Sand Martin
23d 13h ago by lemmy.world/u/KevinFRK in birding
Not that sharp, but the first time I've photoed a Sand Martin as far as I know. Surprisingly, well with the built up area of Reading, UK, along the Kennet canal. Ironically, the best shots of House Martins I have are over sand!
Canon R5 MkII + RF200-800
Reminds me of a Barn swallow
Swallows, Swifts and Martins are all aerial feeders, so not that far apart in builds, and indeed today I thought that's what I was photoing when it turned out to be swifts that got "caught" but:
Swallows have much longer tails (it seems my favoured bird book may say just "swallow" but its also "barn swallow": https://a.lemmy.world/lemmy.world/post/45844776
Swifts are all over brown, and their wings say "Scythe" to me (from today):
House Martins are white underneath from chin to tail (from a couple of years ago):
Thank you!
Sand martins are also known as bank swallows. They're in the swallow family hence the similarity.
Ha, I thought the same.
They really have the general body shape of a swallow.