[Skylark]

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.

[Fleecewife]

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.

[lachlanandmarcus]

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

[sabrina]

Expect ours any day,

[tizaala]

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

[Fleecewife]

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.

[Blinkers]

Our first one arrived today
 

[MAK]

I just had to look up Swallow Migration as I knew nothing about them.
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. 

[Backinwellies]

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

[Sudanpan]

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

[Backinwellies]

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

[Mrs Snoodles]

We saw one on hols in Argyll on Friday. 

[Fleecewife]

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 

[HelenVF]

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

[Lesley Silvester]

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.