Why Did They Do That?

[lady-janine]

working in the veg plot I noticed swallows flying around but then two of them landed on a patch of ground not yet planted. they appeared to peck at the ground, then flew round the area and then landed again. although they appeared to peck at the dry ground they did not have anything in their beaks at any time. they did not have a dust bath.

what were they doing.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe hoping for bugs etc, in the turned over soil ?

[Frank97]

Picking up insects, I'd have thought.

[Wharton]

Diverting your attention from what the other swallows were up to?

[lady-janine]

no not turned over. waiting for attention, it was just a well flattened barren patch. have not seen swallows on the ground before.

[lady-janine]

there was a blackbird on the bed next to them and a robin keeping watch on the top of the bean sticks.

[shoota]

Grit to aid digestion perhaps?

[Frank97]

From Wiki
"The swallows generally forage for prey that is on the wing, but they will on occasion snap prey off branches or on the ground"

[shoota]

Gizzard stones[edit]

Some animals that lack teeth will swallow stones or grit to aid in fragmenting hard foods. All birds have gizzards, but not all will swallow stones or grit. The birds that do, employ the following method of mastication:[2]
"A bird swallows small bits of gravel that act as 'teeth' in the gizzard, breaking down hard food such as seeds and thus helping digestion." (Solomon et al., 2002).
These stones are called gizzard stones or gastroliths and usually become round and smooth from the polishing action in the animal's stomach. When too smooth to do their required work, they may be excreted or regurgitated