Today was a definite spotting low over the River Great Ouse.
18 Apr 2024
At last a swallow! - NOT amateur radio
14 Apr 2024
Still to see one - NOT amateur radio
26 Mar 2024
Swallows - NOT amateur radio
I was hoping that I might hear a chiffchaff on our walk this morning but I was unlucky.
9 Oct 2023
Sentimentalist - NOT amateur radio
At the moment, I am reading a book about swifts in which it says these have been around since the Eocene era i.e. about 50 million years. It is hard to grasp. This means these birds were flying high in the sky before humans came on the scene. I find this quite humbling. I guess other migratory birds like swallows and martins go back a very long time too.
Most swifts, swallows and martins have now embarked on their long journeys south. I also keep an eye out for the first to come back each spring, probably as they have done for millions of years before me.
13 May 2023
8 Apr 2023
First swallow seen - NOT amateur radio
See the RSPB website for details: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/
5 May 2022
Swallows (Barn) - NOT amateur radio
These summer migrant birds winter in South Africa. They used to arrive here in early April. They are around as my son has taken a photo, but I suspect there are fewer. It is already well into May and I have still to see one. Last year I only saw 2 the whole spring and summer! Swifts normally arrive about now.
UPDATE 1410z: We did a nice walk this morning around the village which included several stretches near water. Had there been swallows and swifts around, we would have seen them. We saw none. My impression is there are fewer even than last year, which is very sad.
22 Apr 2022
Swallows (Barn) - NOT amateur radio
Swifts are also meant to be getting rarer, but we seemed to have similar numbers here to previous years. I have yet to see a single swallow here, which is very late. In the past, they were common by now.
My son, who has been wild camping, has seen and heard several cuckoos, but no swallows. Times, they are a changing...
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/ .
4 May 2021
Where are they? - NOT amateur radio
I saw one swallow in early April and none since. I have not seen a single house martin or swift.
At one time these were common, but not any more. This may in part be the wind direction, but I suspect global warming: their food supplies on their long journey north may have reduced as deserts grow.
To me, seeing screaming swifts overhead is an English spring and summer. Perhaps for not much longer?
26 Apr 2021
Fewer swallows? - NOT amateur radio
We still see swifts, although these are later to arrive. To me they make a late spring or early summer evening. Usually you hear their screaming, look up and see them overhead hunting. Swifts are about, although I have seen and heard none yet.
Cuckoos used to be commonly heard, although I heard none last year. They tend to lay their eggs in the nests of willow warblers. Just occasionally they can be heard. More rarely, they can be seen on wires overhead.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/ .
9 Apr 2021
1st swallow seen - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/ .
13 Apr 2020
Still no swallows here - NOT amateur radio
They have been seen in Devon now for several weeks. Once they arrive, I usually see several in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I shall keep looking.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/
18 Apr 2019
At last! - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/
17 Apr 2019
Still waiting - NOT amateur radio
15 Apr 2019
Still waiting - NOT amateur radio
31 Mar 2019
Returning summer migrants - NOT amateur radio
24 Mar 2019
Swallows - NOT amateur radio
28 Sept 2018
Last swallow (bird)? - NOT amateur radio
At breakfast I saw one solitary swallow and that may be the last here now until next April. There were 40000 seen at Slapton, Devon a few days ago presumably as they gathered to feed prior to migrating south.
Safe trip and hopefully see you next spring.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/
23 Apr 2018
First swallow seen - NOT amateur radio
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow