Re: [SBB] Purple Martin

["LINDA ADAMS" <[[email protected]]>]

Hello Steve and SBBers,

I'm glad that Steve got a close look.  In case Steve is receiving queries as to weather it might have been a Tree Swallow, or some other swallow, I want to add that I may have also seen one.  Last night, at our home in San Martin (up against Harvey Bear Ranch-Coyote Lake County Park), while we were moving lumber with sweat blurring my vision, I looked up to see what appeared to be an all dark swallow circling in the vicinity of the (believe it or not) Purple Martin Nestbox that I've had up for several years, just in case.  But since the light was very bad, I was not about to report it.  If my Tree Swallows had been in the same view, for comparison, and I could have confirmed that the TRES were smaller, I would have reported it.  But since lighting can influence size judgement and color so much, I really couldn't be sure.  Sometimes, when we have been out "Purple Martin Hunting", the light can be so bad that a Tree Swallow's stomach can even appear to be dark.

With all the unusually abundant amount of water this year, they may be looking for nesting sites here.  It is certainly not too late for them to nest.  Now that I know that Steve has had a close-up observation, I will go back outside and monitor the rest of the evening.  It was about this time last night that I had the strange sighting.  Thanks, Steve!

Linda Adams
           
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Steve and Heather Rottenborn<mailto:[[email protected]]> 
  To: SBB<mailto:[[email protected]]> 
  Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 7:32 PM
  Subject: [SBB] Purple Martin


  South Bay Birders,

  A few minutes ago (about 7:30 p.m.), a female Purple Martin flew low over our house in eastern Morgan Hill, heading north.  Not sure how to classify this one (late migrant? vagrant?).

  Steve Rottenborn
  [[email protected]]<mailto:[[email protected]]>

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