[cobirds] More Nighthawks, more flying ants - Arapahoe

After running some errands, I returned to my home in Centennial around 6:30 last night to find 20-30 Common Nighthawks actively feeding over me. They made wide circles above my home and neighborhood. With the low but strong sun, the lighting was fairly dramatic on the birds. The white of their throats and the spots on their underwings were glowing at some angles, while at other angles the birds cast dramatic shadows on themselves. The birds were high enough, my camera old enough, and my photographic skills poor enough that I never get crisp shots of the birds in flight. Here's one photo.

I noticed that insect activity in my yard looked a little bit different, too. There were small insects flying low and not to the various blooms, as all the bees and flies do. I assumed more flying ants. It took me a while, but I was finally able to fetch one out of the air -- compelling it to land on my hand -- and this was indeed the case. What a strange evening for so many of these insects -- to emerge out of the dark ground; to briefly fly through a lit, blue sky; and to end up swallowed.

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO

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