Shorebirds and Swallows
April 23, 2023
Some days I am immersed in the magic - on those days I am restored.
Cold air has settled in but the birds continue making their way north. Friday morning was still and calm with light fog rising from the lake. As far as I can see across the lake with my binoculars, I see swallows riding the thermal waves formed as the warmer water meets the cold air. Hundreds of small shadows swooping, diving, twirling, chasing each other, dipping into the water, catching bugs too small for me to see. Tree swallows, barn swallows and likely a few others I can’t identify.
I am sitting on the wet sand in the sunshine after a day of rain and a stressful week. I’ve dressed for the cooler temperature and it feels so good to soak in the sunshine. I am grateful there are no humans, pets, or boats to disturb the peace today. I let myself settle, feeling how I am held by the Earth, breathing into the tight places and breathing out the tensions of the week.
About twenty yards down the shoreline a flock of American avocets is resting. They didn’t seem to mind when I walked in and sat down and now I’m hoping if I sit still long enough they will finish their nap and do a little exploring. Birds - like children - respond best when I sit down with them, sink into my own play and allow them to do their thing without a direct and inquisitive gaze.
The avocets seem weary as they aren’t doing much exploring or feeding. Migrating into stiff north winds is hard work. After a while, they are more relaxed. The bird on the end that had the job of watching me turns around and walks back to the group. They stretch and preen their feathers with that long, curved bill. Imagine having to brush your hair with a long hook - it’s helpful for the tail feathers but a challenge to reach the closer spots.
Something spooks the avocets, likely trucks in the parking lot behind and they quickly take to the air. I am sitting way out in the middle of this area right by the water, much more prominent than I sometimes am, and I really wonder if they will land again. I slow my breath, settle myself and imagine myself welcoming them back. I train my camera on the flock and watch. I’m glad to find they’ve accepted my presence enough to land again, a little closer this time.
Now the avocets are a bit more animated, as being startled will do. They do a little exploring paying me no attention. They allow me to photograph their gorgeous “breeding” colors - black and white wings, rusty necks and heads, and long, blue legs. Every birdy is dressed up now for the spring mating party!
Eventually, they settle in again for a bit more rest. About this time I start to notice the tree swallows have moved closer. There are a few now, swooping and diving in the little cove in front of me. I watch their flight. They are acrobatic and fast - like little fighter planes but way more maneuverable than anything humans have yet created.
More and more swallows arrive in this little space and soon I am surrounded by swallows. Everywhere I look a swallow speeds by, sometimes coming so close I can hear their wings. They move independently but also as a whole, like a big floating cloud made of individual birds. The whole cloud will move a bit from south to north, then circle around and move through again. Meanwhile, the individual birds move in all directions.
Photographing swallows is my version of a video game and my favorite warm season pastime. They are so fast and change direction so quickly it’s extremely hard to get them in the frame in focus - which is exactly what makes it fun. I have to relax and let my body tune into the movement around me. The closer they are the harder it is to find them in the camera at all which again makes it even more fun. It’s as if the swallows are dancing and in this small way I can participate in the dance too.
I dance with the swallows for almost an hour before my body - and my battery - tell me it’s time to go. I leave the avocets to their warm nap and the swallows to their play and walk the half-mile back to my car feel how the magic of the morning has softened the tight places within and lifted my spirits. I say a prayer of gratitude and thanks to this place, to the Earth, to the birds, to the great mother for her care and to those who created and tend to this park. I take in what a miracle it is for me to be in this place in this moment in this experience.
The experience was amazing - and the sheer number of photos to go through is staggering! There were swallows again the next day and last weekend there were also shorebirds - avocets, yellowlegs, and spotted sandpipers. Ah, this is spring migration. It’s glorious and overwhelming and magnificent. I will share more photos as I get the chance to parse through them both in this weekly newsletter and the paid subscriber mid-week posts.
I did want to include a couple of the yellowlegs and spotted sandpipers because they deserve a little love too!
Wishing you all a little magic in your week!
Birds are so awesome. You wrote this so well I felt like I was there.
Wonder-full post Karen!