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Northern Rough-winged Swallow For Bird Photography Weekly

Northern Rough-winged Swallow photos by Larry Jordan

I saw these Northern Rough-winged Swallows checking out drainage pipes on a wall overlooking the Sacramento River near Turtle Bay.  They will typically nest in burrows or cavities near water and these pipes probably suit them just fine.  They were hawking insects in the air and right off the water surface as I watched their acrobatic displays.

The swallows have just returned to northern California in the last few weeks, including the Cliff Swallows, Tree Swallows, Violet-green Swallows and Barn Swallows.  I haven’t seen any Bank Swallows yet this year but I’ve got my eyes open.

Take a look at the other great bird photos at Bird Photography Weekly.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Gunnar Engblom March 30, 2009, 1:42 am

    Hi
    Nice pics of the swallows. I wanted to send an email with a link request, but cannot find an email address on your site.
    I have added your blog to my Google Reader.
    If you want to add my blog to your reader (I do recommend Google Reader , but you probably already know what great resource that is in order follow a large number of blogs) here is my blog.
    http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/birdingperu/blog
    I blog about birding, mostly from Peru, but also elsewhere; and I blog about social media for birders. Hope you like it.
    I am also adding you to my blog roll. Will appreciate reciprocal link, if possible.

    I am preparing a new manual called “blogging for birders”. We bloggers need to become better as a community and support each other.

    Saludos

    Gunnar

  • bob k March 30, 2009, 8:21 am

    They may not be colorful, but Northern Rough-wings are still interesting to watch especially when they’re building their nest. Nice capture, Larry.

    bob ks last blog post..Waxwing Eloquent

  • MaineBirder March 30, 2009, 8:30 am

    Sweet photos of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow Larry!

    MaineBirders last blog post..BPW: Baltimore Oriole

  • Mick March 30, 2009, 11:23 am

    Great photos – especially the inflight shot. I tried for some time the other day to get some of swallows flying but no luck. Now – I want to try again!

    Micks last blog post..Double-barred Finch

  • Corey March 30, 2009, 3:36 pm

    The only swallows we have back in New York so far are Tree Swallows so I’m a bit jealous.

    Nice shots!

    Coreys last blog post..Getting the Guan

  • Natural Moments March 30, 2009, 6:51 pm

    I don’t get to see these guys too often. I was lucky to see some bank swallows almost every day in the summers in Winthrop though. They are mesmorizing to watch fly and soar just above the water.

  • Larry March 30, 2009, 9:20 pm

    @Gunnar I am looking forward to your “blogging for birders”. Thanks for the comments.

    @Bob thanks. I love the Cedar Waxwings too.

    @John thank you. Glad to see it’s warming up back there

    @Mick thanks for the comment! I really like that multi-patterned Finch you posted!

    @Corey come out west and I’ll show you lots of swallows!

    @Bernie mesmerizing they are for sure! Love your Great Egret too!

  • Gunnar Engblom March 30, 2009, 11:48 pm
  • Kyle March 31, 2009, 6:39 am

    Nice captures of the Northern Rough-wingeds, Larry! I’ve not seen these before, but I did get some fun looks at the Tree Swallows doing their aerial acrobatic routines down here over the late winter months.

    Great BPW post!

    Kyles last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly: Pied-billed Grebe

  • April March 31, 2009, 7:19 am

    Wonderful photos of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow! I always enjoy watching them swoop over the water.

    Aprils last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly – Trumpeter Swans on Interior Lake

  • Larry March 31, 2009, 12:07 pm

    @Kyle the Tree Swallows are amazing. I will be writing some posts on them coming up. I have some TRES breeding in my birdhouses

    @April the swallows are always fun to watch

  • Evita March 31, 2009, 6:21 pm

    Beautiful action shots in flight! I love swallows and have noticed lots in our area too in the past couple of weeks. I doubt they fly to California from Ontario though, I have no idea where “ours” spend the winter…