An evening flight

We've had a family of swallows visiting and nesting at our house for the last ten years, both when it was the old woolshed and since we finished the conversion a few years back.

It's getting to that point that the nest in the eaves - situated above our bedroom window, right below the gable - is now quite full. Indeed when the light is right (or if you have a torch handy) you can see several tails sticking out of the muddy clump they call home. It doesn't look comfortable, but at least its safe, dry and warm I guess!

Around dusk, the swallow family take to the air to catch the midges and moths that start to accumulate around the house in the falling light. In between snacks, they line up along our ridge line, having a break or maybe even just taking in the serenity. This young one was snapped as it sat on its own while the rest of the family put on the acrobatic display.

This time of year is great for the birds here in the valley; the shining cuckoos/pipwharauroa are back , their distinctive- first a 'come-hither' whistle that then falls away in a graceful glissando - seeing in the early evening. The grey warblers/riroriro (both the lodgings and feeders for the cuckoo young) are in fine voice in the orchard and natives, and the kingfishers/kotare are finding prime positions in the kanuka overlooking the stream and along the power lines.

What a great place to come home to after a day in the office....