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.
I think this might be a female...
These birds are extremely quick and hard to catch with the camera in the semi-dark...
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.
These photographs are beautiful - I love the scale and color tones, and their spare quality. Stunning.
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