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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: hellohelenhere on April 22, 2009, 14:23:24

Title: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on April 22, 2009, 14:23:24

I remember in recent years seeing my first swift about now. (Swallows I have seen very few of, I don't think they are very common in London, where I was living.)

Anyone seen them yet? Should be any day now!

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: markfield rover on April 22, 2009, 15:09:28

Went to the stables to fetch the good stuff and flying about my head there they were,except I don't know which-flashes of white!
Hereford by the way.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: OllieC on April 22, 2009, 15:18:54

I saw one but I'm not saying it's summer yet...  ::) Actually that's not true, I haven't seen any yet.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on April 22, 2009, 15:27:18

Markfield Rover, they'll be house martins:
http://www.gtdenham.org/images/Nature/House%20Martins.jpg

I love the sound of their twittering! :)

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Old bird on April 22, 2009, 15:53:57

Saw them Saturday 6th April over the Bristol Channel and now we have loads of them!  They are the house martins not proper swallows!

Old Bird :D

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: froglets on April 22, 2009, 16:06:50

House Martins ( 2 ) in Cheshire at the weekend

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: naff on April 22, 2009, 16:34:04

We,ve had swallows here since 6th April,last year it was 22nd.No sign of swifts yet but we usually see them about the same time so should be here soon.For once we have decent enough weather for them in North Wales!!

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Bjerreby on April 22, 2009, 17:07:35

Not a sign of them yet  here in Denmark. They'll arrive in May I think.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: thifasmom on April 22, 2009, 17:14:56

normally have swallows around here but i haven't seen any as yet.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 22, 2009, 17:39:55

Apparently swifts are becoming rarer due to lack of nest sites in modern centrally heated buildings.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on April 22, 2009, 18:07:16

6th of April, wow, that's early! I've only really noticed the date for the last few years, but it's generally been about 3rd week of April, for swifts, in London. The starlings here abouts do a slightly swift-like screaming noise, so lately, I've been caught out a few times! :D

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Old bird on April 23, 2009, 10:24:37

Robert you are so right!

I live in a boring modern 70's house and we have NO swifts, martins or swallows in the area at all.  Occasionally you will see one flying over but only rarely - yet in the town amongst the older houses there are loads of them.

I can't think that my house is that alien to them - but they apparently return to where they came from (nest wise - like frogs!) so never venture into new territory so to speak!

I used to have loads in my previous cottage in a village and really miss them!

Ah well - just have to move to a house with a swallows nest!

Old Bird

 ;D

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: markfield rover on April 23, 2009, 12:18:50

Thanks hellohelenhere,can tell I am a city sort! In Kew a couple of weeks ago noticed green parroty type of birds flying around,very exotic.
This year on the plot quite amazed how tame the blackbirds are  being only two feet away when I am digging.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Trixiebelle on April 23, 2009, 16:15:12

Another 3 weeks I reckon! And then I'll plant the beans out  :)

I was listening to a great radio programme the other day about a bloke who followed the journery of the swallows from here to Africa. Think it was a Radio 4 prog. about nature writers ... Mariella Forestring!

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Bjerreby on April 26, 2009, 20:22:08

Danish Islands

House Martins! They flew past this afternoon. Early I'd say.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Carol on April 26, 2009, 20:29:30

I have seen loads of Swallows.  Last Monday 'my' swallow returned and waited on the telephone wire for a couple of days, now the mate is back and have again been investigating the 2 nests on my house.  They are swooping in at my window at this moment in time. 

Not seen the Swifts yet.  They usually take up residence across the road at the Manse, they will be here soon.

 :D :D :D

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on April 27, 2009, 23:42:38

I've been in Verona, northern Italy, since Friday - lots of swallows here, hundreds of them - and swifts. In spite of the wind and rain, it therefore feels like summer. :)
I wonder if the swifts will have beaten me back to Reading, when I get home?

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: Digeroo on April 27, 2009, 23:47:57

We had thunder lightening and hail this afternoon.  If there are any swallows around think they might have turned roundand gone back to the warmth.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: RobinOfTheHood on May 04, 2009, 07:41:14

Swifts!   ;D

Yesterday, must be summer!  (Looks out of window) yep, it's raining.   :)

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on May 04, 2009, 11:46:32

Back in Reading, still haven't seen a swift here.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: angle shades on May 05, 2009, 09:23:44

 :) 2 wet swallows, 5 house martins , no Swifts :(


I think on last years Springwatch they were saying food sources on the journey here were causing less Swifts to survive the journey :-\ the weather is making insects scarce/ shades x

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: JoB1 on May 05, 2009, 09:32:30

YES! Swifts flying high around our area, in Swanmore near Southampton, for the past week  :) Pulled the curtains open whilst having a lazy lie-in on Saturday and could watch them through the window - lovely sight and sound.

Haven't spotted house-martins yet but think I spied a long forked tail hanging over a telegraph wire as I drove by yesterday  :)

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: angle shades on May 06, 2009, 19:54:15

1 swift :( flying over lottie/ shades x

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on May 07, 2009, 13:15:38

Finally! Swifts here, saw them yesterday, quite a few. It seems quite late in the year - but at least they're here now!

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: tonybloke on May 10, 2009, 19:48:32

[attachment=1][attachment=2]
over the back garden this evening.

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: thifasmom on May 13, 2009, 09:57:22

 ;D ;D just looked out the window at the dark overcast sky and ........... the swifts are here, the swifts are here ;D ;D

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: camo_lady on May 20, 2009, 10:35:59

They arrived - in force - Sunday morning. 

My sleep was shattered by a thousand screaming demons just outside my bedroom window.

Great to see them - and sure happy they eat 'Bitemes'

janval

Title: Re: Swifts and swallows, seen them yet?
Post by: hellohelenhere on May 21, 2009, 13:26:06

I love that screaming sound, it's so exhilarating! Plus, they just whizz past now and again en masse - it wouldn't be very pleasant if they did it outside your window all day. :)
House martins outside the window is nice, sparrows too, if they're not too close - their chirrupping can get a bit maddening if they're right there next to you. Lovely cheerful sound though.