Nov 17 2008
Cave Swallows, at last!
A strange thing happens within birding circles–a rare bird can go from a point of pride to a source of a certain kind of shame. Up until this year, having seen a Cave Swallow in Delaware was a distinction that would have produced at least low-level envy among many in this community. Now, it’s rapidly reaching the point where not having seen Cave Swallows in Delaware is becoming remarkable, but not in a good way–it’s becoming at least a little embarrassing.
Where until recently, the comment might have been, “Man, you’ve seen Cave Swallow in Delaware!,” it’s now, “Dude! You haven’t seen Cave Swallow in Delaware?”
I’m happy to report I can now count myself among those who have seen, rather than missed, this increasingly frequent fall visitor to the Eastern Seaboard. Saturday morning, in an oddly warm, wet wind, we came upon a trio of Cave Swallows hawking insects over Prime Hook Beach. We leapfrogged them to the south, then had excellent views as they approached.
Photography conditions were difficult, but the mosaic above certainly establishes their identity. Below, a shot of the happy hunters (from L): Sally O’Byrne, Gary Robinson, Forrest Rowland, & Sue Gruver.
Of course, the annoyance of having missed a bird your buddies have already caught up with is a minor, even pleasurable one–a little spur to get you out there when you otherwise might not. And it is also, surely, an indication of a change in status of a species. I hope that if you haven’t crossed paths with one of these nifty little pioneers, that you soon will.
Much better than my in-flight shots I took of one at the Prime Hook NWR headquarters on Sunday. Well done : )
and for me much of the pleasure of seeing a rare bird is who you are with when you see it…. This one was fun – almost felt like a car chase as we were rumbling through the small town of Prime Hook trying to beat the swallows.
Jefe:
Nice cave swallow sandwich! The term of venery might be a Gulp of Swallows. Congrats on getting off the CASW schneid.
Congratulations! Now I can boast that I am one of the only people in Delaware who has NOT had a cave swallow. Great shot!
These are being seen up at my end of the state, near Port Penn, now as well. I need to go hunt them down. Thanks for the swallow montage, it will be a big help in ID’ing them on the wing.
Very nice in flight captures Jeff. I am now very jealous.