The Barn Swallows, Killdeers and A Wood Thrush, I Believe….

I guess the barn swallows are happy nesting in the barn.  I think they must have sent out a message that it was a good place to rise their young, because today there were even more barn swallows flying around the farm.

There’s even a new nest being made on the rafters inside the barn.

The new residents were not too happy with me being in the barn this afternoon, circling around, being very vocal and flying very close.

Zip walked past the barn earlier in the day going to the marsh to hunt.  He still hugged the barn (for safety)  on his way, but he didn’t linger like he usually does.  Just sauntered on by.

We don’t have any geese nesting in marsh this year, but the Killdeers have returned.

They always remind me of sandpipers, the ones I used to see at Jones Beach on Long Island, only bigger.  They have long legs a white belly and brown and black head and body.

This morning one was circling the barnyard  calling out with their unmistakable high pitch screech.  They have a nest somewhere in the marsh.  Yesterday I was walking in the barnyard and one was hopping around the ground and  started calling out.  Then he hung his wing down along side his body, as they do, pretending they are injured to distract predators from their  nest.  When I got too close, he flew away.

I’ve also seen a bird I’ve never seen before.

She forages on the ground along side the Robins, although I’ve seen the Robins chase her away more than once, even thought they are about the same size.   It has a black spotted white chest and a brownish head and body that shimmers iridescent red in the right light.  Her legs also glowed orange in the sunlight.

From looking through my Bird book and online,  think it’s a Wood Thrush.

We are fortunate to have a marsh that stretches out past the farm  to the north and south.  It invites all kinds of birds and the insects they feed on.

Below is a video of the Barn Swallows letting me know they are not happy I’m in their space.  You can see one of the nests on the rafters at the top of the video.