Swallows

Sunday / Monday, April 21st and 22nd, 2013

These two sunny mornings produced hundreds of swallows along the East Shore Road, between Hobarts and Hibou. They were actively feeding on emerging insects in the warming sunshine. Five species observed were: Tree Swallow (1500+), Barn Swallow (200+), Rough-winged Swallow (20 – 30), Cliff Swallow (5), Purple Martin (1). There were also several Horned Grebe, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Redhead and all three mergansers on the water.

At Hibou, opposite the water pumping station, Common Snipe were in full territorial flight display. In the conifers along the shoreline, there were small flocks of Kinglet and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Peter Middleton.