It was Monday late afternoon. I stepped out of the house and onto the end deck on my to the garden. That’s when the aerobatic show caught my eyes. They were swallows, but not the barn swallows that come out and “dance” with me when I mow the lawn. (The barn swallows love to go after the insects that the tractor stirs up when I mow. I enjoy watching their moves to gather in their treats on wings.)
These birds fly in a different pattern. They look different in color and body shape. Yet they are obviously swallows.
It’s a tree swallow. There were a few dozen of them and they loved to light on my antenna at 75 feet in the air.
By sunset, they were gone. I haven’t seen them since Monday. I will, however, keep watch for these delightful little creatures. They put on a good show
Will keep my eyes open to see one of these beautiful birds as I don’t remember seeing anything quite like this tree swallow. We have plenty of trees, so they must be here somewhere !!
I have seen them since. They congregate on my antenna in the late afternoon.
You are a birder while mowing, and while dancing.
The swallows could have been confused:
Are you dancing or are you mowing? Or are you “mowcing”?
I’m mowing. The birds are dancing. I would love to dance with birds, but do not have that ability. :no:
It is surprising that you do not have a hawk hovering while you mow. My brother says they are a frequent flier feasting on “uncovered” and scurrying field mice. Must be his fields are taller grass than yours. :laff:
I just mow the lawn, which is too big. The taller grass is harvested by the neighbor and baled for feeding his beef cattle.
Beautiful visitor.
Also, (I couldn’t capture it in an image) very graceful in flight.
We have noticed swallows (barn??) on our walks at night. Joe swears they are blue. Are they blue??
If they are all blue, they are purple martins. Great fliers and fun to watch. My maternal grandfather, had a bird apartment house for purple martins. He kept it closed until he saw one in the neighborhood and then he’d open it up and they would move in. It was great that kind of company growing up and they were good at controlling mosquitoes.
Barn swallows have a blue back and a long split on the tail. Their tummy is tan and they have an orange neck.