Swallows or Swifts?

[Dorwyn]

Rain coming straight down quite hard, sitting alone under awning. Swallows or ?? Zipping by, as near as a half metre away, as low as 5cm off the ground, probably a dozen or more. Or just over the awning, round the van, so fast, it's so exciting! Very pale underneath, looks like dark blue on top, very swept back wings and tails. Occasionally nearly colliding from opposite directions. Half expecting one to fly under the awning, one just now so close!! They are bigger than House Martins. Location SW France. Any ideas?

 

[xsparks]

Long tails swallows.

 

[Dorwyn]

Now the fighter jets from Mont de Marsan are having a go, just a bit higher-up!

 

[Abacist]

Swifts are quite large with a pronounced forked tail and I think they hunt the bugs higher up so probably swallows if you are sure they are not House Martins

 

[Dorwyn]

Long tails swallows.

Thanks. Just saw one so low close and near, I saw the shape from the top. Amazing

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[Dorwyn]

Forked tail. The top is very dark, does look blue, they must be very wet, so still not sure. Being so low, is that Swallows behaviour?

 

[dunnah01]

If you can make out a red chin then defo swallows

 

[Abacist]

https://images.app.goo.gl/Z4vmAoomsv5nUAez9

The pictures might help!

 

[Dorwyn]

Tails more swept back, wings too, very close together. They've stopped the display now, just the odd one. The picture is more spindly, thinner than these. Could be HM with a sheen on top because of the rain?

 

[Dorwyn]

If you can make out a red chin then defo swallows

Don't know, didn't lookt there. Being so close and fast, you just get more of an impression

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[Dorwyn]

Now my phone batterys gone. Jets still flying! All happening here! I thought it'd be quiet afternoon!

 

[xsparks]

Skim grass and water for insects. Swifts feed and sleep on the wing and need height to take off, such as churches etc. Because of this their legs are of little use and can't fly from the ground. In the past when I found one I had to take it to a nearby high spot and toss it into the air. I was not quite as violent as that sounds of course.

 

[Dorwyn]

Skim grass and water for insects. Swifts feed and sleep on the wing and need height to take off, such as churches etc. Because of this their legs are of little use and can't fly from the ground. In the past when I found one I had to take it to a nearby high spot and toss it into the air. I was not quite as violent as that sounds of course.

How come they do it when it's raining hard? You can't see any insects, how can they at that speed? You can see them change direction within less than half a metre. Clever little things, and they say bird brain. The speed of reaction and the coordination!

 

[Speve]

Sounds like Swifts they charge around in groups squeeling as they fly

 

[Dorwyn]

Sounds like Swifts they charge around in groups squeeling as they fly

Apparently the locals say Hirondelles, Swallows. The wings and tails are closer together at the bottom of a drive than on your picture. It's hard to judge their size.

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[ChrisL]

Skim grass and water for insects. Swifts feed and sleep on the wing and need height to take off, such as churches etc. Because of this their legs are of little use and can't fly from the ground. In the past when I found one I had to take it to a nearby high spot and toss it into the air. I was not quite as violent as that sounds of course.

I had a similar experience in Aldershot, I found one on the ground and threw it up in the air, immediately two starlings attacked it forcing it back down to the ground, so i picked it up put on the passenger seat of the van and drove up onto the hogs back and released it there, it flew round in a circle and then headed off northwards. Poor things heart was beating so fast I thought it might expire.

 

[Minxy]

I had a similar experience in Aldershot, I found one on the ground and threw it up in the air, immediately two starlings attacked it forcing it back down to the ground, so i picked it up put on the passenger seat of the van and drove up onto the hogs back and released it there, it flew round in a circle and then headed off northwards. Poor things heart was beating so fast I thought it might expire.

Did it use it's wings to point you in the right direction?