grenville Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 At this time of year, we often get a healthy debate about whether one should or should not shoot pigeons at this time of year. My personal preference is to desist whilst in the spring, and I usually stop after I have seen the first Swallow etc of the year. It was the 24th of March when I was fishing on the Tweed that I first saw one of our migratory friends (In that case a Sand Martin - I think) last year. It being 23rd today I haven't yet seen the first of this year yet. So it seems they haven't got here to Northumberland yet. What about the rest of the country? Grenville Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I saw loads on 30th March last year whilst up in Nottingham, however in my area (Herts), they don't seem to show until about the second week in April. I reckon Spring is running at least a month late this year, so who knows when they will arrive..?? Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I saw the title of this thread and thought.....OH NO !!!!!!!!! Then a big sigh of relief. We haven't seen any swallows, house martins, swifts , or the like yet. We still have large flocks of fieldfares hanging around. Daffodils haven't opened properly yet either. As Cat says, Spring is late this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 First Robins arrived 2 days ago, here...but I have not heard the frogs sing yet nor are the kill dears back yet. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted March 23, 2006 Report Share Posted March 23, 2006 I usually stop after I have seen the first Swallow etc of the year. Grenville I am still waiting for Mrs Pavman to have the first swallow of 06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 Lets not "go there" Pavman, (But with that topic name it was always going to happen :thumbs: ) Anyway, no swallows here, they would be wet through. its done nowt but **** down all day. Be nice to see them whirling around the house tops again though! Regards Sutty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 I usually stop after I have seen the first Swallow etc of the year. Grenville I am still waiting for Mrs Pavman to have the first swallow of 06 :thumbs: Me too, I mean Mrs Whitebridges, not Mrs Pavman. Usually see the first swallow aroung the 25th March ( tomorrow). No chance this year, things are 2-3 weeks behind. Of the hirundines the Sand Martin is usually the first to arrive, then swallows and martins and lastly swifts. The fist real spring migrant we get is the wheatear, they normal arrive in the middle of the month and as far as I am aware we haven't had any. This is a sure sign that spring is late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country_est Posted March 24, 2006 Report Share Posted March 24, 2006 The fist real spring migrant we get is the wheatear, they normal arrive in the middle of the month and as far as I am aware we haven't had any. This is a sure sign that spring is late. Either that or they have all died of bird flu before they got here. :thumbs: Either that or they will be bring it over soon as its gone awfully quiet on that front for a couple of weeks. Trev (P!ssed off at work and feeling gloomy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Saw my first kill dears yesterday, just waiting for the frogs to sing now. :thumbs: NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 I usually see the first swallows here in the second half of April. (Around the 22nd) I too am worried about Bird Flue, we will just have to wait and see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 The frogs were singing today :thumbs: now they just need to be chased in twice and spring will really be here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peck Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 What are kill dears.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) What are kill dears.? Here's one. We spell it Killdeer. Edited March 30, 2006 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 (edited) Hi, They look very much like a type of plover. Very similar to a Peewit if you gave it the crest. FM Edited March 30, 2006 by Ferret Master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maori Haz Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 No swallows here yet Hopefully here soon Haz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impax Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Hi all, I was pleased but very surprised to see a single House Martin feeding over a fresh water lake in south Yorkshire on thursday 30th march! This is by far the earliest sighting of any hirundine for me, and a real joy. I was able to sit and watch this early visiter for a full 15 minutes zipping around in the wind and brief spells of sunshine feeding over the water. A real treat! Regards, Impax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 1, 2006 Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 Saw my first sand martins today and it co-incided with the first real hatch of flies too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Hi, I saw a bat hunting flies just over our goose pen yesterday in broard sunlight around about lunchtime! FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younggun86 Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 just seen four swallows coming through! seemed to be in a hurry! this is in gloucestershire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsnuts Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 I see 3 swallows last Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Sorry this is like one-upmanship but whilst out with the dogs this morning I saw the first Osprey of the year circling then hovering over the river. I have never seen one this early before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi, They are beautiful birds but I have never seen one in the wild. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 I realise it's slightly off topic, but what's happened to the poor old Turtle Dove..?? I used to see quite a few in the Summer in my area, (Herts), back in the 70's & 80's, but I haven't seen one for over 5 years. Have the froggies wiped them all out..?? Cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Hi, They are declining for a number of reasons although Fisherman Mike will probably be able to explain better I will give it a shot. They are declining like Grey Partridges because of food etc but yes the shooting abroard does lower their numbers. What does annoy me is so called 'British sportsmen' go abroard to shoot them when the are migrating so they are effectively shooting their own countries birds when they are migrating and causing no harm so it could be said that it is these British shooters who fund the market that are to blame. FM :< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 (edited) I saw my first Swallow of the year at Castle Acre, Norfolk, yesterday 3rd April. Poor thing was on it's own, it was a freezing northerly wind and there was no fly coming off the river for it to eat. Anyone else had a sighting yet? Edited April 4, 2006 by Whitebridges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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