Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrhonota)

Saw these Cliff Swallows under a bridge that we were walking by. I was looking for photos of flooding but the creek I was at was handling the rain well.

These birds build nest under bridges along creeks. I suppose in nature they build under natural cliffs. They catch bugs by flying just over the water, sometimes even picking up the bugs off the water. They also fly above the water 10 to 20 feet or more in the air. It is fun to watch them make a 45 degree turn for a bug.

Some swallows lay eggs in other nests they did not build. These same birds will lay eggs in their own nests. The foster mother will sit on all the eggs whether they are hers or another birds. 

The Cliff Swallow winters in Paraguay and SE Brazil. 

Cave Swallows look similar but have a more brownish forehead, while the Cliff Swallow has a more light colored. Cave Swallows are rare in the Midwest US. Cave Swallows have a range in southern Texas and Mexico.

Psalm 84:3 "The bird also has found a house,

And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young,

Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,

My King and my God."

The psalmist (the sons of Korah)  is jealous of the swallow that has access to the courts of the Lord and builds its nest there. God has now given us access to His presence by faith in prayer and meditation of Scriptures.

My Friend the Goose

I was taking a lunch break along the Missouri river. I had brought a book along to read and my camera. As I was reading my book I saw this goose out of the corner of my eye. He was swimming along the edge of the river against the stream When I got my camera out to take a picture, he quit paddling and drifted down river to get away.

I went back to my reading. Again the goose proceeded to swim along the edge of the river up stream. I was sitting about 5 feet away from the edge of the river. I saw the goose coming close to me again and I decided not to move till it got right in front of me. By the time I turned the camera on the goose had stopped swimming up stream and floated away from me.

I didn't realize it until I looked at the photos that night, to see a cave swallow flying into the picture. I have in vain tried to take pictures of these birds as they scoot along the edge of the river scooping up bugs. They move too fast for me to get a decent photo. But today by chance I got one.

But I don't believe in chance. It was a gift from God to catch this Cliff swallow along with my friend the goose. Thank you Jesus for giving what I can't achieve on my own.

God is like that. We try in vain to do things to please Him. We are not able to. God gives us the ability, as we cry out to Him. Pray to God for help.

As I left to go back to work my friend the goose was waiting down river from me at the river's edge. I told him, "he was free to swim up the river because I was leaving." And sure enough he did.

Why was the goose acting like that? Was he injured, or was he looking for a lost mate?

Watching Swallows and Clouds

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Sitting in the back yard watching the clouds and swallows. I could never get the glasses on a swallow to ID it. The tail feathers were blunt narrowing it down to 3 swallows.



Bank swallow

Northern rough winged swallow

Cliff
swallow

The Chouteau bridge near our house has 100’s of Cliff swallows. So my guess was they were Cliff swallows. It is interesting watching them swarm all over the Missouri river.

Also watching the clouds flow east. The sun shinning through the clouds. Is like a
painting in progress. It is always changing .

Psalm 57:10,11

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Cliff Swallow @ Kansas River

We stayed at a motel at Wamego, KS I got out and walked through town and found the
Kansas River or Kaw.
Walking down to the river bank there were an aboundance of Cliff Swallows. They were
darting back and forth catching bugs. What a difference it was stitting next to the motel and standing on the river bank watching nature. For me life is much richer in nature.

Here is a picture of their nest under the 99 hwy bridge.


The riches of nature that morning remind me of the abundant life that we have in Jesus

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”