twenty Posted May 3 Anyone spotted a swift yet this year, only seen one swallow so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinj Posted May 3 No Swifts, my wife spotted a couple of Swallows 2 weeks ago Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rimfire4969 Posted May 3 No swifts yet, Swallows are back and building in our barn. About a week later than last year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve_b_wales Posted May 3 A few Swallows up on the farm this morning. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tiny tim Posted May 3 Swifts arrived yesterday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 3 3 hours ago, tiny tim said: Swifts arrived yesterday Well spotted, great birds aren't they,........summers here......................shortly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walker570 Posted May 3 Two swallows checking out our grden room and I had to evict them and keep the door closed because still getting a touch of frost most mornings. They obviously moved on because no further sightings. A swift is a rare sight here these days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldypigeonpopper Posted May 3 hello, no swifts or swallows or even a cuckoo 👎 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saltings Posted May 4 been in Galway last week end quite a few swallows about and the odd martin on the farm nice to see, no where as many as when I was a little winkle in the late 60s /70s now back in Coventry no swallows loads of magpies just observed one this morning raiding a blackbird nest killing a hatchling while hen going berserk could not do anything legally grieves me Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saltings Posted May 4 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Saltings said: Edited May 4 by Saltings Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Saltings Posted May 9 On 04/05/2019 at 03:32, Saltings said: anybody seen any swallows or swifts or martins in the west midlands haven't seen one yet in the Coventry or surrounding areas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 9 Saw a couple of Swallows Easter weekend around Oswestry...................And a Wheatear. Swifts reported at Frampton Gravel pits ( Gloucestershire ), and also House Martins, Sand Martins and Swallows here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
panoma1 Posted May 9 I saw a single Swift over my property on the Worcs/West Mids border today! May 9th. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisjpainter Posted May 9 Loads of them are back in Reading now, wheeling and screaming all over the centre of town. Best bit of the whole place! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditchman Posted May 9 swallows flitting over the rape .......today Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave at kelton Posted May 10 First Cuckoos here in SW Scotland last week but far fewer swallows and martins on the fields around the house than I am used to it it has been cold for a couple of weeks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 10 Weather is forecast to improve next week, so we will probably see a lot more summer avian visitors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old Boggy Posted May 10 Seen quite a few swallows but no swifts yet. Saw a couple of sand martins in the cliff face two days ago, inspecting area for nesting. OB Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 10 Last year a young swift was leg ringed in Oxford on 31st July, and was reported killed/dead in Madrid on 3rd August,....... having covered 1300km ( 808 miles ) in 3 days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BOBIEBOOTS Posted May 10 swifts over Runwell Essex, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Teal Posted May 10 This year there are more swallows about on the farm then I've seen before. They had a super breeding season in 2018, and I think the heavy cranefly hatches we had here just before their migration hopefully put them in good condition for their long journey. It will be interesting to see how many are reared this year, if the number of pairs and last years success are anything to go by the electricity cables will be sagging! Hopefully the areas still waiting for swallows will have an influx soon. Not seen any swifts yet, although I haven't been looking for them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chesterse Posted May 10 Only seen a couple of swallows yet, numbers are way down for this time of year. No swifts yet. We used to have several cuckoos locally but have not heard or seen one for about 10 years. This is very rural spot in S. Lincs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 10 Ring Ouzels reported on Cleeve Hill, ( backdrop to Cheltenham racecourse).regular summer visitors to this area. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fuddster Posted May 10 anybody seen in the media reports of 140 million swallows being netted in Eygpt?-apparently they are a delicacy and huge numbers are being caught.Got to say that the number around York seem minimal compared to last 15 years. f. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twenty Posted May 11 15 hours ago, Fuddster said: anybody seen in the media reports of 140 million swallows being netted in Eygpt?-apparently they are a delicacy and huge numbers are being caught.Got to say that the number around York seem minimal compared to last 15 years. f. Not seen it, but it wouldn't surprise me............I wonder if Packhams seen it ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
