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Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
I'll start listening for the swifts screaming up and down my street then!
Return of my Swallows
- Thread starter User
- Start date
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Dayvo
just passin' through
- Location
- 59° 50′ 5.55″ N, 10° 47′ 41.89″ E
+1
Looking forward to them arriving here (about another 4-5 weeks at a guess). They make an impressive sight low-level flying around the golf course where I work: can't wait for the next display.
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
[QUOTE 1805701, member: 9609"]What a fantastic surprise when I opened the garage door this morning - a Swallow flew out.
They make the 8000 mile journey back from south africa in about 40 days ~ 200 miles per day, would take some doing on a bike!
2012 - 12 April
2011 - 14 April
2010 - 10 April
2009 - 11 April
2008 - 10 April
2007 - 04 April
2006 - 13 April
2005 - 18 April
2004 - 21 April
2003 - 14 April
2002 - 09 April
2001 - 10 April[/quote]
Birds cant ride bikes. Der.
They make the 8000 mile journey back from south africa in about 40 days ~ 200 miles per day, would take some doing on a bike!
2012 - 12 April
2011 - 14 April
2010 - 10 April
2009 - 11 April
2008 - 10 April
2007 - 04 April
2006 - 13 April
2005 - 18 April
2004 - 21 April
2003 - 14 April
2002 - 09 April
2001 - 10 April[/quote]
Birds cant ride bikes. Der.
Dayvo
just passin' through
- Location
- 59° 50′ 5.55″ N, 10° 47′ 41.89″ E
[QUOTE 2408442, member: 9609"]Apparently when you walk over cut grass you disturb flies etc and they take off, swallows have cottoned on to this and frequent parks and golf courses etc for this easy source of food.[/quote]
Indeed. Many years ago I spent a month (September) hop picking in Kent and dozens of swallows were feeding in preparation for a long migration. Large flying insects, disturbed by us from their habitat, were easily eyed, pursued and eaten in the twinkling of an eye by the swallows. Fantastic flying skills, they have. And, needless to say, navigational skills, too.
Indeed. Many years ago I spent a month (September) hop picking in Kent and dozens of swallows were feeding in preparation for a long migration. Large flying insects, disturbed by us from their habitat, were easily eyed, pursued and eaten in the twinkling of an eye by the swallows. Fantastic flying skills, they have. And, needless to say, navigational skills, too.
Mange-tout
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Dunfermline
This is a photo of last year's house martins. We have three nests in our eaves, and have had them coming for the last 3 years. They say it could be the same couple using the nests each year. I love them - 'specially lying in bed at the weekends watching them flit in and out above the bedroom. They make a right mess with their poo, but I just poor a kettle of hot water over the roof tiles when they've flown away.
mr messy
Veteran
- Location
- Sunny? Glasgow, the friendly city...
Very marshy around my work with number ponds/ puddles, so lots midges etc, that are patrolled by swallows and sand martins in summer. If weather decent also lots of dragonfly (inc emperor which make a racket in workshop) then there's the buzzards, kestrels and sparrowhawks above and odd bat at dusk...can be like the Battle of Britain!
Mange-tout
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Dunfermline
We live on a modern estate with a number of man made ponds for drainage, which is handy for the mud they need to build the nests and the midges. However, we seem to be the only house in our immediate are with nests and feel very privileged. I like to think it's because we look after the garden birds and wild hedgehogs, and the martins obviously know we're animal lovers
.
.
Luddite Joe
Über Member
- Location
- Swindon
I spotted my first swallow of the year on this mornings ride here in Wiltshire.
Another great sight - lapwings on the newly ploughed fields.
Another great sight - lapwings on the newly ploughed fields.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
just seen our first of 2013 as well today
laurence
Veteran
- Location
- in the aeroplane over the sea
[QUOTE 2408442, member: 9609"]Apparently when you walk over cut grass you disturb flies etc and they take off, swallows have cottoned on to this and frequent parks and golf courses etc for this easy source of food.[/quote]
last weekend at the wetland centre it was Swift central - one passed me a few feet away below eye level!
as i was finishing my reptile survey i looked behind and saw loads of them coming down low. to reach the refugia i had to cross the 'overflow car park', which is a field. the grass has shot up in the last couple of weeks and as i trudged through it i was causing clouds of insects to rise - the swifts followed me and took advantage.
not seen many swallows, but lots of house and sand martins.
another observation on Swifts. last week i was watching the loacal Peregrines as the eyasses were fledging. we noticed that if a falcon was on top of the building the swifts came in low. the first couple of days we thought it was a coincidence, then we realised it was them mobbing the falcons. it was handy as we often knew a juvenile was on the roof by the amount of swifts coming low over the top. never seen them mob other birds before, fascinating.
last weekend at the wetland centre it was Swift central - one passed me a few feet away below eye level!
as i was finishing my reptile survey i looked behind and saw loads of them coming down low. to reach the refugia i had to cross the 'overflow car park', which is a field. the grass has shot up in the last couple of weeks and as i trudged through it i was causing clouds of insects to rise - the swifts followed me and took advantage.
not seen many swallows, but lots of house and sand martins.
another observation on Swifts. last week i was watching the loacal Peregrines as the eyasses were fledging. we noticed that if a falcon was on top of the building the swifts came in low. the first couple of days we thought it was a coincidence, then we realised it was them mobbing the falcons. it was handy as we often knew a juvenile was on the roof by the amount of swifts coming low over the top. never seen them mob other birds before, fascinating.
coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
laurence
Veteran
- Location
- in the aeroplane over the sea
[QUOTE 2503573, member: 9609"]Did you see that picture on springwatch of the peregrine carrying a swift that it had caught - I was very surprised, wouldn't have thought anything could catch a swift.
Our local Sparrowhawk usually gets a young Swallow in the first few days after they fledge. But have never known him take an adult[/quote]
yes... i have also seen a phot from a French Peregrine site where an adult was snapped carrying a Swift in for the young. i think the local Peregrines caught one a few years back - i'd imagine the technique is to go for a big group of them or catch one when it's starting to thermal at the end of the day.
Our local Sparrowhawk usually gets a young Swallow in the first few days after they fledge. But have never known him take an adult[/quote]
yes... i have also seen a phot from a French Peregrine site where an adult was snapped carrying a Swift in for the young. i think the local Peregrines caught one a few years back - i'd imagine the technique is to go for a big group of them or catch one when it's starting to thermal at the end of the day.
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