Weekend Birding: Tree Swallow
Last Saturday I participated in Automattic’s Worldwide WP 5k run/walk for fitness on the trails at one of my favorite birding areas. While I was walking I noticed tree swallows circling above a nest box near a marshy area. They can often be spotted by their graceful, swooping flight as they catch insects in mid air.
I sat down on a rock next to a tree and watched. Sure enough one began inspecting the box. He sat on top of it, went inside, came out, inside again, flew away and then returned. He forgot all about me and I was able to get some close up shots. That’s where a lot of patience comes in handy when photographing birds. If you sit still or hide behind a tree, they usually ignore you.
Tree Swallows are common across the US and Canada. They migrate to Southern California and the Gulf for winter but are back north by April to begin building their nests. They can be identified by their iridescent blue-green upperparts, white underparts and long wings.
Similar birds are the Barn Swallow, which nests in the open, and the Purple Martin, which nests in a community house. Tree Swallows make a very interesting nest using other birds feathers to line a cup of grass which they build inside the nest box.
(Click photos for sharper images.)
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Under My Apple Tree 
What beautiful shots. We have a lot of these little cuties here too.
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I guess I’m not patient enough to capture birds, but I always wish I was when I see your photos.
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Now that is a beautiful bird! The contrast between the blue and white feathers is really striking.
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This is so cute, you are really patient to have captured a up close pic of him.
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I think those shots are fabulous! I love the navy blue color of the bird. My favorite color I think. Thanks so much for sharing and also giving us a little ornithologist lesson. 🙂
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I haven’t tried to capture birds, but I do admire those who have. These are great!
I love and collect birdhouses, though…LOL
Thanks for visiting my blog.
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The shade of blue is so pretty. Thanks for sharing these photos – I love the different ‘poses’ 🙂
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Oh my — that tree swallow is really just so lovely. Like I always say, coming here and seeing your photographs always makes me so very happy! XOXO me
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Makes me want to build and put up nesting boxes. Beautiful shots of a very pretty bird.
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Very pretty bird, it can be difficult to get good bird photos since they are so quick
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I’ve always thought that swallows are pretty birds. Lovely photos!
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These are incredibly beautiful photos, Leslie.
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The first one looks like he’s skidding to a stop on the runway!
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Leslie, these photos are gorgeous. And the swallow! How beautiful he is! I’ve never seen swallows up close here at the pond. I’m not sure my habitat is right for them. I’m off to check my field guides to see what they say. I have barn swallows zooming over the pond during the summer catching bugs, but they go somewhere else to roost. Speaking of field guides, I had a couple of gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket, so I purchased the new Crossley guide. Have you seen it yet? It’s quite amazing. A whole different approach. It’s not like I really needed another bird book, but I’m sure you know how it is. 😉
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Glad you enjoyed them. The nestbox in these photos is next to a marshy area and a pond. The boxes were put up for bluebirds but the tree swallows and chickadees seem to like them too.
I haven’t seen the new Crossley guide. I”ll have to check it out. I was looking through the new Stokes guide last week and may buy that one. I love my old National Geographic guide… it’s falling apart from use.
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What beautiful photos. I do love birds, but rarely have the patience to take pictures of them.
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