The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on April 10, 2025, 11:50:29 am

Title: Swallows'25
Post by: Penninehillbilly on April 10, 2025, 11:50:29 am
2 swallows in the barn yesterday, early this year, cooler yesterday, hope they can find enough food.
I did wonder if they would be earlier with the East wind behind them.
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: Backinwellies on April 11, 2025, 07:56:48 am
first one here 2 days ago ...
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: edstrong on April 11, 2025, 08:07:07 am
First swallows and house martins have appeared here at Tipton's Croft (central Shropshire), hunting over the pond.

Bats (Daubenton's) have come out of their hibernation to hunt in the evening and night when the swallows and house martins have gone to bed.

A Mallard is sitting on a clutch of eggs on the island. Moorhens may also have a nest but we haven't found it yet.

No barn owls in the owl box this year by the looks of things (likely due to us having to move it when the tree it was in came down in a storm).

www.tiptonscroft.org.uk (http://www.tiptonscroft.org.uk)
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: Fleecewife on April 11, 2025, 11:52:32 pm
None here yet in South Lanarkshire though I'm straining my ears for them.  They should wait until it rains tomorrow anyway so the mud sticks together  8)
Thanks to those who've posted as I was just about to ask if any swallows have arrived yet. Ospreys seem to be here in large numbers.
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: Fleecewife on April 16, 2025, 11:34:17 pm
So the very next day, as we sat by the pond watching our Koi play at seeing how far they could drift across the pond from one shove off, a battling couple of swallows came tumbling and shrieking right past our noses, nearly landing in the water.
Our swallows are back, all lovey-dovey now  :love:
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: Rupert the bear on April 18, 2025, 05:58:13 pm
Swallows arrived this afternoon, better than any medication, time to put down the paper mats again and fill up the mud puddle.
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: Possum on April 22, 2025, 12:59:09 pm
Ours are late this year. Have just see the first one the morning. Still gives me a thrill every year! :excited:
Title: Re: Swallows'25
Post by: sabrina on April 23, 2025, 04:21:36 pm
No sign yet in the North East of Scotland, well not here near Banff.