I was at Lake Shipp park on the morning of Thursday, February 17, 2011 and saw a large number of what might have been Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor), violet-green swallows (Tachycineta thalassina), bank swallows (Riparia riparia), northern rough-winged swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis ), cave swallows ( Petrochelidon fulva pelodoma (=pallida) or Petrochelidon fulva fulva group) or cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota ).
They were flying too fast and erratically for me to make a good visual identification of them. It was fun and challenging to get even these photo's of them.
Yes, I know that the photos are low quality, but what do you expect out of a Kodak CX7430 easyshare point and shoot camera?
Cliff and Barn Swallows normally winter in South America, spending a large amount of time migrating back and forth between North and South America. They begin a northward migration in late winter or early spring flying an overland route through Central America and Mexico.
Swallows have a tendency to utilize the same nesting sites over a lifetime if there are no major environmental changes in the site. Swallows typically build robust nests out of mud daubs and grasses that will last for years. If the conditions are suitable, they will frequently use the same nest for many years.
No comments:
Post a Comment