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Posted by Vince Lucas on 22:18:53 04/09/06
In Reply to: Re: STA-5, Hendry County, 04/08/2006 posted by Dale Fitch
Dale:
It's quite possible that you did see Cave Swallows at STA-5. A month or so ago, Walt Winton III (excellent birder from Cape Coral) and I were looking at a very "odd" swallow in among the hordes of Tree, Northern Rough-winged and and lesser numbers of Barns perched on wires at STA-5. At first we though that perhaps it was a juvenile Cliff Swallow but ruled it out (can't remember exactly why though -- probably wrong time of year). Then we hit upon Cave Swallow, especially the Mexican race. However, the lighting was terrible and the bird quickly dispersed with the other swallows to feed before we could get a more "satisfying" look. I have had Mexican race Cave Swallows in Miami-Dade County over ag fields in winter, so that may very well be what you saw. But how did you rule out Cliff Swallow which would be migrating at this time? Also, did you notice how, after about 8:45-9:00AM, ALL of the swallows at STA-5 just "disappeared"? If one isn't there first thing in the morning, these birds begin actively feeding and move out over the impoundments in short course. . . . Lastly, Vince McGrath just saw a Mexican race Cave Swallow on Sanibel (Lee County) earlier this week so these birds are definitely on the move
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