I suppose it depends on what technology the light sensor uses,, but I have never had a problem using any kind of bulb either. Usually the cheaper sensors I use are bi-metallic sensors.
They have a light sensitive resistor inside them(photo resistor). This resistor controls the current to a heating element that is wrapped around a bi-metallic arm with a contact on it. When the photo-resistor see's light, it's resistance is low, and the heating element gets hotter and the bi-metallic arm bends and pulls the main lighting contact up and breaks the circuit to the lights. This is why when you first hook the system up and the sensor has not been powered, the lights will come on even in the daytime for a minute or two, it is waiting for the bi-metallic arm to warm up and bend.
At night the photo resistance is high, the heating element cools, and the arm bends back down and the contacts touch, making the circuit. And this system naturally gives you some delay in the system also, which is desirable to keep the lights from blinking on and off if something temp blocks the sensor.
Very simple reliable and cheap. If you mount the sensor directly below your pole light, there is a chance the light from the top of the pole will be "seen" by the sensor. This will cut the light on and off continually all night long. If this happens, you can sometimes place a short tube or eyebrow over the sensor to help shield it from the light above.
