[MAK]

We have had a week away in the Uk and returned to central France to find that the swallows have arrived. A circuit of our lake also confirmed that a Kingfisher is here to stay and that Black Kites have joined the resident buzzards high up in the woods. Early spring is great to watch birds as leaves are yet to form on trees and we managed to see tree creepers, chiff chaffs and other little brown jobs that I could not identify.
It would be great if others can post their sightings of their first swallows and one of us plot their prgress on a map year on year. A nice project for someone maybe.

[Victorian Farmer]

Fantastic new life.

[Fleecewife]

Lovely     It should be the best part of another 3 weeks before they reach us here in Scotland.

[shygirl]

another year gone by already.

[Bramblecot]

A single solitary swallow in the sky above our field 1830 yesterday evening (Dorset coast).  Is it summer yet?

[waddy]

Our swallows arrived yesterday (14th March near Chard). Time to wear a hat in the barn again!


 


Helen

[in the hills]

First swallows yesterday ..... Powys ..... 14th April. 

[Backinwellies]

Wow will have to keep look out today ...

[Backinwellies]

   first one spotted yesterday afternoon 

[cans]

Saw first one last night.  West of Stirling

I think it may be a bit confused as there is now a new housing scheme and a building site that was not there last year.

[melholly]

1st one spotted here last Tuesday. Our resident ones returned on Thursday 17th April! Now in their 4th year of nesting in the garage. Love them!


We are South East, near the coast Brighton/Eastbourne etc.


Mx

[adamhfc]

They have been back a week to the yard I keep my horses that's near gorebridge near edinburgh

[Fleecewife]

Other folk have them locally now but ours haven't arrived.  Strong easterly today so they won't come in on that.  The ground's too dry for them to start their nests anyway - today only as there's rain due.

I'm missing the swallows, but the other little birds they usually bully, such as wagtails, are delighted 

We do have a wren flitting around though, having not had any for at least two years 

[Marches Farmer]

Found a fresh egg pecked open on the floor of the stable yesterday.  Turf wars between swallows? 

[Hevxxx99]

Saw the first Swallow on Good Friday here on the North York Moors...