I have but three days’ worth of photos left, and you know what that means. If readers don’t contribute, well, the feature goes kaput. . .
It’s Sunday, and that means that we go to the Church of Birds: avian photos by John Avise. John’s captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.
Poland Birds, Part 1
In the spring of 2012, I toured Poland, giving multiple lectures at Universities and Institutes throughout the country. As is usually true of my travels, my hosts most graciously accommodated my obsession with birds and avian photography. Thus, while in route from one stop to the next, I was able to photograph the following species. This is the first of a two-part series on Polish birds.
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica):
Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros):
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger):
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus):
Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus):
Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs):
Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis):
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus):
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris):
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus):
Great Tit (Parus major):
Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix):
Western Jackdaw (Corvus monedula):
Nice. Lots of color in Poland!
“It’s Sunday, and that means that we go to the Church of Birds”
Precisely my thought on this series feature.
And it was Good….
Amen
The Jackdaw, Hooded Crow, and Black Tern are undoubtedly the clergy of the Church of Birds. The other parishioners are dressed more colorfully in these beautiful photos.
I think the flycatcher qualifies as clergy too; his staid black-and-white plumage even comes with a collar!
The Eurasian Chaffinch is sporting an interesting spot of “army green” that I don’t feel we see often. Is it unusual? I love the sublime smile on the Great Crested Grebe out on the placid water alone.
The army green of the Chaffinch does indeed seem to be a rare color in birds; off-hand I can’t think of another example, although some parrots may come close.
Thanks! You made me look up Barn Swallows. They are the first bird I ever remember seeing. I had forgotten that they have a worldwide distribution with different subspecies in different locations.