Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Earl Bales Park: July 2020

The low, coarse, rude-sounding notes of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow always alert me to its presence. Then I search for these drab-coloured birds flying over a pond or stream with wings pulled back at the end of each stroke. Now and then, they will perch on a nearby twig and will allow you to approach very closely. I took many photos of a small group on this day.

Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallows
Mallard (male)
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallows
Rough-winged Swallows

Male Mallards are going through a moult at the moment:

Mallard (male)
Mallard (female)

Other flyers:

Elm Spanworm Moth
Elm Spanworm Moth
Elm Spanworm Moth
Ebony Jewelwing

Thanks to Meegan Conklin for the moth identification.

I learned to ski at Earl Bales Park:

It is a fine place for nature walks as it has stream, field, pond and forest.

This was the site of the coldest walk I have ever led. -23 degrees. Valentine’s Day in 2016. Here is the group:

We met a Russian gentleman who exclaimed “This is spring weather in my country!”

i photographed a few plants here which I seldom see:

Flowering-rush (Botumus umbellatus)
Flowering-rush (Botumus umbellatus)
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)
Lopseed (Phryma leptostachya)
Cordgrass (Spartina pectinata)

Other botany:

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Field Bindweed ( Convolvulus arvensis)
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria)
Meadowsweet (Spirea alba)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)
Enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea canadensis)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Moth Mullein (Verbascus blattaria)
St. John’s-wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Purple-flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
False Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsis)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Queen-Anne’s-lace (Daucus carota)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis)
Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

NATURE POETRY

O summer day, surpassing fair,
With hints of heaven in earth and air.       – Eben Eugene Rexford (1848–1916)

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Northern Rough-winged Swallows at Earl Bales Park: July 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Ah yes, the good old days. I’ll never forget that one–we had it made! I love this place. We couldn’t go right down because of the ice, but it was great. A walk to remember, all right! Too bad it’s so dry right now, but you found the beauty. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *