Fisherman Mike Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Had to stop the car in a country lane just outside Cirencester earlier today to answer an urgent call of nature and was amazed to see what could only have been a swallow skimming low over a wild bird seed crop. didn't have any bins with me but I watched it for a good twenty minutes before it climbed high over woodland and disappeared. I've seen them late March but never this early before. There are reports every other year or so of a few individuals overwintering in the far south of the country so I can only imagine it was one of these which has managed to find sufficient food to survive unless its a really early arrival. I took a picture on the mobile but it doesn't show up.... but 45 + years a birder I would put everything I own on the identification being correct...I cant see what else it could have been other than a swallow. Incidentally there were a lot of wood pigeons dropping into the field as well even though it is totally surrounded by rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 I believe you. The earliest I have seen a swallow was not until April. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 I used to fill in a diary about the arrivals and departures but mid April is about 'normal' and IIRC mid September they depart. I think your conclusion is the most likely (possibly southern France). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 a single swallow does not a summer make (or something like that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjpainter Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 (edited) Good spot sir! Signs of migrating birds is always good, but he is very eager to get here! Sub Saharan Africa obviously not the place to be right now Edited March 4, 2014 by chrisjpainter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 (edited) Kes ... I checkout the pylon wires on the M53, once you see swallows gathering, they are gone within 72 hours or so from God's green acres "Wirral Cheshire" ... Edited March 4, 2014 by hoggysreels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mike if anyone else had said this I might be a little sceptical, but you know your birds. Good spot. And where were these mythical pigeons of which you speak? That I find a bit harder to accept! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mike if anyone else had said this I might be a little sceptical, but you know your birds. Good spot. And where were these mythical pigeons of which you speak? That I find a bit harder to accept! It was the field behind the White Horse just before Chapmans Cross I was driving down the Aston Down road towards Cherington...I think it might even be Bathurst land ...but sadly they wouldn't want us shooting over the wild bird mix. so we are stuffed ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Does anyone else remember that legendary thread where some nugget was "outraged" because he'd seen someone having a whizz by the roadside? You should be careful Mike Though I seem to recall he let slip the real reason he was outraged was because the whizzee was a "Muslim", though he didn't tell us how he knew this. You might be alright after all Mike, normal for Glawstershire royalty like yourself! It was the field behind the White Horse just before Chapmans Cross I was driving down the Aston Down road towards Cherington...I think it might even be Bathurst land ...but sadly they wouldn't want us shooting over the wild bird mix. so we are stuffed ! Wow, close to home! I might have to have a recce on Friday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Does anyone else remember that legendary thread where some nugget was "outraged" because he'd seen someone having a whizz by the roadside? You should be careful Mike Though I seem to recall he let slip the real reason he was outraged was because the whizzee was a "Muslim", though he didn't tell us how he knew this. You might be alright after all Mike, normal for Glawstershire royalty like yourself! Wow, close to home! I might have to have a recce on Friday. Check out the rape field just before the Chapmans cross turn to Bisley on the right...there were one or two showing some interest a week ago but none of its seems to have been touched much this year....They all seem to be breeding already around here especially in the gardens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mike I did 27 miles on my mountain bike on Saturday, via Nailsworth, Horsely, Tetbury, Cherington, Tarlton, Rodmarton etc. I barely saw a pigeon and the rape was untouched everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Mike I did 27 miles on my mountain bike on Saturday, via Nailsworth, Horsely, Tetbury, Cherington, Tarlton, Rodmarton etc. I barely saw a pigeon and the rape was untouched everywhere. Yep numbers definitely down in many areas as also opined by several BTO members I correspond with. I think the last couple of hard winters have taken their toll with breeding success rates down...perhaps more than we realise. Will bounce back though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbjones01 Posted March 4, 2014 Report Share Posted March 4, 2014 Yep numbers definitely down in many areas as also opined by several BTO members I correspond with. I think the last couple of hard winters have taken their toll with breeding success rates down...perhaps more than we realise. Will bounce back though down our way the pigeons have taken a big hit this winter dieing en mass from eating too much beech mast :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Man that's early if it is a migrant. We usually get the Sand Martins first and then soon after the Swallows. Earliest i've recorded Swallow was 20th March at Sparham in 1999. We had some overwintered Swallow that stayed around Cromer church a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joknob Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 2 swallows on the south coast all winter. craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 (edited) Mike I did 27 miles on my mountain bike on Saturday, via Nailsworth, Horsely, Tetbury, Cherington, Tarlton, Rodmarton You should have called in for a cuppa (beer) matey! Edited March 5, 2014 by Thunderbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 I should. I will next time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 5, 2014 Report Share Posted March 5, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hi Just to say someone photographed it today and it was on southern tv All the best Of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted March 6, 2014 Report Share Posted March 6, 2014 Funny this one as I was convinced I heard a Martin earlier today, spent five minutes looking up for one to no avail! Had me thinking on thier arrival. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Had to stop the car in a country lane just outside Cirencester earlier today to answer an urgent call of nature and was amazed to see what could only have been a swallow skimming low over a wild bird seed crop. didn't have any bins with me but I watched it for a good twenty minutes before it climbed high over woodland and disappeared. I've seen them late March but never this early before. There are reports every other year or so of a few individuals overwintering in the far south of the country so I can only imagine it was one of these which has managed to find sufficient food to survive unless its a really early arrival. I took a picture on the mobile but it doesn't show up.... but 45 + years a birder I would put everything I own on the identification being correct...I cant see what else it could have been other than a swallow. Incidentally there were a lot of wood pigeons dropping into the field as well even though it is totally surrounded by rape. Maybe it saw the bait Mike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbuss Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 Maybe it saw the bait Mike? It was a swift not an eagle, is their eyesight that good? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longchalk Posted March 7, 2014 Report Share Posted March 7, 2014 (edited) Had a peregrine falcon dive bomb my pattern last weekend..... So I can fool raptors, but the pigeons ain't having none of it.... Sheesh. Edited March 7, 2014 by Longchalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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