Monday, January 31, 2011

Sunset and Cave Swallows

Sunset at Parmer VillageI wanted to watch the wintering Cave Swallows under the Parmer Lane bridge return to their roost for the night, so at about 5:15 yesterday evening I went to the Parmer Village drainage pond and waited and watched. The weather was just about perfect and eventually there was a beautiful sunset behind me. Other birds that were around included Mourning Doves, American Pipits, meadowlarks, Great Blue Herons, and a single Great Egret. (I don't know if the meadowlarks were Eastern Meadowlarks or Western Meadowlarks. We get them both here in the winter and the only way I can tell them apart is by sound.) At about 5:50 I spotted a single Cave Swallow flying over the bridge, and it soon disappeared underneath. 10 minutes later at 6:00 on the dot, 20 Cave Swallows appeared over the bridge. They swirled around in the air for less than a minute. Then they joined the first bird, swooping down and disappearing under the bridge. What a great way to end the day.

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