Fifty or more Swifts feeding over the flood this evening on the Carr so bearing in mind they will not be here for much longer I snapped away and learnt a lot.
It had never occurred to me that Swifts had a crop but the evidence is clear to see and not surprising really for a bird so reticent to land. I wonder how many flies are stuffed in there?
Secondly, I have always regarded the Swift regarded as a dark shadow in the sky but actually it's quite translucent.
Nice photo's, that crop is something else!
ReplyDeletePeter,
ReplyDeletenice pics, it looks like they are carrying a golf ball around. Wonder how much it affects their flight pattern ?
John
How did you persuade them to slow down? I have seen fewer swifts this year than ever. Worrying.
ReplyDeleteUse of the wind Anton. Stand at a gap in a hedge with a stiff breeze blowing over it. Get onto the bird as it approaches and as it rises over the hedge the wind catches it often slowing it to a standstill or better still the bird fly catches or side slips on the breeze. Simples (in theory)
ReplyDeletePoor weather means they've had limited feeding opportunities so town birds may have decanted to areas with open water.