Swallows 2022

Jonp

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Gwent
My swallow numbers have doubled in a week...got two pairs now!
Usually have loads but not this year so far, maybe because it's so dry here and the insects aren't about.
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Has anyone built a nesting box for them that has been sited on the outside of a building and been successful in housing swallows?
I would like to encourage as many as possible but I am not leaving the shed door open for them.
 
Probably eight years ago, we bought 3 artificial house martin nests (one single and a double), and screwed them up under the eaves of the house. I don't think that the single has been occupied yet this year, but the the double ones have been. Most years they all are.

We have had a muntjac doe in the garden for a couple of days. It stands on it's hind legs to browse on the lower branches of a youngish plumb tree.

3 swallow beaks have been showing over the nest edge for several days now
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
Actually none here nesting this year , just one that visits and sits on the wire occasionally.
First time in my life (so far) that i havnt had pairs of Swallows nesting where i live.
I have noticed a decline in numbers and breeding success here for about 5 yrs and last years further decline of numbers set the scene for this year so i wasnt suprised tbh.
Sad because i cant see them coming back because its would be same families coming each time /inherited return .
nothing that i can see has changed apart from a run of dry springs and maybe the odd sparrowhawk visit but nothing that i wouldve thought to reduce them or turn them off and just think its that 'our' Swallows have died somewhere in the time they are not here.

when they are here i always tried to help /protected them where theyve nested as well in any small way i can but to no avail. great Shame :(:cry:
 
Our 3 swallow chicks flew about 4 days ago. Very early for us.

The moor hens that have nested in the yellow flag iris have hatched. Only seen 2 black balls of fluff venture out so far. There have been broods of 7 or 8 in the past. We thought that they had probably hatched as the adults became particularly aggressive and they'll chase away anything. The resident cock pheasant and his ladies are having a hard time at the moment. This year, there's a crows nest nearby so I expect that many of the chicks won't survive.
 
Muntjac on the lawn this afternoon.
 

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Our moorhens fledged 6 chicks, but 1 was lost somehow. Eventually the adults led 3 out of the garden to the river, but left 2 behind. Interestingly one adult came back and fed them a bit, stayed for a night, then went. They feed them selves very well but are at risk of predation by a family of crows and the neighbours cats. Adult moorhens are very aggressive birds and would hurl themselves at any other animal whether or not the were a threat to the youngsters.
 
Mrs LS saw a hummingbird hawk moth here yesterday. An elephant hawk moth was in our garage this morning, we've seen their caterpillars before, but not the adults. We sometimes see the hummingbird one in the autumn, I imagine that the recent weather conditions have aided their migration.
 

Kidds

Member
Horticulture
Mrs LS saw a hummingbird hawk moth here yesterday. An elephant hawk moth was in our garage this morning, we've seen their caterpillars before, but not the adults. We sometimes see the hummingbird one in the autumn, I imagine that the recent weather conditions have aided their migration.
Are they immigrants then?
See them up here most years. The Hummingbird like privet and whatever the blue flowered things in my Dad's garden are. The Elephant hawk caterpillars are usually seen on willowherb.
 

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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