Swallows in motion

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

Swallows in motion

March 17, 2014 by Mike Powell

I was a little surprised to see some Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) on Saturday when I visited Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, a freshwater tidal wetlands on the Potomac River. I thought it was a bit early for these little aerial acrobats to be here, given the fact that there are not yet many insects for them to catch, but they were flying about and checking out a nesting box.

Sometimes I get cool shots of birds in flight by accident, like this shot of a Tree Sparrow, which took off as I was photographing it. The angle of view is one that I have never before captured in any image.

Two of the swallows seemed to spend a lot of time together and I suspect that they are a breeding pair, though they were periodically buzzed by other tree swallows, which could be other potential suitors for the female. One of the swallows eventually entered the box and I suspect that the swallows are constructing a nest in it, though I didn’t see any of them actually carrying in construction material.It’s a good sign for me that spring is almost here when I see birds reappearing (even as I shovel away eight or so inches of snow that have fallen in the last 24 hours).

Posted in Art, Birds, Nature, Photography, spring, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, birds in flight, Canon 50D, Canon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, Tree Swallow | 19 Comments

19 Responses

on March 17, 2014 at 2:17 pm | Reply joeschelling

Excellent shots, Mike; swallows are really hard to catch in flight like that.
- on March 17, 2014 at 2:22 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Joe. It was a happy accident. I was far enough away that the birds were not aware of my presence, so they didn’t take off and fly away from me, as is normally the case.
on March 17, 2014 at 2:19 pm | Reply wingedprisms

So beautiful! Nice shots.
- on March 18, 2014 at 6:20 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks.I managed to get some nice shots of the tree swallow last year, but there is something special about seeing birds reappearing in the spring (and being able to capture them in motion).
on March 17, 2014 at 2:22 pm | Reply Adèle d'Alleray

Great shots!!
on March 17, 2014 at 2:28 pm | Reply Gill McGrath

that is delightful… love it
- on March 17, 2014 at 2:55 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. There is something almost whimsical about the image that I really like. I don’t know if it is the colors or the flying position–it makes me smile every time that I look at it.
on March 17, 2014 at 2:59 pm | Reply Lyle Krahn

You gotta love the accidental flight shots that work out.
- on March 17, 2014 at 3:21 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It’s one of the joys of bird photography, which partially compensates for the total unpredictability of a bird’s flight path most of the time.
on March 17, 2014 at 4:38 pm | Reply Bonnie Marshall

I enjoy your site, Mike. I fill my poetry with birds and your photos are inspiring… especially the swallow in flight. May I save it for a potential poem? Attribute it to you, of course. Bonnie
- on March 17, 2014 at 9:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Bonnie, You are welcome to use it (or other photos too) for a potential poem. I shoot mostly for personal enjoyment, but would appreciate an attribution and a link to my site.
on March 17, 2014 at 6:13 pm | Reply krikitarts

What a nice and unusual shot, with the wings all tucked in–must have been in the middle of executing a tight turn, with the head angled so far to the right of its body axis. Good catch, Mike!
- on March 17, 2014 at 9:38 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. I followed my usual motto of shooting first and asking questions later. I am not at all sure what the swallow was doing, but the pose provided a pretty unusual view of the bird.
on March 17, 2014 at 7:29 pm | Reply Sue

Nice action shot! It sure seems early for them to be setting up house-keeping, but I guess it must be warm enough. Are there any insects around for them to eat?
- on March 17, 2014 at 9:39 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  We had a couple of days with temperatures up near 70 and there were a few insects about, but during the last 24 hours we had 6-8 inches of snow and temperatures below freezing.
on March 17, 2014 at 8:09 pm | Reply judysbirds

I really like the last photo, too. You can almost see every feather on his wing!! Love it.
- on March 17, 2014 at 9:40 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. The second shot is definitely sharper than the first one, but I find the two of them to be equally interesting.
on March 18, 2014 at 6:24 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Now that you know where they’re nesting all you need to do is sit and wait.
on March 18, 2014 at 9:42 am | Reply Ed

Great shots, those lil’ buggers are a pain to get in flight..:-)