bushwakka Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Was out shooting over rape near Tilmanstone yesterday, didnt really have an eventful morning, so decided to pack up and move to another field, whilst I was bringing the deeks in I noticed a swallow, then I saw another all in all i saw 5 swallows, just wondering if anyone else has seen any yet??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Was out shooting over rape near Tilmanstone yesterday, didnt really have an eventful morning, so decided to pack up and move to another field, whilst I was bringing the deeks in I noticed a swallow, then I saw another all in all i saw 5 swallows, just wondering if anyone else has seen any yet??? I shot the Essex Masters clay shoot at Hepworth Hall in Essex on Saturday. I saw 2 or 3 Swallows around the car park :blink: First ones for me this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulABF Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Already seen swallows in Northumberland last week and the first ones in Forfar at the weekend. Summer's here at long last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Loads at chew valley fishing two weeks ago. Regards OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Saw one last Sunday. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy1 Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Saw some last weekend, can't remember when i first saw them last year but do they seem early this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I drove to Margate via the A256 on Monday, filled up with diesel at the Jet Garage near Cliffs End and saw about 6-8 sitting on the telephone wires. So I wasn't that far from where you saw some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwakka Posted April 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks for all your replies, it is intersting just to see the distribution of new arrivals of swallows within this small group of replies. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyp Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 Fisrt ones arrived in Lutterworth this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Mule Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 (edited) Our first ones turned up (Llantrisant nr Cardiff) on Monday. We usually have a couple of dozen in the stables, garage, boiler room eves, etc. It's a pleaure to see them blasting around eating up the flies, but I wish they wouldn't poo all over the cars. Edited April 17, 2010 by Alpha Mule Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crouch valley Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 i saw our first swallow on the 31st march over our reservoir there are now about ten of them there. Great to see as summers coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davie mac Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 saw my first one on wednesday when i was out with the dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootnfish Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 seen a couple here dont see anywhere near as many as i used to when i was a kid when they got thier young would see hundreds and hundreds on the phone wires same with house martins still seems to be the same amount of swifts anyone else notice this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 seen a couple here dont see anywhere near as many as i used to when i was a kid when they got thier young would see hundreds and hundreds on the phone wires same with house martins still seems to be the same amount of swifts anyone else notice this? There's only a tiny fraction of the numbers that there used to be. That applies to Swallows, Martins and Swifts. I'm convinced that it's because there are only a fraction of the insects left compared to those days. Back then, if you drove around for a few hours in the Summer, you'd need to stop and wash the splattered insects off your windscreen. Now there are hardly any. Scary. They've been sprayed off the face off the earth with insecticides and all the wild flowers have been sprayed off the planet with herbicides, which reduces the insects even more. Nobody seems to give a toss, including the RSPB. They just spend millions researching other outlandish and stupid reasons why stuff is disappearing, when they only need to look in front of their ******* noses. Bunch of ***** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 Already seen swallows in Northumberland last week and the first ones in Forfar at the weekend. Summer's here at long last. Fishing on the Coquet on Friday, watched at least a 100 Sand Martins flocking about together get ready for mating, nice to watch, BJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verminator69 Posted April 17, 2010 Report Share Posted April 17, 2010 Seen a few swollows the day while shooting doos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chefy Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 seen a few in shefeild area at work today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 (edited) There's only a tiny fraction of the numbers that there used to be. That applies to Swallows, Martins and Swifts. I'm convinced that it's because there are only a fraction of the insects left compared to those days. Back then, if you drove around for a few hours in the Summer, you'd need to stop and wash the splattered insects off your windscreen. Now there are hardly any. Scary. They've been sprayed off the face off the earth with insecticides and all the wild flowers have been sprayed off the planet with herbicides, which reduces the insects even more. Nobody seems to give a toss, including the RSPB. They just spend millions researching other outlandish and stupid reasons why stuff is disappearing, when they only need to look in front of their ******* noses. Bunch of ***** Chard , You havent been getting your info from the Shooting Times ( or the Shi-ting Times as many wildfowlers call it because its full of so much bullsh-t) have you. I am no supporter of the RSPB , but they are spending a lot of money on research into the decline of incects and reconise thats it one of the main problems facing farmland birds. Edited April 20, 2010 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloudwalker Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Saw my first swallow over at Bedford 2 weeks ago whilst out Pigeon shooting. Several more were flighting last Sunday in the same area. All heading in the same direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Chard , You havent been getting your info from the Shooting Times ( or the Shi-ting Times as many wildfowlers call it because its full of so much bullsh-t) have you. I am no supporter of the RSPB , but they are spending a lot of money on research into the decline of incects and reconise thats it one of the main problems facing farmland birds. No, I don't read any of that ****. I can remember the RSPB writing voluminous reports, agonising over why these species are on their way out. Not a mention of decline of insects and wild flowers. (The decline in insects and wild flowers that I can see with my own eyes). I don't think it needs a lot of money spending on it. It's plain to see. I remember walking along the edge of some of those "Tesco vegetable" fields in Norfolk, with their neat rows of seedlings. Nothing alive in there, for acres and acres. No insects, no wild flowers and no birds. Totally sterile. Scary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linny Posted April 23, 2010 Report Share Posted April 23, 2010 i saw a house martin on monday no swallows yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian750 Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 Swallows have come back to nest in our stables now in South Lincs for three years running, 3 have arrived back safe and well so far. Great to see them, look forward to it every year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 It's not just here that causes problems for swallows. Their winter feeding grounds and the area they cross on migrations have also changed for the worst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3xspringer Posted April 29, 2010 Report Share Posted April 29, 2010 we had swollows 2x weeks ago, also heard a cockoo about the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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