Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Graceful Swallows in the Great Outdoors
I’ve always loved birds but became an avid birdwatcher after I picked up photography years ago. (To me, the zoom on a good camera, is even better than binoculars.)
I see a great variety of birds in my own backyard: hummingbirds, chickadees, wrens, towhees, and junco are some of the regulars.
But there’s one bird that doesn’t visit my yard, though I see them regularly on my walks around Lake Washington: Swallows.
“Slim, streamlined form and graceful flight characterize these sparrow-sized birds.’ Peterson Field Guide
They’re fun to watch as they swoop gracefully and acrobatically over the lake, eating insects on the wing, perfectly designed for the task.
They’re too fast for me to capture in flight, but I have managed to catch them when they take a break. I found this one at Coulon Park last month, posing for me from all angles; a Tree Swallow I believe.
I saw the one below on the other side of the lake, from the Cedar River Trail, also a Tree Swallow or perhaps a Violet-Green, I’m not certain.
I assume these youngsters are Barn Swallows, based on their rufous chest color and their lodging in the eaves of the building nearby.
Finally, last week on the tidelands of Hood Canal, I saw another Swallow. It was sunny and bright and he was far away, so the resulting pictures are blurry, though I like the background. There’s no white, so I’m guessing this is a Barn Swallow too.
Hard for me to tell them apart. Maybe you can.
Sharing my #Wild #Birds, with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
I adore swallows. We’re fortunate to have a pair nesting in one of our boxes, so we get to watch their aerials all day long. 😍
Oh, lucky you! I have never seen one in my yard, or even neighborhood, other than down by the lake.
We have the river nearby– I think they need a body of water for the insects and to skim a drink now and again.
That makes sense. 😊
Wonderful wild bird pics, Susanne! We have the violet-green swallows here. They love the open fields, all the bugs, and riding the thermals. That colorful barn swallow is fabulous! I doubt if I’ll ever catch a zoomed in Pic of a swallow in flight, though. Like lightning! 😆
Thanks, Terri! I didn’t realize there were so many varieties, until I tried to identify the ones in my pictures! I finally settled on the Tree and Barn Swallow. I’m thinking the Violet-greens are less common here. I love watching them, soaring and dipping so elegantly!
💛🤩😎🙌🏼 fantastic!
Thank you!! 🤩😍
Reserved parking. He was making sure no other birds pulled in. It didn’t look prime to me – no nest, to shade trees, no food. But at least he had a sign to mark his territory. the bird with the purple head turned my head. Such a beauty. Terri’s challenge meets a need, I think, especially for bird watchers. 🙂
Hi Marsha, thanks so much for dropping by! Yes, indeed, that swallow found himself a parking spot, if only temporarily! And I agree with you, I love this new challenge! 🙂
💖💖💖💖
Nice photos Susanne. We don’t have swallows here either so you’re lucky you don’t have to go too far to see them.
Thanks, Graham. Interesting they didnt make it to the islands.
They are very cute indeed
Yes, indeed! thank you.
Lovely restful, thoughtful pictures, capturing birdy personalities
Thank you!
Your bird photos are great, Susanne! There are some Swallows and Swifts nesting in a roof space of one of the houses opposite ours. But they arrive and depart with such speed that I would never get a camera in my hand fast enough to photograph them.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. Nice to have them nearby. But they sure are fast! Impossible to capture flying, so I was happy to see them stop for a break. ☺️
That line about a camera zoom beating binoculars rings so true — once you can actually see the iridescent blue-green sheen on a swallow’s back, there’s no going back. We’ve also found a long lens is the one thing that keeps our kids patient enough to wait for a bird to actually land. Gorgeous captures.
Yes, it’s wonderful to see them close up. And great that your kids enjoy them too! Thanks for stopping by! ☺️
I’m not an expert on swallows but like you I love to watch them swoop through the air. When I see them, and their cousins the swifts, I know that summer has arrived 🙂 And I agree, a zoom lens on a good camera is better than binoculars!
Yes, I’m always happy when I’m carrying my camera and can zoom in in a beautiful bird! And swallows are so fun to watch!
I love swallows! So cool you captured these!!
Thank you! I was happy they stopped for a minute so I could capture them!
We got to see two cardinals chasing a squirrel today! The female was definitely more aggressive though they tag teamed to torment that squirrel!!!
Ow wow! How fun! We don’t have cardinals in Washington!
These are gorgeous. Love the one with the purple head.
Thank you! You must mean the Anna’s Hummingbird?
Always beautiful photos. I love reading and enjoying the beautiful photos you share. We have Barn Swallows here. They are truly acrobats in flight.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment. They really are graceful acrobats in the sky.