Return of my Swallows

[User]

 

[Piemaster]

I had my kids convinced that a bird in the garden wasn't a swallow as it was too small. It was the less well known Sip. Could also be related to the largest of the swallow family, the Gulp.

 

[Trembler49]

I had my kids convinced that a bird in the garden wasn't a swallow as it was too small. It was the less well known Sip. Could also be related to the largest of the swallow family, the Gulp.

You'll be needing your coat out there as it's a bit nippy!!

 

[coffeejo]

[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![/quote]
That reminds me, I need to start covering up the bikes again. The little darlings think nothing of using them for target practice.

 

[Red Light]

I had my kids convinced that a bird in the garden wasn't a swallow as it was too small. It was the less well known Sip. Could also be related to the largest of the swallow family, the Gulp.

Mine were just pleased we'd spent the extra money for a good pair of colour binoculars rather than a cheap black & white pair.

 

[mr Mag00]

nice one still not see one here yet!

 

[biggs682]

not seen any yet here either

 

[vernon]

Mine were just pleased we'd spent the extra money for a good pair of colour binoculars rather than a cheap black & white pair.

Black and white?

Luxury!

I could only afford black ones.

 

[Red Light]

Black and white?

Luxury!

I could only afford black ones.

Perfectly acceptable for viewing stars and planets on a cloudy night.

 

[Glow worm]

Nice pic. I hope to see a photo of the young soon! I've been keeping a note of when swallows return here too, since 2005...

2005 - 10th April
2006 - 9th April
2007 - 6th April
2008 - 3rd April
2009 - 7th April
2010 - 8th April
2011 - 13th April
2012 - 4th April

Our first swift passed overhead on April 30th. I have seen them as early as 24th in 2007. The house martins are back too (since April 17th) and last year a pair successfully raised two broods under our eaves. The martins are only in small numbers so far though and I've seen none at all today. I wonder if like swifts, they'll bugger off to where the weather is more favourable for a while as we are pretty close to the continent here. Good to see and hear two cuckoos as well the other day up the road at a place called Wicken Fen.

I did see (pallid) swifts, martins, and swallows in early March, but I was cheating - being stood at the southern most tip of Gibraltar, watching them come in off the Straights from Africa. It was really amazing to stand there and welcome them back to Europe!

 

[Dave7]

Lovely birds......I took this in Anglesey as it was collecting food for the young and it really shows the colours (IMO)

 

[Fnaar]

Noticed our housemartins (ours coz they nest on our house) for the first time ;ast weekend. I thought I'd diarised their return every year, going back a bit, but searching in my google calendar, I've only recorded dates for 2007 and 2011. Thchoh! What kind of obsessive AM I?

 

[Globalti]

Birds always manage to look bad-tempered, don't they?

I've been following the cuckoos on this website: http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking

We had a small white duck waddling around in the garden last night, never seen one before, we thought it must have been blown in by the gusting wind.

 

[annedonnelly]

Pleased to hear it - there are definitely signs of spring around at the minute.

 

[Spinney]

brilliant thread, Reiver! Great pics.
How do the swallows get into your garage, are there gaps near the roof or something?