Africa Wild

Toko wrote:Almost full score, nan

Where did you find the White-throated Swallow nest?

Westcoast, last October

I knew I had seen it, but then

Lisbeth wrote:In the town of southern Portugal, where we are staying at the moment, there are lots of nests under the roofs right in the center of town ( no cars) and it is fun to watch the birds coming and going

I would love to see some pictures

wonderful pictures, nan you found nearly all of them, even a pearl-breasted one

red-breasted swallow

20 – 24 cm; 24 – 38 g; a large, dark red-rumped swallow; slightly smaller than mosque swallow. Ad. has a red (not white) throat and breast, dark blue (not pale rufous) ear coverts and dull buff (not white) underwing coverts. Larger than vagrant red-rumped swallow with a longer tail, darker rufous underparts and dark (not rufous) nape and cheeks. Juv. has a creamy-white throat and breast and short tail streamers; differs from mosque swallow by its darker underwing coverts. (SASOL)



KNP

south african cliff swallow

14 – 15 cm; 16 – 24 g; a martin-like swallow with broad wings and an almost square tail, but with a buffy-rufous rump and creamy underparts washed rufous on breast and vent; breast diffusely streaked dark brown. Crown dark brown, slightly glossed in front. Lacks forked tail and well-defined breast streaks of lesser and greater striped swallows. Juv. duller, lacking gloss on upperparts; underparts less boldly marked. (SASOL)

blue swallow

18 – 25 cm; 13 g; a darkblue swallow with variable amounts of white mottling on the neck, flanks and rump. Most likely to be confused with a saw-wing, but flight action is less erratic. In good light, the glossy blue plumage is diagnostic. Ad. male has much longer outer-tail feathers than a saw-wing; tail streamers shorter in female, but still more slender than in a saw-wing. Juv. has a dull brown throat and less glossy upperparts; belly blackish. (SASOL)

Tina wrote:

Lisbeth wrote:In the town of southern Portugal, where we are staying at the moment, there are lots of nests under the roofs right in the center of town ( no cars) and it is fun to watch the birds coming and going

I would love to see some pictures

We went there yesterday to see how things were, but it seems that some has removed all the nests. I wonder if the LOs could already fly If not it would be too terrible. The swallows are already few in northern Europe

I found one in another street, all the others were ruined



One of these days I'll take a walk looking for others

House Martins

Great pics everyone!

thank you, Lis great picture

Lisbeth wrote:We went there yesterday to see how things were, but it seems that some has removed all the nests. I wonder if the LOs could already fly If not it would be too terrible. The swallows are already few in northern Europe

People used to do this here as well but nowadays it is against the law and you have to pay a hefty fine if you do it.