pair of nesting Bank Swallows

nesting colony of bank swallows near the top of a large sand pile at one of our cranberry bogs. In this sand bank I counted over 40 nest holes.There is another nesting colony of bank swallows at another one of our cranberry bogs, but that colony is smaller. The swallows have been returning to the two sand piles for a few years. They are amazing birds and so much fun to watch.

nest hole under the ridge of a high sand bank/pile. You can see how the sand under the hole is compressed from where the bird perches as it digs out the sand in the bank for it nest.

far left...start of a new nest hole, and the hole next to it..if you click on the photo to enlarge it...you can see sand being flung out of the hole from the bird inside making the hole bigger.

bird leaving the nest hole

checking it's mate inside the hole and digging

  

peeking out

  

The swallows are constantly flying in and out of the nest holes and making new holes.

bank swallows nesting in sand bank