[Possum]

Have just seen my first swallow of the year. So excited! 

[Fleecewife]

Lovely!  I was just wondering when someone would spot a swallow.  Up here it will be at least a week before they arrive, and last year they didn't arrive with us until early May.


The Ospreys have just about all arrived, although the female at Loch of the Lowes didn't turn up so a new female has moved in there.
At Arkaig, both Louis and Aila arrived safely a few days ago and are busy sprucing up their nest and re-establishing their bonds.  I watch them on a live camera which is addictive 
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/

[Possum]

Yes-webcams can be addictive. I am currently watching the one which films the swans at Wells Cathedral. They have laid 9 eggs this year and have just started incubating. It is really relaxing watching them at the end of the day.

[Womble]

We saw our first two days ago, but I think it carried on going.  Saw another three this morning though, and I can't tell you how happy it made me.

[Rupert the bear]

Looking to the skies , fingers crossed, box of tumble drier lint placed in usual position, covers on the chest freezer lids, and when they arrive ,you can stuff 'yer covid19 , all will be well here.

Edited to add;
just had phone call that mate at 39 Eng Reg't at Kinloss reports arrivals this afternoon   

[Womble]

covers on the chest freezer lids

A few years ago, I cut a number of squares out of light plywood, and put a string from each corner, as if they were kites.

Now, when we see the swallows nesting, we can hang a 'square' under the nest to catch the crap!

[Rupert the bear]

covers on the chest freezer lids

A few years ago, I cut a number of squares out of light plywood, and put a string from each corner, as if they were kites.

Now, when we see the swallows nesting, we can hang a 'square' under the nest to catch the crap!

I am nicking that idea ! Brilliant !

[graemeatwellbank]

Similar to Womble, I use a small rectangle of aviary mesh suspended by wire under the nests with paper or card on it which is subsequently gets replaced and the dirty one goes straight onto the compost heap.

[Possum]

The one that I saw was flying in a northerly direction at quite some speed. It may well be with you all in Scotland by now.

[Penninehillbilly]

Ours are back today,  hassling hubby while he was working in the barn, hard to abandon work he was doing ?. (Any excuse)
Seem to be about a week earlier this year?

[Penninehillbilly]

Can I just mention a warning about dryer lint, apparently they have found it causes problems in nests and with fledglings, not sure if it's the same with undercover nests, but problems when it gets wet. A search on birds nest dryer lint brings websites up.

[Rupert the bear]

Can I just mention a warning about dryer lint, apparently they have found it causes problems in nests and with fledglings, not sure if it's the same with undercover nests, but problems when it gets wet. A search on birds nest dryer lint brings websites up.

A good point, luckily ours all nest indoors , and they are not adverse to plundering next doors fences for wool !

[Penninehillbilly]

Haven't seen ours today, maybe they just stopped by to see what their old homestead looked like.
Hope they come back and weren't too cross with hubby.

[Fleecewife]

Still no swallows here  .  Looking at the forecast, we are due easterlies, or north easterlies, for the next 12 days.  The first southerlies are not due until the 29th, so any swallows trying to arrive before that will have a long flap into wind to get here.

[Anke]

Still no swallows here  .  Looking at the forecast, we are due easterlies, or north easterlies, for the next 12 days.  The first southerlies are not due until the 29th, so any swallows trying to arrive before that will have a long flap into wind to get here.

Same here, been looking out every time I am near the goat shed.... but none so far.