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30 years ago Cave Swallows were only found nesting in southwest Texas. This species has expanded its nesting range significantly. @upupamartin and I found a small colony of about 20 Cave Swallows nesting in a culvert under U.S. 83 south of Aspermont, Texas. Note the buffy throat (rather than the chestnut colored throat of Cliff Swallow) and the darker forehead patch than Cliff Swallow.
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30 years ago Cave Swallows were only found nesting in southwest Texas. This species has expanded its nesting range significantly. On June 15, @upupamartin and I found a single Cave Swallow nest underneath a highway bridge in Hansford Co., Texas. Even with the known range expansion to the north, this area is outside the known Cave Swallow nesting range. This nest was near a large Cliff Swallow colony, but the nest was about 50 feet away from any Cliff Swallow nests and it was more in the interior area of the bridge which is typical of Cave Swallows which tend to prefer darker spots than Cliffs. I don't think the nest was active and it may have been from last year...in any event we did not see a Cave Swallow, but this is a typical Cave Swallow nest with the sides and open front and quite different from Cliff or Barn Swallow nests. I'll post it here for the record. This was near the Barn Owl nest at: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3464502
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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I came across a small group of Cave Swallows resting and preening on a utility line. The species is known to nest in Travis County, but this is the first time I have found them on this property. There were several adults as well as some juvenile birds. Image 6 shows one of the youngsters. Note the scaly feather edges to the back and scapulars
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Birds flying in and out feeding nestlings
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Birds flying in and out feeding nestlings
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Birds flying in and out feeding nestlings
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Birds flying in and out feeding nestlings
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Greg Neise's photo of our flyby Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) My 371st bird species seen in Illinois. Short-tailed swallow, buffy underneath with throat the same color as chest, photographed by Greg Neise. We didn't ID it from the photo, we IDed it as it approached and flew by, this photo just happened to be a lucky capture by Greg Neise. IORC #2015.053
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About 50 of them sitting on a phone line and many flying in the field next to the line. I assume they are migrating
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About 50 of them sitting on a phone line and many flying in the field next to the line. I assume they are migrating
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About 50 of them sitting on a phone line and many flying in the field next to the line. I assume they are migrating