Barn Swallows

Wandering the ancient pedestrian streets of Matera in the heart of the Medieval village is a fabulous experience. There are stone troughs, ancient doors, peeling paint, carvings and the occasional feral cat. There are also Barn Swallows nesting here in some of the abandoned buildings.

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I particularly liked this door, with its variety of greens revealing layers from the ages.

Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Swallows look black but there’s an iridescent blue beauty to them in close-up which reveals a completely different perspective.

Swallow - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

As does a closer view of that door.

Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

More from Matera

Black Kite - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Black Kite It's a hazy day in Matera and the sun is already high in the sky when we see a procession… read more
Blackcap - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Blackcap in Matera It's been a wonderful few days in Matera, but it's time for us to go back to Rome. What an… read more
Serin - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) A Serin singing like a Canary I still can't stop laughing at this photograph of a Serin, Serinus serinus, in Matera What a face! He's a… read more
Lesser Kestrel - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Falco naumanni We're in Matera to see the Lesser Kestrels. We've booked the room in the hotel which has three small terraces… read more
Pallid Swift - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Pallid Swifts I love seeing the Swifts swirling overhead in Matera. There are screaming chases, flights which end in mating while clinging… read more
Lesser Kestrel - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Yes, we’re in Matera again We are in the oldest continuously inhabited city on Earth, Matera in Basilicata in the south of Italy. It's possible… read more
A Wilder Italian Life 2019 2019 highlights of a wilder Italian life My Italian life in 2019 started in January with a whale of a murmuration with a raptor on its tail.… read more
Caterpillar - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Caterpillage: The Lackeys and Emperors of Matera Caterpillar. I love the word. Caterpillar. Isn't it a strange one to pronounce? Here in Matera there are huge moth… read more
Swifts in Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the) Swirling Swifts mating in Matera It's the morning we leave Matera and we want to squeeze every last drop of joy out of the place.… read more

Feel free to leave a Reply :)