Christo the red-tailed hawk has been making a habit of roosting in a tree in the SW corner of Tompkins Square Park for the last couple weeks, so I sat on a bench nearby this evening to wait for him to show up. While waiting, I saw what I thought were swifts and swallows flitting around about 20 feet above my head. After seeing a bat in the same spot last week, I decided to try and capture these fast insectivores.
Upon closer inspection, I realized these weren't swifts, but nighthawks. And they were accompanied by dragonflies.
![Nighthawk](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3862/15035353391_9a4aed31d8_b.jpg)
I think this might be a female...
![Nighthawk](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/14851856657_4dc8b95a9a_b.jpg)
![Nighthawk](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5557/14851758810_85042e65f1_b.jpg)
These birds are extremely quick and hard to catch with the camera in the semi-dark...
![Nighthawks](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5564/14851758020_d0f31a3750_b.jpg)
Next time you're in the park at dusk, look up and see these birds zipping around, and be glad to know each one is capable of eating 500 mosquitoes in a single day.
See more photos here.