[Marches Farmer]

Earliest I've ever seen one around here.  I know "One swallow doth not a Summer make," but it's nice to be reminded there will be one.

[ZaktheLad]

  can't wait for ours to arrive    We have a mating pair of blue tits in a nest box right outside out window, a wren nesting in the garage and the wagtail back again nesting in the same shed as last year.  The swallows always come back to the sheds at the end of the drive - I love listening to them chattering away as they perch on the wires 

[Womble]

The lapwings are back this morning too  .

[Lesley Silvester]

 

[goosepimple]

The nests from last year have all managed to survive on our gable end, sparrows using them of late.  I really want to remove them and get the outside of the house painted but I expect it will  have to wait a bit longer - sure they don't mind!

[Fowgill Farm]

Our first swallow arrived this year on Saturday the 5th a full ten days earlier than usual, looked out of bathroom window this morning and two were perched on the finnials of the conservatory roof, lovely to see them back, looks like ther'll be one helluva turf war as the house sparrows have moved into one of the byres the swallows usually occupy. They're noisy beggars!
Mandy  

[NLL]

our first swallow was flying round the yard this morning, we are in County Durham.

[ZaktheLad]

Our first swallows arrived yesterday - 2 of them at the moment.  Such an amazing feat every year for so small a bird. 

[shygirl]

no swallows yet but I saw my first bumble bee yesterday. 

[Fleecewife]

We've had the first bumble bees on the willows too.  Larks singing away, a rather tentative curlew, but no lapwings or oyster catchers.
The swallows are not here yet, but I think they're bound to arrive before my husband's finished making the big doors for our new barn-thing.  It will be a bit of a disaster if any of them set up home in there, but it is perfect for them with lovely wooden rafters.
The frogspawn is getting ready to hatch - tadpoles expanding and curled round a bit.  Does anyone have swimming tadpoles yet?




Shame this thread isn't in the 'wildlife' section........

[shygirl]

we have oystercatchers but I think they may overwinter here as iv seen them a while ago.
im useless with birds but did see some shags     the other day, If they are the birds that hold there wings out to dry? theres voluntary jobs going at our local rspb so im very tempted if only to learn something!

[UPoneacre]

Delighted to see they've reached us in mid Wales this morning and brought the sun with them

[Bramblecot]

Tadpoles swimming in the pond but no sign of our swallows (or maybe I've been watching the lambs instead!)

[Beeducked]

We've had bumblebees for the last week or so but the swallows arrived at the weekend and have started nesting in the barn again. Makes me so happy seeing them zoom about. Been just so beautiful the last few days feels like summer is definitely on the way (my burnt forehead would suggest pretty much here but I can get sunburnt under a 100W light bulb!).

[jaykay]

The swallows arrived today  Wow, they're early!