Birds in Flight

[yourlibrarian]

I interrupt my travel series to share some photos from the last months of birds. This barn swallow was caught almost by accident as it headed off, coming towards us in the parking lot.





I really liked inky silhouette of a crow.



In my last post about Hood River I mentioned watching birds circling and diving in the water. On one evening I saw 3 different vultures riding the drafts, and managed to catch this photo (though none with all of them came out).

Comments

[dewline]

I never used to believe that beauty and vultures could have an intersection.

Now I do.

Thank you.

[yourlibrarian]

Aw, glad to hear it!

[full_metal_ox]

I never used to believe that beauty and vultures could have an intersection.

A lot of folks would class bearded vultures, AKA ossifrages or lammergeiers (Gypaetus barbatus) in that Venn overlap.

[pauraque]

That's an amazing shot of the Barn Swallow!

I love vultures. The red heads and lighter feathers on the trailing edges of the wings make these Turkey Vultures. (I don't know if you're in range for Black Vulture, but they have gray heads and only the wing tips are light.)

[yourlibrarian]

It was a bit startling as it just suddenly appeared, even though we'd been trying to pinpoint where its chirps were coming from.

We have vultures of our own locally though I can't recall if I ever got any close shots of one. I do see them riding drafts both when driving and sometimes from our balcony. But those photos came from my Oregon trip.

[pauraque]

Ah, in Oregon you'd only see Turkey Vultures in any case! Black Vultures have expanded their range in recent years (exciting for vulture fans) but not that far.

[shirebound]

These are beautiful shots!

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks! Just good luck with the first two and never thought I'd get anything in focus for the last two 😆

[kazzy_cee]

I love that first 'action' shot! :D

[yourlibrarian]

We were tickled we got anything!

[full_metal_ox]

You caught the swallow buzzing you!

[cmcmck]

Such great shots!

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks, we were glad to see them ourselves 😃

[puddleshark]

Oh, wow. Fabulous shots!

[yourlibrarian]

Thanks! Got lucky really -- I don't think the crow would have been nearly so dramatic had it not been standing against the white pebbles.

[turlough]

Fantastic photos! I'm particularly impressed with the one of the barn swallow, it's so detailed and in focus.

[yourlibrarian]

Behold the camera phone! We'd never have been able to focus a regular camera in time.

[minoanmiss]

oh these are gorgeous!

[yourlibrarian]

Glad you enjoyed them!