Hi, I spotted and photographed what I suspect is an Egyptian Barn Swallow. On Wednesday the 10-July-2024 I arrived at the Dyfi Ynylas Nature Reserve near Borth, Credigion in Wales. The bird was resting on the sand with other barn swallows in front of the estuary carpark. As this bird is non-migratory what could it be? Thanks Mike
What would make this an Egyptian Barn Swallow and not an 'ordinary' Barn Swallow? Your flight pic shows the standard white belly of the latter.
It looks peachy on my screen, Cris, (almost female Bullfinch colour) but the tail feathers are a bright white + black, so not monitor issue?
The colouring was very different. Excuse the poor quality photos, low light and fast birds. I have lots of pics but here is one with both in the same frame. Taken at 600 zoom and cropped heavily. Thanks for you help guys.
Yes, I agree that the left hand bird breast colour is darker than you'd expect, but doesn't seem as dark as the pic the Levant and Egypian subspecies in the Collins guide. Worth reporting?
I showed the people at the visitor centre but they said it was dirty swallow. Not convinced hence this post. Thanks for commenting. Here is another one.
Usually best to go with the simplest explanation, which 'dirty' swallow is, unless you've got really good evidence to the contrary. This site has had lots of pics of yellow breasted magpies recently, for example, which are all ordinary magpies with stained feathers.
I think the locals will be right. All sites have died hard regulars who would have spotted, recorded and reported anything this unusual.... Nice opening shots tho
Probably just stained plumage as advised. Could have been from the mud that was used to build the nest. Here's another shot. Thanks for your help.