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

Saturday's Critters # 186

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

If you love critters like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


I have done many posts about our walks on our local fire roads and to the lake. These are photos from June 22nd,  just a few of the birds I was able to get some shots.

I am pretty sure this is a Red-eyed Vireo sitting way on a tree top. It has the eye line and a heavy bill?

We have been seeing many of the Eastern Box Turtles, at one time they were listed as threatened. I believe many people pick them up and keep them as pets.

Below is a Worm-eating warbler with some kind of grub. They are also a local breeder in the woods near our house, I hear them often while walking on the fire roads.

The Scarlet Tanager is another breeder in our woods, they nest high in the tree tops. Some times I am lucky to see them come low while looking for bugs to eat.

The Cedar Waxwings are also seen eating the many berries that are popping out now.

Closer to home and still off the fire road, I can watch the Great Blue Herons on the nest. There are three herons below, can you find them all?

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments! I hope you enjoy my post and photos too!



Here is a list of my linky parties;
Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Deception Pass State Park

Hello and happy Thursday!

I am sharing our visit to the Deception Pass State Park, The park is located on two islands, Fidalgo and Whidbey Island.  The Deception Pass Bridge connects the two islands. We bought the Discover Pass to cover all our visits to Washington State Parks. We visited the park twice during our stay in Anacortes Washington.

I am sharing various scenes from our hikes at the park, some fabulous views of the bridge from the beach below. Of course I have some birds seen along the way.

This pair of Bald of Eagles was seen from the parking lot at the trailhead.

A view of the bridge and sky from the beach.

A couple of Common Loons.

A couple of Pigeon Guillemots.

A juvenile Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey.

Pretty shiny colors on this Cormorant.

Hubby and I celebrated our 27th anniversary while we were in Washington State

Some driftwood and another look at the Deception Pass bridge.

A few Western Grebes.

This pretty Anna's Hummingbird was seen in Anacortes.

"Be thankful for every new day."

For my list of thankful things this week:
I am thankful for my hubby and all the wonderful and fun times we have had together.
I am thankful for all my experiences while traveling.
I am always thankful for my blog visitors and the wonderful comments.

I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.  Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Bald Eagle

Hello,


Happy 4th of July, wishing everyone a safe and great holiday!

I think the Bald Eagle is a perfect symbol for our nations independence day.

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For my Wild Bird this week I am sharing the Bald Eagle. We saw so many eagles while visiting Washington State,  some posed nicely on the tree tops.

The Bald Eagles have been making a great come back in many states. They are common to see around Washington state. They like to be around large bodies of water with an abundant food supply. I wonder with our new head of the EPA and regulations being reversed how fast will the poisons be back big time affecting the birds and wildlife.

The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the USA.

Both the male and female are alike in plumage, but the female can be 25 percent larger than the male.

The Bald Eagle is known to build the largest nest of any North American bird.

I hope you enjoyed my photos. The Bald Eagle is always a treat for me to see. 

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

Saturday's Critters # 185

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

If you love critters like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

On  June 1, hubby and I decided to visit the Baltimore Zoo, years ago we were members and went often. We walked 3.7 miles, it seemed like more because of the hills. We arrived in time to see the African Penguins being fed. They are numbered with tags, this way they make sure every Penguin is fed.

The zoo has a very nice Prairie Dog exhibit. There were some cute little baby Prairie Dogs.

I believe these are all birds seen in Africa, the Black-crowned Crane, Blue-bellied Roller, Von de Decken Hornbill, Saddle-billed Stork.

Below are images from the Africa exhibit, sharing the Elephant, Giraffes, Tortoise and Rhino. The giraffe laying down is the newest addition named Willow and is now 3 months old.

The children's zoo has a barn and various buildings that hold the farm animals like sheep, a hog, the donkeys, alpacas and some chickens.

For Toms Barn Collective, a barn at the Baltimore Zoo, the children's section.

Some of our native North American birds, Black-crowned Night herons, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, Ruddy Ducks, Wood Duck, Tundra Swans, Sandhill Crane, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Herons on nest.

Here is the linky


I hope you enjoyed my Baltimore Zoo critters and birds.
I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments! I hope you enjoy my post and photos too!



Here is a list of my linky parties;
Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.
Another linky party is Tom's Barn Collective. Thanks to Tom for hosting.
Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!