|
English and Scientific names: |
Cave
Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)
|
|
Number of individuals: |
about 12, adults |
|
Locality: |
Vermilion |
|
Specific Locality: |
Spencer X Scanlan
Roads. About 3.3 mi SSW of
Gueydan. 4.5 mi SW of Gueydan. |
|
Date(s) when observed: |
6/20/2010 |
|
Time(s) of day when observed: |
about 11 am |
|
Reporting observer and address: |
Paul Conover |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
|
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
|
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
birds
to N, sun in SE. Birds were aove and below eye level, in good light. |
|
Optical equipment: |
zeiss
10s, nikon d50 w/200 mm lens. |
|
Distance to bird(s): |
5-10 yards on up. |
|
Duration of observation: |
30 minutes |
|
Habitat: |
road
bridge over small canal. rice agricultural/marsh
country a few miles N of pure marsh. a few cliffs
and a lot of barns were also using this bridge. |
|
Behavior of bird: |
adults
flying high overhead, or passing above the water to enter bridge from
below. |
|
Description: |
adults
faded but otherwise typical cave swallows. whitish
chin and throats and pale napes, rusty foreheads, blue-back crowns and black
lores. dingy
breastbands and blurry flank streaking. upperparts darker, mix of faded and new blue feathers. rump buffy. note primary molt in photo. |
|
Voice: |
a
lot of loud noise coming from under bridge. I assume some of the chatter was
caves, but I couldn’t separate it. |
|
Similar species: |
only
close possibility cliff swallow. adults easily
separable given the views and lighting. these birds were so pale that they
seemed almost white-headed with dark caps, as opposed to the dark-hooded,
ale-fronted look of cliffs (I did see one cliff with a well-defined rusty
forehead) |
|
Photographs or tape
recordings obtained? |
yes.
|
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
I look for these birds, and when I find them, I
look at them carefully. What experience I have is of pretty good quality. |
|
Identification aids: |
|
|
This description is written from: |
|
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Yes. |
|
Date and time: |
08/03/2010 |