Monday, July 10, 2017

Various Swallows

Hello,


I am sharing various swallows we saw while visiting Washington State and some other Swallows seen while on other trips. I have a mix of Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, an awful photo of the Violet-green Swallow, a distant look at Cave Swallows.  I am always working on getting what I think is a great shot of any bird I see. When it comes to a new bird, I will keep what I think is an awful photo just to record the time I actually saw my life bird.


Barn Swallows on their nest under the pier. The Barn Swallows have a steel blue upperpart and a rufous forehead, chin and throat.


Barn Swallow collecting mud for their nest. The building a cup nest from mud pellets.



Two Northern Rough-winged Swallows. These swallows are brown above and white underparts. Their throat is white with a brownish gray wash.


They usually nest near streams, we saw these birds next to the Hoh River in the Olympic National Park.


This swallow photo below  is not my best, I will still have to work on getting a better shot of the Violet-green Swallow. I was able to get an id confirmation with this photo and that is why I am keeping it for now.  This swallow has long pointed wings, has a glossy green color on top of it's head and white cheeks.



Below, a Tree Swallow sky. Swallows are fast flyers and it is very hard for me to get a clear shot and closeup of a moving swallow.


Tree swallow talk. These swallows have a iridescent blueish-green upper part and white underparts.


Below are the Cave Swallows seen as they excited the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. They nest in natural caves. They have grey-blue upperparts and brown-tangerine forefront. It is hard to see their colors in my photo.


Other swallows seen in my area are the Bank Swallow and the Cliff Swallows.

Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.


Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

61 comments:

chica said...

Muito lindo e poder ver e observar pássaros nos encanta! Bjs praianos, chica

Gordon said...

Hello Eileen, that was a very interesting post, and it prompted me to do a bit of reserch, because your Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica) is the same as our Swallow (Hirundo rustica).
All the best, Gordon.

Tom said...

...and I lost count.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
that's a great collection - or ought one to call it a flock?!! happy Monday. YAM xx

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Fotografias fantásticas.
Um abraço e boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros

Maggee said...

It IS difficult to get snapshots of any swallows! I have just a few successes... You have done just fine! Thanks for sharing! Hugs!

Lynne said...

Bunches of those Swallows!

rupam sarma said...

Helloo, Thanks for your new post. Amazing bird pics.
Have a nice week ahead.

MadSnapper said...

I had no idea there are that many types of swallows, I thought a swallow was a swallow. my favorite is the yak yak talking tree swallows. they remind me of ME

Jeanie said...

I don't see swallows here, so I love these, but the one of the two talking is especially wonderful. Perfect timing on that capture!

Indah Nuria Savitri said...

Those are beautiful photos indeed, Eileen

Carol Blackburn said...

Interesting! Looks like those tree swallows are having a pretty heated conversation there.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I love the two giving each other 'lip'

*big smile*

Linda said...

Wonderful photos of these beautiful swallows, Eileen! Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope you have a fantastic week ahead!

Breathtaking said...

Hello Eileen!:) You did a good job of capturing all these swallows. I gave up, when we were on our hols in the algarve. They move so fast, and I only saw swallows on the wing. I did not realize that there are so many different species of swallows. Thank you!:)

RedPat said...

So Many swallows, Eileen!

Anonymous said...

Well! Those tree swallows certainly had a lot to say. And, it looks like they were saying it LOUDLY!!!

(Domestic dispute????) LOL

Marit said...

Hello,

Beautiful swallows! We have swallows here too,and they live in my neighbours barn.
Happy Monday,and have a nice week ahead!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I never knew that there were so many varieties of swallows, Eileen. It must be a thrill for you to spot a new one that you have never seen before. I admire that you get so many good close ups. My bird photos usually look like your full sky photos as I can never seems to zoom in a get a close up. I know swallows are fast flyers -- they are interesting birds!

Cloudia said...

GIRL! You GOOD!

Debbie said...

the feeding/talking image, wow and what a great flock of birds!!!!

Bob Bushell said...

Perfection Eileen, love 'em.

This N That said...

I used to love watching the Swallows going after the bugs that got stirred up when I was mowing. Wonderful shots..

Anonymous said...

Happy Monday. I learn so much from your photos. Have a nice week. xo

Cranberry Morning said...

I love all the swallow photos, unless it's the one where the two look like they're bickering. LOL Have a wonderful week, Eileen. Always tremendous photos!

Crafty Green Poet said...

Lovely to see all the different species of swallows. I particularly like the photo of the tree swallows 'talking'

A Colorful World said...

Beautiful swallows! You got some awesome shots, Eileen.

Alexa T said...

