{"id":47814,"date":"2017-07-27T04:25:35","date_gmt":"2017-07-27T10:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=47814"},"modified":"2025-05-09T14:30:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T19:30:18","slug":"up-close-with-a-tree-swallow-at-red-rock-lakes-nwr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/07\/27\/up-close-with-a-tree-swallow-at-red-rock-lakes-nwr\/","title":{"rendered":"Up close with a Tree Swallow at Red Rock Lakes NWR"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"CloseClose up Tree Swallow perched on a fence post – Nikon D500, f9, 1\/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

My first trip up to Montana and Idaho usually happens in late May or early June but for various reasons this year it didn’t happen until July.<\/p>\n

That meant I missed the territorial squabbles between Mountain Bluebirds and Tree Swallows for the nesting boxes that have been installed along many of the roads in the Centennial Valley of Montana.<\/p>\n

I missed seeing and photographing both species taking nesting materials to the boxes and feeding their nestlings too. There were still a few Tree Swallows hanging out at nest boxes though I never saw them taking food to their young.<\/p>\n

While stopped at a gate at Red Rock lakes NWR<\/span><\/a> a Tree Swallow flew in and landed on a fence post so close that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to focus on it but I had to try.<\/p>\n

I quickly turned off the limiter on my lens and hoped I was just far enough away to be able to obtain sharp, in focus images.<\/p>\n

At first the bird was facing directly towards me but it soon fluttered and turned its body so I could photograph it from the tip of its tiny beak to its tail.<\/p>\n

I didn’t take many photos of Tree Swallows on my recent trip up north but I sure enjoyed photographing this one.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Tree Swallow photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While stopped at a gate at Red Rock lakes NWR a Tree Swallow flew in and landed on a fence post so close that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to focus on it but I had to try.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1513,27,223,12,608,2171],"tags":[4004,4142,898,4104,4394,2315,4807,3470,4377,1523,5434,8917],"class_list":["post-47814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beaverhead-county-montana","category-avian","category-centennial-valley","category-montana","category-red-rock-lakes-national-wildlife-refuge","category-tree-swallows","tag-adult","tag-close-up","tag-fence-post","tag-perched","tag-post","tag-summer-3","tag-swallow","tag-swallows","tag-tachycineta-bicolor","tag-tree-swallow","tag-valley","tag-wooden-post"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-red-rock-lakes-mia-mcpherson-9424.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-crc","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36244,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/02\/23\/barn-swallow-in-a-fog-at-red-rock-lakes-nwr-montana\/","url_meta":{"origin":47814,"position":0},"title":"Barn Swallow In A Fog At Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I had forgotten about photographing this Barn Swallow in a fog at the Lower Lake of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge until I was going through my archives yesterday.","rel":"","context":"In "Barn Swallows"","block_context":{"text":"Barn Swallows","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/swallows\/barn-swallows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Barn Swallow in a fog at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the Centennial Valley of Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/barn-swallow-fog-mia-mcpherson-0394.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/barn-swallow-fog-mia-mcpherson-0394.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/barn-swallow-fog-mia-mcpherson-0394.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/barn-swallow-fog-mia-mcpherson-0394.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8574,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/06\/12\/male-tree-swallow-in-morning-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":47814,"position":1},"title":"Male Tree Swallow in morning light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This male Tree Swallow was perched on a fence post in western Montana last week when I photographed him while the morning light lit him up beautifully.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Tree Swallow with shaded mountains in the background, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2703.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2703.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2703.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-2703.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21060,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/03\/25\/the-return-of-the-tree-swallows\/","url_meta":{"origin":47814,"position":2},"title":"Return of the Tree Swallows","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Not only are Tree Swallows colorful and beautiful they are bug-zapping machines and keep the number of flying insects down.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stand of Tree Swallows at Bear River MBR, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallows-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-6859.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallows-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-6859.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallows-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-6859.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallows-bear-river-mia-mcpherson-6859.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26418,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/07\/07\/a-tree-swallow-defending-its-nest-for-the-memory-of-a-great-friend\/","url_meta":{"origin":47814,"position":3},"title":"Tree Swallow Defending Its Nest Photo In Memory Of A Great Friend","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm posting this Tree Swallow image that was taken at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in memory of a great friend, Rohn McKee.","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Tree Swallow defending its nest, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-flight-mia-mcpherson-0693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-flight-mia-mcpherson-0693.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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I am so excited about that news!","rel":"","context":"In "Beaverhead County"","block_context":{"text":"Beaverhead County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/montana\/beaverhead-county-montana\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tree Swallow peeking out of a natural nesting cavity in the High Uintas, Uinta Mountains, Uinta National Forest, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-aspen-high-uintas-mia-mcpherson-6727.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-aspen-high-uintas-mia-mcpherson-6727.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-aspen-high-uintas-mia-mcpherson-6727.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-aspen-high-uintas-mia-mcpherson-6727.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7931,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/03\/24\/male-tree-swallow-in-flight\/","url_meta":{"origin":47814,"position":5},"title":"Male Tree Swallow In Flight","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This male Tree Swallow in flight image was taken two years ago at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana and for some reason I had not processed it until now.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Tree Swallow in flight, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, Montana","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-male-mia-mcpherson-5662.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-male-mia-mcpherson-5662.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-male-mia-mcpherson-5662.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tree-swallow-male-mia-mcpherson-5662.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47814","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}