The past few mornings, I’ve been out at the Salt River trying to photograph Lesser Nighthawks. It’s been equal parts fascinating and frustrating .

They start showing up as the sun warms the air – just after sunrise – and suddenly the sky is full of them, chasing insects in fast, unpredictable movements. They fly low, twist constantly, and seem to disappear the moment you lock focus. If you’ve ever tried to follow one through a camera viewfinder, you know what I’m talking about. They’re fast, silent, and totally erratic – like little aerial acrobats.

Lesser Nighthawks are part of the nightjar family, and during the day, they’re almost invisible, sitting between rocks, blending into the desert ground. But at dawn and dusk, they come alive, hunting in groups and putting on an incredible show. A lot of people mistake them for bats at first – and I get it – they move with that same kind of energy.

I haven’t come away with many great shots (yet), but that’s okay. Just watching them is worth it. There’s something special about being out there early, camera in hand, trying to keep up with these birds as they carve through the morning sky.

If you’re near the Salt River around sunrise, look up – you just might catch the show.