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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!

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.

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

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

I love the sound of their twittering! :)

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

House Martins ( 2 ) in Cheshire at the weekend

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!!

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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!

Danish Islands

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

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

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?

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.

Swifts!   ;D

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

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