I often saw Tree Swallows hanging out in big flocks with Barn Swallows in Burnaby – although that is more likely due to having the same food source – bugs! We tried a few times to rent paddleboats at Deer Lake and get some in flight photos as the scoured the surface of the lake for insects — but not much luck in the photo department. HOWEVER – the experience itself is still highly recommended! It was great fun to chill out in the boat with the swallows swooping around us. And I think there were a few Violet-greens in there too – but I’ll get to them later!
I fortunately snuck up on this guy snackin’ at Reifel as proof that they are usually out eating insects anyways:
He was acting nice and predictable flying in and out of the nest box.
Off for more bugs!
I was lucky to get a look at a baby Tree Swallow during a banding course this year – so tiny! Take a look:
Tree Swallows are one of the prettiest swallows I think – although they are all adorable. The classic blue and white of the males is very striking! The females have a more dull brown-grey colour where the males have the blue – no shots of that just yet though, so here’s an adorable fellow with an itch to scratch:
