Snapshots: Dusky Woodswallow Morning

EE and I went to the Office a couple of mornings ago.

As we were walking over the river bridge we were discussing the small number of Dusky Woodswallows that had nested in the area. And how they were now probably well on their way north.
When to our surprise, as much as anything, we heard the calls of them as hawked for insects in the sky overhead.
Like Choughs they are very community dependent, and its not unusual to see dozens of them sitting on the one branch all jostling for the best position. These are no exceptions. However with good grace the birds make room for one another, even if it means flying off and relanding.

They were still feeding young ones, so I concluded they must have had a late season nesting before the cold weather sets in.

If you can’t get the spot you want, you go underneath and then popup on the other side. Everybody always moves up graciously

Woodswallows have the ability to both fly and glide like swallows.

They have a wonderful marking set on the wing edges, which is not always easy to see

Spent a few minutes with the patient bird, making portraits. While it talked constantly to its neighbours

Hard to guess, but this one is a juvenile, now looking like the adults

4 thoughts on “Snapshots: Dusky Woodswallow Morning”

They are sooo cute! I’ve only ever seen them in real life once, great fun to watch. Thanks David 😊 Aileen

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Awww! These are just exquisite David! They have charm in spades, and you have conveyed it with these equally charming images. Thank you.

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Lovely to see these beauties! A wonderful series of behavioural images, David. I am surprised that they haven’t taken off for warmer climes yet and hear there are still some around the Cranbourne Gardens too.
DN

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Amazing capture David, as usual! I love the way they snuggle together, they are great snugglers. Yes, and I guess the warm autumn weather has confused them somewhat, maybe these cold spells will send them on their way.

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