Swallows are small birds with dark, glossy-blue backs, red throats, pale underparts and long tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They are widespread breeding birds in the Northern Hemisphere, migrating south in winter.
Swallow numbers in the UK have fluctuated over the last 30 years with pronounced regional variation in trends. The species is amber listed due to population declines across Europe. [RSPB]
Marvelous photos of this wonderful swallow. Amazing !
ReplyDeleteBest regards, Synnöve
Terrific close-ups. love that tail!
ReplyDeleteHi Bob....They reminds me so of what we call Barn Swallow except they don't have that lovely long tail !!
ReplyDeleteNice photo's of this cute fella!! Swallow are great fun to watch, but you can just a bought twist your head of trying to follow them in flight!! lol : )
What a shame that they are in decline!!
Grace
Great music, what else can you expect from Neil!! Love the cray video with it to!! : )
Yes, we both adore his music, love it.
DeleteBeautiful photos of the Barn Swallow, Bob.
ReplyDeleteAll perfectly photographed.
Greetings Irma
Lieber Bob,
ReplyDeleteirgendwie paßt die ausgesuchte Musik
zu diesen quierligen Schwalben.
Du hast so tolle aufnahmen gemacht. So
nah habe ich die Schwalben noch nie gesehen.
Einen angenehmen Abend wünscht dir
Irmi
wow!! your barn swallows have incredible long tails! yes, as they say, great minds think alike. ;) both long tailed birds sitting on a wire and both great bug eaters!
ReplyDeleteIk zou er maar niet helemaal onder gaan staan Bob.
ReplyDeleteMuy buenas fotografías de la golondrina, un ave muy querida y arraigada en la cultura popular de las zonas rurales en España. Un abrazo,
ReplyDeleteWoauouh!!! I love this bird and and your photos are wonderfull!!!
ReplyDeleteNine years ago, they were nestled in a nest at home, over the front door. Unfortunately they did not came back the years after ...
So sad that the population declines...
Have a nice week, Bob!
Sorry, you seem to have a virus, please could you take a look?
DeleteA virus? ... I am ok to take a look , but where? What did you say that ?
DeleteIt seems alright now, but it was not accordingly by my antivirus. I am terribly sorry, to say that.
DeleteOk Bob, what was your antivirus saying about my blog exactly ?
DeletePlease, could you tell me if it arrives a new time? Thanks a lot.
And please don't be sorry , on the contrary, it is very nice of you to inform me and it's a pleasure for me if I can fix a problem antwhere with your informations.
Thanks a lot.
It said, 'a virus has been detected'. Now, there is nothing. What did you do?
DeleteWonderful images of one of my favourite birds Bob...
ReplyDeleteyes they are back for summertime ! so beautiful these images
ReplyDeleteThe quintessential summer visitor. Superb images Bob.
ReplyDeleteHola Bob bonitas imagenes de esta ave que esta en declive en toda Europa,solo aqui en España en las ultimas decadas se han perdido 20.000,000 de individuos es una lastima que en poco tiempo nos quedaremos sin Golondrinas.Un abrazo
ReplyDeleteBob, great captures! I've never seen a Swallow with a tail that long!
ReplyDeleteBob, are Barn Swallows the only ones we get here? I have a friend just outside York and he has only two this year. Last year there must have been forty once the females arrived. The males arrive first i think.
ReplyDeleteI understand it depends much on the route they take from South Africa. If they fly over Malta they will be decimated by nets and guns.
We can get the Red-rumped Swallow, but harder to see. I have never seen one. 2 years ago, there is one in Lydney, my town, I still couldn't catch it.
DeleteWonderful photos Bob!!Excellent shots!I like the swallow birds!We have three species off the swallow bird!
ReplyDeleteIn March they arrive in my country!!
Dimi...
Yes, we do as well, but, this year was absolutely treacherous.
DeleteSuperb photos of a wonderful bird!!
ReplyDeleteenjoyed...don't see these guys here-bouts
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunner. And I am sorry to hear that yet another bird is on that list. Too many birds, too many species, and we are largely to blame.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's really the fault of us, building houses, factories, etc EC.
DeleteThis is sad news, Bob.
ReplyDeleteWe have 6 Barn Swallow families this year!
I used to be that sitting on a wire, about 50 of them, now, I saw 2. Tragic, thanks Lisa.
DeleteThe Barn Swallows are cute! I have never seen one with a tail that long. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lisa that it is sad. I saw them when visiting Scotland several years ago, and we had 4 as we went along the Tarcoles River in Costa Rica. An elegant bird, and hopefully it will come back a little now that there is more awareness so that people can help them.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so.
Deletecool bird
ReplyDeleteFine swallow tails
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Buenos disparos le has hecho a esta bonita golondrina Bob, por aquí ya están recomponiendo sus nidos de barro.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
Pretty swalow!!!.. Nice pics.. Congrats..
ReplyDeletenice pictures Bob !
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos of swallow! Well done, Bob!
ReplyDeleteGreetings
Cracking Swallow photos Bob...you've captured them really well mate!
ReplyDeleteI used to see them all the time where I grew up Bob but I rarely ever see them anymore. Sad. They are beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteMerci pour ces belles hirondelles !
ReplyDeleteBonitas capturas.Un abrazo
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Isidro.
DeleteAlways human's fault for its decline. I hope it recovers.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous images Bob. In Australia, we call them Welcome Swallows.
ReplyDelete