So, so lovely little birds... (in here, the name of this migratory bird is "rândunică or Hirundo rustica" and the plumage is black and white).
Great to see lots of them up in the blue sky...
A very nice day and new week, too! Alexa

NatureFootstep said...

so many swallows, wonderful. Many times we only get "bad shots" but that is how it is photographing birds. At least you have one image of the Violet-green swallow.

William Kendall said...

Wonderful shots, Eileen!

Jeanna said...

Those swallows seem to be having quite the conversation, excellent shots.

HappyK said...

Lovely pictures of the swallows. What great nests they make.

Hootin Anni said...

One thing that I remember seeing and in awe of is the swallows at Capistrano. Along with the bell towers and the beautiful bougainvillea, the photo ops were outstanding.

You have such a great variety here today Eileen.

Anonymous said...

Great moments. Appreciate you sharing.

ellen b said...

Haha! Love the swallow talk that you captured so well!

Suzanne said...

That's quite a lot of cave swallows flying about! And, even though your violet-green swallow didn't photograph as well as you would like, we still have a good idea of its attractive appearance. The tree swallows are also a pretty bird. I think that the white and light blue colored underparts bring out the nice color of the upper parts. So many types of Swallows. Your pictures are really good, Eileen! Have a great evening!

Linda W. said...

I really like your photo of the tree swallows "talking."

Michelle said...

I like the tree swallow talk. They are really telling it! lol

Rose said...

I don't know how I missed it, but I did not know there were that many types of swallows. I love to watch them...

Nancy Chan said...

I wonder if this is the same swallow that provided the swallow's nest and collected as an expensive delicacy by the Chinese.

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Hi Eileen,
wonderful photos of these fast birds. I like swallows so much.
Have agreat day, Eileen.
Best, Synnöve

DeniseinVA said...

What an incredible flock of swallows Eileen. Fabulous photos as always. Did you ever notice the swallow nests where the rangers entrance is o Skyline Drive? I saw two or three nests with mommy swallows going into the roof, feeding their babies while waiting for our turn to go onto the drive. Lovely to see. Enjoy the rest of your week :)

Karen said...

I love the swallows 'talking'. Reminds me of my neighbor ladies both talking at the same time and no one is listening. LOL

Lynn said...

They do nest in the oddest places. Lovely photos - love the two "talking."

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Interesting group of Swallows... I have only heard of a couple of them --and the Barn Swallows are most common here...

Love the picture of the 'talking' swallows... CUTE...

Thanks for sharing all of the Swallows...
Hugs,
Betsy

Our photos said...

Very nice !

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

The tree swallows holding a conversation (or having an argument?) make an amazing photo. All wonderful photos -- I find them hard to capture as they don't often seem to sit still very well for me. Lovely post.

Linda said...

Love that swallow talk picture!

Ohmydearests said...

Lovely! Love the last one! When I was little, we had swallows nesting on our veranda... Their mud nest was just fascinating.

Lea said...

Great photos of the Swallows! The only Swallow that I have seen here that sits still long enough to get a photo is the Rough-winged Swallow. I see flocks of swallows swooping around, but not well enough to ID them. I hope you are having a beautiful week!

Prunella Pepperpot said...

I loved seeing your pictures of swallows, such gorgeous colours. Loving the two together!!
Gosh don't they fly fast. I can never get one in flight and I've yet to capture one at rest!!
Have a wonderful Wednesday Eileen :)

Shiju Sugunan said...

Great shots, especially the picture of the two arguing.

Phil Slade said...

Hi Eileen. You do have a lot of swallow species. And they all fill a particular niche - nature is marvellous isn't it? I especially like your Tree Swallow picture today. Have a lovely week.

Small City Scenes said...

Great pictures of the different kind of Swallows. Love 'em here because they are bug eaters---on the fly as it were.
MB

Ranten said...

Lovely pictures! Swallow is not an easy bird to photographing!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Love seeing all the different swallows, Eileen. They are such graceful, interesting birds. We have a returning flock here every year, but I am not sure if they are tree swallows or violet-green swallows. They nest in the mountains, but come down to feed once in a while. I didn't realize we had the rough-winged swallows here - I will have to look for those. I always learn something new on my visits! Hope you are enjoying these lovely summer days! xx Karen

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

An interesting post hearing and seeeing all your swallows Eileen.

Joyful said...

Happy blog anniversary Eileen. You've shared some wonderful photos over the years and it's been a pleasure to view them. Hugs. Joyful Penny xx

Lowcarb team member said...

My favourite has to be the two talking!
Fantastic shot.

All the best Jan

Rambling Woods said...

Oh these are great Eileen. I only see swallows flying overhead... Michelle

Pat Tillett said...

Gorgeous photos Eileen! Also, thanks for the interesting info.

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