Swallows

[racing green]

Saw my first sighting of a Swallow this morning on the telephone wires over the garden. This is a full week earlier than last year. Fairly confident that this is one of our regulars as it was in the exact area where about ten pairs usually nest. Anyone else seen any as this would be a great way to see how they spread back over the country in the next month or so. I am in Sussex


Photo from this morning (sorry about quality as lens was at full limit and I have cropped it tighter)

[tenex]

Good idea.
They won't be up here (North of Scotland) for at least 3 weeks.

[Zelda Pinwheel]

Lovely things. I'm awaiting the return of our housemartins - never fails to cheer me up to see the chirpy little gits on my aerials, and patching up their nests after the winter.

[mcelliott]

House Martins have been in Guernsey for about 10 days.

[racing green]

Number one Swallow has this morning been joined by number two. Anybody else got any yet?

[Tonsko]

None here near us (West Shropshire) yet.

[daved]

First Swallow here (sort of mid-Wales)on Saturday 2nd. Did see some heading north along the coast not far from here on 12 March though. Lots of House and Sand Martins nearby at a regular haunt.

[tenex]

Well Racing Green, obviously not the most popular of topics.
Pity.
Saw my first one today, a week ahead of last year.
Also the first Meadow Pipit and Linnet.
Martins will be towards the end of the month.

[SAGgy chef]

Spotted the 1st swallow on the 7th of April, near Preston.
Hopefully the pair I had last year have made the round trip and will be nesting in the old outside toilet.

[Getragdogleg]

Bugger.

This means I will soon have the family of the little sods back in my workshop.

Lovely little birds, ace little spitty mud nest things but the amount of st they produce when they have young (two batches a season) is incredible. The anti poo measures I have to take to protect my myriad vehicles are quite extensive.

I also wasted several days last year feeding a youngling that fell from the nest, I then taught it to fly and it then went back to the nest and rejoined the others.

[RichB]

tenex said:

Well Racing Green, obviously not the most popular of topics.
.

I suspect that's because I struggle to tell a swallow from a swift or martin.

We've had our parakeets flying over though

[kiteless]

The inn I frequent on the way home from work (The Bell in Shropshire) is a mecca for housemartins. The first batch arrived this week

[racing green]

House Martins arrived with us a week or so ago and the first Cuckoo on sunday. The Swallows are now eight and looking to nest but the soil is so dry that their nests will not stick properly. Now eagerly awaiting the tree pippits and spotted flycatchers to return too. And don't worry I wasn't expecting this to be a ground breaking thread

[Tonsko]

Man, I'm missing out. Still no hide nor feather here. House Martins haven't tipped up yet either.

[Getragdogleg]

Worked late last night and at about 9.30pm a pair flew into the workshop and went straight to last years nest.

So, out with the big plastic sheet and try and poo-proof the cars again.

[andrew_huxtable]

Just saw our first swallow, Dunfermline Fife. About 20 miles or so north of Edinburgh

[RichB]

Don't know about swallows but I spent a most wonderfull time in my glider this afternoon soaring with red kites at 5,000 feet. One spotted me and came in close for a look and next there werre three of them thermaling with me. They stayed with me for about 15 mins. Fantastic.

[andrew_huxtable]

RichB said:

Don't know about swallows but I spent a most wonderfull time in my glider this afternoon soaring with red kites at 5,000 feet. One spotted me and came in close for a look and next there werre three of them thermaling with me. They stayed with me for about 15 mins. Fantastic.

That sounds fantastic, i had quite a few glider flights at RM Condor while being in the ATC, loved it and would love one day to be able to do it again. How much is it costing you if you dont mind sharing?

[blueg33]

We are seeing swallows here in Gloucestershire and the house martins have already built this years nest

[RichB]

andrew_huxtable said:

. How much is it costing you if you dont mind sharing?

been gliding for around 25 years now and have my own glider which helps but basically the annual costs are; club membership approx £500, insurance £200, CofA & maintenance £250 plus launch fees which are about £25 a launch so that costs depends on how often you fly!