[spandit]

Here are ours...



Loads of them on the telegraph wires too

[Pedwardine]

Noticed just yesterday that our swallows have gone. They've been gathering and chitterchattering on the roofline for ages and then suddenly I realised they weren't there anymore. Feels a bit empty without them. I think they always look like they've got white shirts and dinner jackets on. Nature should've designed them with a bow tie too 
 
Talking out of my arse. They're back on the roof this avo. Hurrah!

[Bramblecot]

The last four swallow chicks have taken their first flights today and come back home this evening.  Will they make south?  Luckily the weather has stayed warm for them but there were hundreds of swallows flying over the fields this week on their long journey.

Roll on next summer

[Fleecewife]

We still have chicks in one nest, not big enough to hang over the edge yet     In past years the last lot have been left behind by the parents, then have set off a couple of weeks later, but I do wonder if such babies can make it the whole way.
 
We thought our main flock had left, even though it's a bit early for here (they usually go in the middle of Sept) but my OH spotted them joining a big gather up the hill, so they're psyching themselves up for the holidays but haven't gone yet.

[Brucklay]

Lovely description earlier on in the post Fleecewife - just like here - get a bit miffed then I get the goats out and have to brush swallow poo off them but on the other hand to see the youngsters grow up, win over the outside cat and fly of - you have to admire them. My mum always notes in her diary when they arrive and depart - I grew up with that - I'm not so organised!! Most of the one's here have left but we still have 2 chicks from the last hatch in the goat shed tonight.

[ZaktheLad]

Ours have all gone too - it's strange how you get so used to them flying and swooping about that it takes a while to realise that they have suddenly all disappeared to a warmer climate!  I always feel a bit sad when they go as really love listening to their chit chat when they are sat on the telephone wires above our paddocks.  Already looking forward to seeing them arrive back next Spring and I really hope they all have a good flight back home for the winter and that the youngsters make it safely.

[spandit]

The weather turned cold as soon as they left

[Simon O]

Here's ours as babies, and then bigger:

[ZaktheLad]

Lovely photos   

[Bramblecot]

Well, I thought they had all gone . 
But right now (19.30) there are dozens swooping around the house like aerial acrobats.  It is nearly dark but I think they have been on a feeding frenzy - maybe a last fill up before the flight across the Channel to the  .  Goodbye lovelies

[shygirl]

we had loads on our roof this afternoon. where do they go?

[Brucklay]

I thought mine had gone a week ago only to feed the goats tonight and one lonley wee sole still about - don't fancy his/her chances but maybe they know best 

[Fleecewife]

we had loads on our roof this afternoon. where do they go?

As far as I understand it, they fly down through England to the south coast, stopping on the way to sleep, cross the channel, down France and Spain then cross at Gibralter to N Africa.  They then make their way right down through Africa, again stopping to roost, until they get to S Africa.  I don't think they all get that far.  Then they congregate in great flocks in reed beds etc, quite unlike how they live here when they're breeding.  They go down there for our winter as we run out of insects here but there's a huge insect-fest in Africa for their summer so they get fat then fly back here to breed again.
 
Our last little nestful of three chicks have still not fledged     I think there are so few insects left, and maybe only one parent, that they are not getting enough to eat to reach fledging size.  They are hanging out of the nest now so fingers crossed for them 

[devonlad]

haven't seen ours for a few days so I guess they know something and have headed south. sadly missed but I'm sure they'll be back . its getting towards starling time now- not quite the same as a swooping swallow but a "murmur's" not bad compensation.

[Fleecewife]

Would you believe that today, the last day of September, there are still two swallows here?  One is definitely a youngster from the last late fledging nest who we thought had been left on his own when his fellow nestlings went over a week ago, but last night we saw him swooping around with a pal.  For the next week the winds are mainly southerly so I doubt they'll set off then as they really need a northerly wind to help them on their way.
Not sure who the second swallow is - maybe another late one from further north.
At least there are plenty of flies around now it's warmer again, so I'm more hopeful that they will survive the journey, if only the wind would turn.