock would pass directly thru the camp, and several were taken in the daytime from the limbs, where they were resting until it was time for them to feed again. 19. Chordei!e? virginianus henry/. Westeru Nighthawk. Three of the specimens taken in 1908 have been referred to this' form. 20. Chordeiles virginianus sennetti. Seunett Nighthawk. Two specimens taken September 12, 1908. They were shot from a flock which past thru camp just at daylight, and remained to feed around the edges of the timber for a few minutes. This is the first authentic record of this species for the state, to my knowledge, but I think that they will be found to be regular migrants, at least during the fall. Others takeu from the same flock were referred to C. v. henryi. 21. Chaetura pelagica. Chimuey Swift. These birds were migrating daily during both years. Most of them past over high up going either south or south- west, but by getting up on the bare hills south of camp, we were able to observe them closer, as here they frequently came down almost to the ground. Sometimes a small flock would stop to feed around some clumps of trees near the base of one hill, and we secured several here. A south wind checkt their migration somewhat, but not entirely. They were seen more often during the forenoon and late afternoon. 22. Archilochus colubris. Ruby-throated Hummingbird. During the fall of 1908 these birds were fairly common, but the preceding year none were seen at all. They were feeding around the thistle patches and by walking around these, we secured a number. They were most active in the warmer part of the day, and were seemingly indifferent to the blazing heat of the sun. This i.s the only time that I have remarkt many of them in one locality within the state. We collected them with the aux, and after a bird was shot, it was usually a problem to find it in the dense tangle of weeds, briars, and thistles, above which they were feeding. 23. Tyrannustyrannus. Kingbird. One taken September 18, 1908. This is rather a late record, as most of the birds leave about September 1. The bird taken was found in an old pasture, so?ne distance from camp, and was the only one seen. 24. Myiarchus crinitus crinitus. Crested Flycatcher. A few birds of this species noted in the timber during the second y.ear, and two taken. 25. Sayornis phoebe. Phoebe. Phoebes were found scattered along the more open por?tions of Hasty Creek, where they percht usually above the water. All those taken were fine specimens in fall plumage. Only a few were seen on each year, and all were observed in the same locality. During the spring and early summer, they are not so local in their distribution.