Tuesday, October 15, 2013

My Swallows are back! - Maree


Greater-striped Swallow sketch in my Nature Journal
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My swallows are back! 10 Oct 2013 - stealthily and imperceptibly they arrived; was I unconscious? 


They were very late this year, usually they arrive the beginning of September, maybe that's why I missed them. But we also had no rain in September, with our first shower happening on the 8th October. This leads me to believe they time their arrival with the rains... 


Wonder if they'll be using last year's half-completed nest?
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The Greater Striped Swallow (Hirundo cucullata syn. Cecropis cucullata) breeds in Southern Africa, mainly in South Africa, Namibia and southern Zimbabwe. It is migratory, wintering further north in Angola, Tanzania and southern Zaire. 

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4 comments:

  1. Hi! I enjoyed your watercolor and your post. I have been a long time bird enthusiast and appreciate learning about them, thanks!

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    1. Thanks a lot AnaturalistInNYC, lovely to meet another birder!

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  2. My swallows have left and your have just come back ... I always appreciate how your seasons are flipped versus mine. Your greater striped swallow has the shape of our barn swallow, but very different markings. Nice sketch.

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    1. So do I Elva, maybe we'll spot one another's birds! There is another Lesser-striped Swallow with more stripes that extend to right under the throat. But it's wonderful that a swallow-shape against the sky, no matter which one it is, is always identifiable!

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