It was the new bird calls that made me start wondering, followed soon after by several bird silhouettes, against the blue, that looked and flew like swallows - but not the Welcome Swallows that appear briefly in the spring. There were about 15 birds in all (bit hard to count such fast movers) and they were flying over and around an area behind a shed - not feeding that I could see. Finally most settled on a nearby tree. After some more 'conversation' all but two flew to the ground - too far away for me to see what they were feeding on, but I was able to get close enough for this pic. With the help of my favourite birdie field guide I discovered that they are Dusky Woodswallows. At 18cm long and weighing just 35g, these woodswallows are mainly insectivorous. Delightful to have a different species visit.
1 Comment
Angel B
20/5/2018 06:32:29 pm
Oh how wonderful to have these observations. I believe I have these impressively big visitors, whose wingbeat one hears well before arrival, at my bush place on the central Gippsland coast. Thank you for giving these superb birds a name, and a lovely one at that.
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