| The return of the Swallow from its winter quarters in South
Africa is a welcome sight to many of us looking forward to summer. Its long,
pointed wings and its forked tail with long streamers are a familiar sight
in much of Devon and Cornwall as they swoop low catching insects on the
wing in their large gapes. They can be seen over open ground, especially
pasture; over rivers, lakes or other pools of open water. They have dark
metallic blue upper-parts, pale under-parts and a reddish-brown face and
throat. The male's tail streamers are usually longer than the female. Young
birds are much duller and they have no tail streamers. Swallows raise leave
two or three broods of young before leaving on their long journey to South
Africa in October. Play Video |
