Tree Swallows in birdhouse on deck - Part 2

We arrived home from vacation just in time to witness the

Tree Swallows as they were learning to fly.

Or not.

Two still in the birdhouse, that seem to not want to leave the comfort of home.

The one in the background is one of the babies that has come out.

The juvenile is gray brown instead of the glossy greenish blue of the adult.

In the last photo you can see the baby is not too happy about not being fed,

but they are trying to get the 2 still in the birdhouse to fly.

Vacation was not much of a photography vacation.

We had a great time with the family, didn't think much about photography.

Click here to see the first post about these Tree Swallows on my deck.

Notice the split in the birdhouse, you can see why we never thought the birds would use it.

Tree Swallows in birdhouse on deck

The Tree Swallows are using the birdhouse on the deck.

Jimmy found the birdhouse out in his shop and just placed it on the deck, next thing we knew the Bluebirds and Tree Swallows were checking it out. One day while we were watching a Tree Swallow went in the house and a Bluebird was hanging on the outside. I tried to capture a photo of the 2 looking at each other, but was not able to. The Bluebird flew off, then out came the Tree Swallow.

This sheppard's hook is real close to the deck,

and one of them stays on it most of the time,

the other one in the birdhouse.

This photo the Tree Swallow is perched right in front of the birdhouse.

They have gotten very used to us walking right past the birdhouse.

I talk to them as I walk all the way around the birdhouse. On Sunday afternoon I went out there with a fly swatter in my hand and shooed a wasp away from the birdhouse. The Tree Swallow just watched my every move, but never flew, or retreated back inside.

Tree Swallows at Veterans Park

Last Wednesday morning was the first trip I had made to Veterans Park in Spring City, Tennessee this spring. I was in search of the Great Blue Heron that I have photographed so much.He was not around.

But the Tree Swallows were very plentiful.

They were almost nose bombing all the different birdhouses.

Tree Swallows are VERY hard to capture in flight. So I was wishing I could capture one in one of the blooming trees. Thinking the Tree Swallow would be so pretty with those pink blooms.

Well, I settle for what I get.

One did land in one of the bare trees and I started snapping away.

Tree Swallows

Tree Swallows from my yard.

Tree Swallow posing

Beautiful Tree Swallow. He seems to like me,

he poses for me when I go in the yard now.

Tree Swallows versus Eastern Bluebirds

First I saw the Eastern Bluebirds at this house in my neighbors yard although this house is not a standard bluebird house.

(They don't know what our specs are for their houses!!!)

Then 5 days later I get the shot of Tree Swallow coming out of the same house. Guess the Tree Swallows are going to run off our Bluebirds. Any suggestions?

Tree Swallow

Early this morning I went outside to photograph the flowers while they still had dew on them. Before I made it back inside the Tree Swallows caught my attention at one of my Bluebird houses. I took several photos, but I think this is my favorite.