Hi all
My first post so be kind!
I was recently flying my Paraglider off Crescent Head NSW and notice 2 birds having as much fun as I was soaring the cliffs in the smooth coastal breeze. They were swooping off the cliffs straight down towards the water approx 100 m below and then looping back up to various perching spots, their speed was impressive and they were very agile. I thought they may have been peregrine falcons but they looked to have a wedge shaped tail more like a swallow. They were brown on top from what I could tell as I was only getting with in 60 m of them.
Any ideas of what they would be?
Cheers
Do you know how big their wingspan was? Swallows have forked tails so do you mean forked or wedged?
It was maybe around 40 cm wing span. Yes a fork shape not a wedge.
Probably a Fork-tailed Swift but I am not sure.
A swift would not generally perch.
The speed, agility and location to me says Peregrine Falcons. Your description of colour, wingspan size and tail shape don't quite match the PF, but when viewed at a distance and depending on the light, perception of size, tail shape and colour can easily be distorted. I'm from the area so i'll keep an eye out for them next time I am at Crescent Head.
LM