Flown the Coop

They're gone.  Five little swallows have entered the world.  I checked their roosting spot a few days ago and it was quiet and empty.   They had been out of the nest proper for a few days, perched in a sweet line where the mother swallow could efficiently feed them.  Note the whitish outline on the bill of the immature in the picture to the right.  Many nestlings have either a bright outline on the bill, or the gape (mouth) will be bright inside.  This provides a great target for a feeder in a hurry.  Parent can see the gaping mouths, brightly lit so to speak, from a distance, and feeds accordingly.  As the birds mature, the brightness is no longer needed, and it fades.
Anyway, these little ones fledged, probably to a telephone wire nearby.  The first few flights aren't stupendous, as they're using brand new, untested equipment.  Often they will return to the nesting site for a few nights.  I haven't ventured to the post office after dark to see if they're indeed there. 
It's a good feeling to look up and see swallows coursing the air for insects and think that maybe those babies are somewhere in the crowd. 

Whirlpool of swallows
Eddies slowly overhead
One blue feather falls