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Tachycineta thalassina
These small swallows are among our most beautiful. Their name comes from the violet on top of the rump and the green on the upper back.
I found this bird building a nest in a large root wad lodged along the bank of the Yellowstone River within Yellowstone National Park, but I've also seen them high in the mountains far from any water.
These are such gorgeous birds. As noted above, this bird was building a nest in a tree root wad that had washed down the river during a high water period. He would perch on this broken off root each time he returned with nesting materials, before dropping down a couple feet to his nest site. On this particular occasion, he came in with these long, flowing grass blades that were streaming in the the stiff breeze. I paused for a couple of seconds then started rapid firing photos hoping to capture him just as he started to fly again. This was the best shot I could have hoped for and is one of my favorite all time shots.
37 Comments (1–25)
Very nice bird good picture
Wow!
Blaise, Thanks for the comment.
Neil, I've been informally studying the difference between photographic documentation and photographic art. Most importantly how does one recognize when conditions begin to change permitting the photographer to move from documentation to art. This photograph was one of my first successful efforts of deliberately bridging that gap. Thank you for your comments; they mean a lot to me.
Ava, I added the photo to the animal architecture mission.
Since this sweet bird is building a nest and nest material in its beak, please consider adding this spotting to the Animal Architecture mission at http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8082...
Gordon, everything about this spotting is sensational. As an artist (I laugh to myself), the photo itself makes my heart beat faster. For me, this goes beyond natural beauty and screams ART!!! What I wouldn't do to get a photo like this. Thank you :-)))
Wow that is spectacular
Thanks everyone. It was a gorgeous day in Yellowstone when I took this photo, although very windy. I was hiking along the Yellowstone River when I found this industrious bird building its nest. Not long after I had stopped to watch and snap a few photos, an armed ranger came down to me to see what I was photographing. We chatted for a few minutes and then she told me that a grizzly bear had been using that same meadow for the previous three days and she just wanted to let me know to keep my eyes open in case the bear came back. I had my bear spray with me, but I didn't hang around long after the ranger left. Although it was extremely windy, this photo wouldn't have been so good without the grass strands blowing out and away from the bird. The wind really made this photo into something special. It remains one of my favorite photos.
Beautiful photo, Gordon, congrats
Nice shot! That's a beautiful bird.
Amazing photo!
Beautiful bird, wonderful photo - congratulations!
WOW!
a real nice shot!
wowww...beautiful...really nyc spotting..
beautiful picture!
very nice!
So beautiful Gordon! Congrats.
beautiful picture...
Lovely shot, Gordon. Congratulations!
Beautiful capture
congrats!
Congratulations Gordon,
Beautiful! Picture perfect!! Great timing Gordon! Wonderful shot!
Wow Congratulations Gordon!
Wonderful!
Wonderful - perfect timing!