Rough-winged vs. Bank Swallows: a Photographic Guide

I went to the pond in the valley just west of the Ontario Science Centre hoping to see the Tufted Titmouse that has been reported there. No luck. (here is an on-line photo)

Tufted Titmouse (photo: blogspot.net)

Instead, being careful not to sink into the soft mud, I photographed the swallows that were constantly zooming just above the surface of the water. They all seemed to be brown-backed and had little if any white on the breast so I assumed that they were Rough-winged Swallows though I did not hear any characteristic Rough-winged Swallow sounds.

Rough-wings have a dusky throat and no breastband.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow
Rough-winged Swallows

When I had a close look at my photos at home, I saw that I also had a Tree Swallow.

Tree Swallow

And there were Bank Swallows. Bank Swallows have a dark breast band and show more white that Rough-winged Swallows.

Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow
Bank Swallow

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

I had company by the pond: a Killdeer. I love the reddish eye!

Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer

Park views:

Some botany:

Japanese Lilac Tree (Syringa reticulata)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Nipplewort (Lapsana communis)
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Gray Dogwood (Cornus foemina) with bee
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
European Buckthorn with Lady Bug
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) with bee
Cow-parsnip (Heracleum maximum)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

MYSTERY BIRD

The round breast spots identify this as a Spotted Sandpiper.

Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper

MAILBOX


Thought this was interesting. A friend has a cottage on this lake and was surprised to see this beauty
https://www.facebook.com/groups/18280481472/permalink/10159487917231473/

NATURE POETRY

The glittering leaves of the rhododendrons
Balance and vibrate in the cool air;
While in the sky above them
White clouds chase each other.       – John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Rough-winged vs. Bank Swallows: a Photographic Guide

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Beautiful pictures–and thanks also to the “friend on the lake” for his contribution, too! Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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