The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Skylark on April 20, 2013, 07:45:32 am

Title: First swallows
Post by: Skylark on April 20, 2013, 07:45:32 am

First swallows arrived yesterday here in Aberdeenshire, four of them swooping around  our heads - amazing. First spring in our new home so hoping the dozen nests in our old steading soon fill up. Was surprised they appeared so early.

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Fleecewife on April 20, 2013, 08:13:09 am

They arrived here in South Lanarkshire yesterday too, right on time for us.   They have come up on the southerly wind, but were very quiet, not twittering with excitement as usual - can't hear them this morning.

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on April 20, 2013, 08:43:57 am

Also in Aberdeenshire and we have a single lonely swallow here waiting for his friends!

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: sabrina on April 20, 2013, 09:12:53 am

Expect ours any day,

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: tizaala on April 20, 2013, 12:50:13 pm

Our first 4 turned up this morning, poor little birdies had a sharp frost to welcome them.

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Fleecewife on April 20, 2013, 02:57:15 pm

I've seen them turn up into a blizzard, poor things.   We now have three, but they do seem to be recovering rather than looking to see how their nest sites have survived the winter.

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Blinkers on April 20, 2013, 06:45:33 pm

Our first one arrived today
 

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: MAK on April 20, 2013, 07:40:31 pm

I just had to look up Swallow Migration as I knew nothing about them. (http://s1.hubimg.com/u/6000388_f260.jpg)
I did not know that they migrate only in the day and fly low and that "Migrating swallows cover 200 miles a day, mainly during daylight, at speeds of 17-22 miles per hour. The maximum flight speed is 35 mph."
They turned up in the Limousin a couple of weeks ago but my guess is that they slow down to feed as they deplete their fat stocks gained in South Africa. Maybe the final miles of their migration take a bit longer. 

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Backinwellies on April 20, 2013, 08:10:45 pm

Just seen one fly past my window ... :excited:  :excited:  :excited: means warm weather must be here to stay!!! 

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Sudanpan on April 20, 2013, 08:29:11 pm

We've seen our 1st pair today  :excited:  Swooping over the barn and back across the field. They nested in our lean-to last year, hope they do again this year  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Backinwellies on April 21, 2013, 03:59:28 pm

1 swallow doesn't make a summer ... apparently .....so am hoping that seeing 4 together sat on wires  does  :excited:

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Mrs Snoodles on April 21, 2013, 04:42:57 pm

We saw one on hols in Argyll on Friday. 

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Fleecewife on April 21, 2013, 05:11:01 pm

Having arrived exhausted here a couple of days ago, the swallows are today swooping and playing and just as excited as they should be.  They are clearly happy that the sun is shining  :sunshine:

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: HelenVF on April 21, 2013, 06:30:22 pm

We had them arrive last week which was only 2 days later than normal.  I was quite surprised at that as I thought, the bad weather would put them back a bit.  What we did notice was that the ones that arrived, settled down, rather than just passing through.

Helen

Title: Re: First swallows
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 21, 2013, 10:18:53 pm

I've only ever once seen a swift round here and it was being attacked by a kestrel.  I rescued it - ok I tried to get a photo first as I didn't realise what the kestrel was attacking, but he flew off then I saw it was a swift.