Anyone Seen A Swallow?

walsworth

walsworth

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The swallows are very late this year, normally reach this area mid April, but I've still not seen one this year.
I've just walked acorss the meadows to get my paper and I was almost eaten alive by various flies. So come on guys where are you? We've had a few days of East winds so you should have made it by now.
 
Loads today on the walk with the dog...she goes mental chasing after them.

Also saw a very brave mother duck fend off a heron who was eyeing up her ducklings....gutsy duck!
 
Galileo said:
Also saw a very brave mother duck fend off a heron who was eyeing up her ducklings....gutsy duck!
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They are brave little birds! I know everyone laughs at mallards for not being the brightest but they are incredibly brave, particularly when they haven't got that much in the way of defences such as talons or a sharp beak.

No sign of the swallows/swifts or martins in the Cheltenham area, Walsworth. We've normally got a sky full of swifts by now, but not a single one as yet.
 
A few years ago we had loads of swallows over the farms behind us in this part of Devon, but now only a handful. Still delightful, love the little talking they do when they land on the power lines by us. Cats get on top of garden wall and try to jump up and catch as they swoop low. No chance! :lol:
 
None yet - looking forward to, though. Does it count if I say we had a swarm of bees today at Lingfield? :-)) They had to doll off part of the horsewalk near the parade ring, and call in an apiarist, who was going to remove the queen and her drones. Shame, really, as I'm sure they were very happy on their nice white rail!
 
I've recently bought a book titled "Say Goodbye To The Cuckoo" by Michael McCarthy, not read it yet though.This is about our dwindling migrants and all the perils they face on their journey from Africa. When I do get chance to read it I'll try to do a review.
Incidentally I've not heard a cuckoo for 5 or 6 years now. I know that I don't get out like I used to, but you could hear them even in the middle of town 20 years ago.
 
There were swallows' nests on the old Marley grandstand at Lingfield, and lots of starlings nesting in its eaves. Sadly, there's no more accommodation for them, as the stand was pulled down to make way for the Marriott Hotel that's well under construction in its place. I can only hope that once it's finished, they'll find a way to colonise that.
 
Housemartins arrived about 10 days ago. There does seem to a lot of midgeys around which I wouldn't expect after such a a cold winter.
 
I went to see my friend yesterday, on the other side of town where I lived for 40 odd years. There are plenty of swifts there because the houses are 1920's and there are nesting places in the eaves. We get more house martins on this side of town, but none have arrived yet. Theres a strong East wind today perhaps that will help them across from the Continent.
 
The Housemartins arrived here nearly 4 weeks ago now. I just love how they go back to their previous nests which we never move or tamper with. I must be going a wee bit daft as i always speak to them and say well done on their arrival here each year.:blink:

According to my other half Swallows arrived a week or so ago.
 
"I must be going a wee bit daft as i always speak to them and say well done on their arrival here each year."

Daft you may be but you are not on your own with that diriculous chat. :o
 
I find myself nattering away to most birds and animals, even saying "Aren't oo wuvly? 'Es oo is, oo's vewwy, vewwy pwetty" to a butterfly the other day, and always a cheerful 'hallo' to hoverflies, with the inevitable "I know you're not a wasp, you clever little bugger!"

It's probably time for a change of medication.
 
The house martins have made it this last couple of days, busy sticking mud on the walls of the houses nearer to the meadows, but no swallows yet.

Soba said:
The Housemartins arrived here nearly 4 weeks ago now. I just love how they go back to their previous nests which we never move or tamper with. I must be going a wee bit daft as i always speak to them and say well done on their arrival here each year.:blink:

According to my other half Swallows arrived a week or so ago.
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Your birds must have over flown us surely?
I wonder if that's the way it works; the ones with the longer distance to travel set off first. It's like that in the Autumn, our birds disappear and then a couple of days later, some from further North will stop for a feed on their way South.
 
You probably won't believe this but it is a matter of public record over on Atacanta that I saw a single swallow here on March 19th during that very warm spell we had. It was just the one, Mrs Wembley and no, I hadn't been drinking! :whistle:

Its pals returned here three weeks ago and we've quite a few nesting around the barns. Lovely! :)
 
I noticed yesterday that a collared dove had taken up residence behind a Sky dish and was sitting on eggs with her mate in attendance nearby.
I wondered if this sort of nesting site would suit swallows who have lost lots of their traditional barn sites to either clearance or development.
 
Your birds must have over flown us surely?
I wonder if that's the way it works; the ones with the longer distance to travel set off first. It's like that in the Autumn, our birds disappear and then a couple of days later, some from further North will stop for a feed on their way South
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I'd say your propably right there. The first sighting i had was just of the one solitary little chap. He is the one that lives in stable one as we call it. It took about another three or four days for the rest to arrive. Amazing how they seem to time their arrival just as the midge popultation erupts, plenty of grub for all!
I have actually just been outside this morning and noticed something a bit odd with them. Normally in the past they have used eaves on both sides of the house but this year they are only using one side. Plenty of nests on one side, the other side nothing. I wonder what that is all about?:confused:

Songsheet, do you ever have the problem we have here i wonder? At least three or four times a year we have to shimmy up a ladder and rescue (or try to) some birds which had used horses mane/tail hair in their nests. The problem being the hair then somehow gets wrapped around the poor things necks as they fly in and out and they end up noosing themselves in it. It sadly happens here every single year without fail.
 
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