Hi,

Not sure as to how many of you travel down the Highway 108 ever day - but every day, for the last few years, I have see one of these birds (sorry do not know the Thai name) flying, fast and low, over the traffic waiting at the red light at the BIG C junction.

I am curious if anyone else has seen this and if anyone would know the reason.

Thanks in advance.

Gladiator

They are on their holidays from China, they come every year around this time ,as its

warmer here and plenty of insects for them to feed on, also there used to be quite a

few Wagtails, and even Beeeaters, but don't see so many now.

Regards Worgeordie

Did you post a picture? I don't see one/

They are on their holidays from China, they come every year around this time ,as its

warmer here and plenty of insects for them to feed on, also there used to be quite a

few Wagtails, and even Beeeaters, but don't see so many now.

Regards Worgeordie

Many thanks....

Did you post a picture? I don't see one/

No. These birds move very, very quickly - ducking diving over the roofs of the cars. I don't think that my camera is up to it.

House Swift -has white throat and rump otherwise looks black all over. Endemic.

Barn Swallow - Looks cream all over below - brown throat Common winter visitor.

Red-rumped Swallow - pale below withn redish rump. Winter visitor.

"One swallow does not a summer make"

But it's certainly hotting up

My daughter and I saw them at the same junction, yesterday, Sunday, morning at about 08.45--look identical to UK swallows--eating plenty of airborne pests--you go, birdies.

"One swallow does not a summer make"

But it's certainly hotting up

Said the Actress-to the Bishop!!

Boom, Boom!!

Did you post a picture? I don't see one/

No. These birds move very, very quickly - ducking diving over the roofs of the cars. I don't think that my camera is up to it.

I thought they were stopped for the red light.

"One swallow does not a summer make"

But it's certainly hotting up

Said the Actress-to the Bishop!!

Boom, Boom!!

Aristotle, actually

They are on their holidays from China, they come every year around this time ,as its

warmer here and plenty of insects for them to feed on, also there used to be quite a

few Wagtails, and even Beeeaters, but don't see so many now.

Regards Worgeordie

3 eee's in a row,unusual.

We have a very large Bodhi tree in our garden which seems to be a stopping off point for a variety of birds before their bi annual onward journey, currently the clans are gathering!

Got them all around our area especially in the evenings when they are feeding on bugs around the nearby trees. They look the size of the House Martins that visit Britain in the summer, which come from Africa I believe.

I've often wondered about these crazy birds and have studied them while waiting at several intersections, not just the one mentioned. My first thought was that they were feeding on insects, but what insects at the intersections? Maybe they like exhaust fumes??

They are on their holidays from China, they come every year around this time ,as its

warmer here and plenty of insects for them to feed on, also there used to be quite a

few Wagtails, and even Beeeaters, but don't see so many now.

Regards Worgeordie

3 eee's in a row,unusual.

We have a very large Bodhi tree in our garden which seems to be a stopping off point for a variety of birds before their bi annual onward journey, currently the clans are gathering!

Only on the Chiang Mai forum are the smallest mistakes spotted,AND commented on,if I did not make mistakes I would be perfect, anyone want a job as a proof reader,Thailand ? regards Worgeordie

quite a few hirundine species to be found in Thailand.. and yes, they are (more than likely) Barn Swallows you've seen. Drive along the canal road and you may also find the rarer Wire-tailed Swallows, with their chestnut coloured heads, this bird is very much a northern only species.

Dozens of them every year at the Meechok Plaza intersection on the 1001. I assumed the rising heat from idling engines brought insects in which meant the birds followed. Used to watch their cousins in Scotland in summer flying at very high speed though old window openings in an old farmhouse barn - and in the twinkling of an eye fly straight back out through the same aperture - and at the same speed - about 80mph it seemed.