If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Friday, October 2, 2015

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

The first time I saw these beautiful swallows was a pair mating in the trees, of all things, at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine http://seaandsageaudubon.org/SJWS/sjws.htm. Fortunately, they were not too flighty or wary of humans, so I was able to get some decent photos. The iridescent blue upper parts of these birds is what makes them so striking.

5/4/02 On a nesting box at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine (Orange County), CA 

5/4/02 A pair doing the deed up on a tree at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA

4/24/04 Pair on a nesting box at the Prado Constructed wetlands, San Bernardino County, CA. 
We saw this pair while on a guided tour of the wetlands conducted by an Orange County Water District biologist.

 4/24/04 2 Barn swallows (on the left) and 3 tree swallows (on the right)  at the Prado Constructed wetlands, San Bernardino County, CA. Guided tour of the wetlands conducted by an Orange County Water District biologist.

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Tree Swallow

SPECIES: Tachycineta bicolor

COUNT: Numerous

LIFE LIST DATE: 5/4/2002

LOCATION: San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, Orange County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds:

IDENTIFYING MARKS & BEHAVIOR: 6" upper parts iridescent blue; underparts bright white; dark on head encloses white. 

VOICE: Song, given by male, is 3 descending notes, followed by warble. Cheedeep call is given during alarm.

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