Morning Labors of Nature - Red-rumped swallow - Cecropis daurica - Taken at North Aegean region - Türkiye
Three Moments from This Morning – Morning Labors of Nature: From Puddle to Nest — In Mud, Wings, and Stillness -
Each morning brings surprises we cannot foresee — and as your fellow writer, I find joy in translating those surprises into words.
Among the many swallow species that migrate thousands of miles from Africa each year, the Red-rumped Swallowparticularly fascinates me. Their nest-building technique — using clay and mud before the breeding season — always reminds me of Irish bricklayers. Both male and female birds pick up small lumps of sand, including beach sand, shaping it with their beaks and moistening it to a cement-like consistency before flying swiftly back to the nest site. They are as industrious as bees.
This morning, after I washed the stone-paved area of our garden, a Red-rumped Swallow couple was drawn to the puddles. I watched as one of them — I believe the female — gently landed, gathered a small mud ball at the tip of her beak, and flew back to continue building the nest, only to return moments later. It reminded me once again: Wetlands are essential not only for drinking water but also for providing critical materials for nest construction, especially for migratory birds.
I am sure some of you on Flickr have witnessed similar behavior. I hope when you look closely at the first photo and see the tiny lump of mud at her beak, you’ll imagine the dedication behind this remarkable nest-building process.
In the second photo, you’ll see a Nuthatch in its typical posture, resting under the soft shade of fig leaves — still and alert.
Wishing you all a beautiful day, and I hope you enjoy these moments as much as I did while witnessing them.
Red-rumped Swallow in Turkey – A Brief Field Note
The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a summer visitor to Turkey, arriving in early spring from Africa and departing again by late August or September. A graceful and agile flyer, it is easily recognized by its reddish rump, creamy underparts, and elongated outer tail feathers.
Distribution in Turkey:
It breeds extensively along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolian regions.
Common in coastal villages, lowland farmland, and lightly wooded areas.
The northern Aegean coast, especially places like Ayvalık, Altınoluk, and Kaz Mountains, serve both as migration corridors and breeding zones.
Scattered but less common sightings occur inland and in the Black Sea region.
Habitat Preferences:
They nest in semi-natural or human-influenced environments — cliffs, bridges, walls, or under eaves of quiet rural structures.
Frequently seen perched on fig, pine, and olive trees.
They build mud cup nests, often reused or added to each year.
Breeding & Behavior:
Breeding pairs arrive by late March to April.
Chicks usually hatch around late May or June, depending on conditions.
They feed on aerial insects, captured in flight — contributing to natural pest control.
Conservation Notes:
Urbanization and habitat loss — especially along the coast and migration stopovers — threaten traditional nesting grounds.
Fig trees and century-old olive groves serve not just as part of agricultural heritage, but as vital shelter and feeding perches for swallows and other migratory birds.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
Morning Labors of Nature - Red-rumped swallow - Cecropis daurica - Taken at North Aegean region - Türkiye
Three Moments from This Morning – Morning Labors of Nature: From Puddle to Nest — In Mud, Wings, and Stillness -
Each morning brings surprises we cannot foresee — and as your fellow writer, I find joy in translating those surprises into words.
Among the many swallow species that migrate thousands of miles from Africa each year, the Red-rumped Swallowparticularly fascinates me. Their nest-building technique — using clay and mud before the breeding season — always reminds me of Irish bricklayers. Both male and female birds pick up small lumps of sand, including beach sand, shaping it with their beaks and moistening it to a cement-like consistency before flying swiftly back to the nest site. They are as industrious as bees.
This morning, after I washed the stone-paved area of our garden, a Red-rumped Swallow couple was drawn to the puddles. I watched as one of them — I believe the female — gently landed, gathered a small mud ball at the tip of her beak, and flew back to continue building the nest, only to return moments later. It reminded me once again: Wetlands are essential not only for drinking water but also for providing critical materials for nest construction, especially for migratory birds.
I am sure some of you on Flickr have witnessed similar behavior. I hope when you look closely at the first photo and see the tiny lump of mud at her beak, you’ll imagine the dedication behind this remarkable nest-building process.
In the second photo, you’ll see a Nuthatch in its typical posture, resting under the soft shade of fig leaves — still and alert.
Wishing you all a beautiful day, and I hope you enjoy these moments as much as I did while witnessing them.
Red-rumped Swallow in Turkey – A Brief Field Note
The Red-rumped Swallow (Cecropis daurica) is a summer visitor to Turkey, arriving in early spring from Africa and departing again by late August or September. A graceful and agile flyer, it is easily recognized by its reddish rump, creamy underparts, and elongated outer tail feathers.
Distribution in Turkey:
It breeds extensively along the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolian regions.
Common in coastal villages, lowland farmland, and lightly wooded areas.
The northern Aegean coast, especially places like Ayvalık, Altınoluk, and Kaz Mountains, serve both as migration corridors and breeding zones.
Scattered but less common sightings occur inland and in the Black Sea region.
Habitat Preferences:
They nest in semi-natural or human-influenced environments — cliffs, bridges, walls, or under eaves of quiet rural structures.
Frequently seen perched on fig, pine, and olive trees.
They build mud cup nests, often reused or added to each year.
Breeding & Behavior:
Breeding pairs arrive by late March to April.
Chicks usually hatch around late May or June, depending on conditions.
They feed on aerial insects, captured in flight — contributing to natural pest control.
Conservation Notes:
Urbanization and habitat loss — especially along the coast and migration stopovers — threaten traditional nesting grounds.
Fig trees and century-old olive groves serve not just as part of agricultural heritage, but as vital shelter and feeding perches for swallows and other migratory birds.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - With Nikon TC 14E II - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f8 and full length. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)