Birds in Flight - Part 6

Back to the marshes for the last Birds-in-Flight (at least for now). While geese and ducks are the most common birds in the marsh, we do have a few shorebirds, waders and terns.

Winning the prize for "Best Bill" is the American Avocet.  The latin name for this bird is Recurvirostra americana which refers to its recurved, or upturned bill.  In winter they are muted gray and white birds, but in breeding plumage the head and neck are cinnamon colored.  

Most terns are basically white, but the breeding tern here on the refuge is the Black Tern. Its body is not white, but is, well... black!!

There is a signifcant group of breeding Black-crowned Night-Herons here in the marshes. They sit quietly in the marsh reeds during the day, and fly in the evening.  They are relatively large and slow, so are good targets for bird-in-flight photography. They have a deep red eye.

I have found that the toughest birds for photos on the wing are the swallows.  They are common and easy to spot, but they are small, fast and very erratic in their flight.Out of literally dozens (hundreds?) of attempts, here is my best capture of a Tree Swallow in flight. They are metallic blue/green above with a clean white belly. Did I mention that they are quick?

Mark