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Tree Swallow In A Dive Bombing Run

Tree Swallow In A Dive Bombing Run photo by Larry Jordan

The Tree Swallows on my bluebird trail have a tendency to dive bomb the person (me) checking their nest boxes.  This is a photo I captured this last spring when the Tree Swallows were nesting.  A more thorough post on Tree Swallows can be found here.  You will also want to check out the other skywatch photos at Skywatch Friday!

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  • Klaus September 10, 2009, 4:14 am

    That is a great get! These guys are so difficult to shoot!

  • Larry September 10, 2009, 5:21 am

    @Klaus you are right, they are a challenge. Checking their nest boxes once or twice a week gave me plenty of attempts at photographing “dive bombing” runs. I finally got some good shots.

    Next spring I will try my 70-300mm lens rather than the 80-400mm. The 300m lens has a much faster auto focus and these birds are fast!

  • Faye September 10, 2009, 5:53 am

    I love your photos. I do want to know how big burrow owls get.

  • James September 10, 2009, 11:11 am

    That is a really great shot!
    .-= James´s last blog ..Skywatch Doppelgänger =-.

  • Wren September 10, 2009, 2:57 pm

    Great photo, Larry.
    I love swallows – they are pure joy on the wing. and yes, they’d be great at playing chicken, because they will come REALLY close and never blink.
    .-= Wren´s last blog ..Wheel of Brisbane – Skywatch =-.

  • Owlfarmer September 11, 2009, 4:42 am

    Thanks for stopping by the Farm, Larry–though no doubt you were attracted by the owl connection. I love the swallow shot–another of those against-the-backdrop “uses” of the sky.

    As songbirds disappear from north Texas, I find myself more and more saddened by the loss of old favorites–birds of all sorts that used to grace my life (slate-colored juncoes, song sparrows). Knowing about this website is going to help; it’s good to see that so many folks are working on the problem.
    .-= Owlfarmer´s last blog ..Skywatch Friday: Pirate Balloon =-.

  • Eileen September 11, 2009, 12:04 pm

    Awesome photo of the swallow and very pretty sky.
    .-= Eileen´s last blog ..Skywatch Friday =-.

  • Arija September 11, 2009, 8:55 pm

    What a catch! I’d love to howe some in nesting boxes.
    .-= Arija´s last blog ..SkyWatch ~ 50 Western Sky at Sunrise =-.

  • Larry September 12, 2009, 5:30 am

    @Candace thank you for stopping by. A friend of mine and fellow birder and conservationist is also from Texas, you may want to stop by Amber’s blog at Birders Lounge

    @Eileen thank you very much

    @Arija the Tree Swallow readily takes to nest boxes. I guess in Australia you have the Welcome Swallow that will breed near people but don’t use nest boxes

  • Michele J September 12, 2009, 12:33 pm

    Whoa, what a great shot. I hope you ducked just as this fella came at ya?!! This is fantastic!
    .-= Michele J´s last blog ..Snow Kissed Alps =-.

  • Larry September 13, 2009, 1:32 pm

    @Michele when I first started raising Tree Swallows, you bet I ducked! Now, I just look ’em in the eye when they come in and am amazed at their grace

  • Larry September 13, 2009, 9:05 pm

    @Amila I have heard of your condition and I think you will be happy with the ensuing treatment 😉 I can’t wait to see your upcoming BIRD flight shots