Barn Swallow
Cheyenne Bottoms WA, KS
July 2015

Swallows…

An enigma for me as a photographer. Wicked fast in flight, frustratingly so! Occasionally though, they do sit still and pose. 🙂

Throughout my trip I saw swallows and possibly swifts in many locations. Identifying them in flight is not always easy and I’m sad to say that on more than half of the occasions that I spotted them, I didn’t try. Some species are easier than others, of course, and I spent some time familiarizing myself with key identification markers that make it easier. As my trip progressed it became easier to spot the species that I frequently saw… Cliff Sparrows and their white foreheads and Bank Swallows and their breast band. Violet-green Swallows quickly became my favorite for their brilliant coloring. But I can’t deny that a familiar face is always nice, and the Barn Swallow was a staple among many of the species that I encountered on my trip.