Swallows 2021

Cowmansam

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Shropshire
Has anyone got swift’s always get plenty of swallows but this year there’s 2 pairs of swift’s about flying over the cows as well not seen them nesting anywhere never seen them here before
 

Fish

Member
Location
North yorkshire
We seem to have just as many as we ever did, swifts, Martins and swallows. Got 5 pairs of Martins nesting under the house eves, most are on their second brood.

Had a flock of lapwings keeping me company while topping some clover, never seen a group as large as this for years.
01F4A380-F868-4FF6-ADEB-959BFF1A4ED4.jpeg
 

glow worm

Member
Location
cornwall
So sad this year. Only 3 pairs of swallows, a fraction of our usual numbers. Not convinced their first brood fledged successfully as no young seen being fed nr nest sites like normal. House Martins devastating. From 14+ pairs last year to one this year and even that nest failed and none seen since. Blackcap started off ok but not heard now for ages. Willow warbler and chiffchaff the same. Very entertaining family of 5 great spotted woodpeckers on bird table for weeks. So funny seeing youngsters pleading incapable of feeding themselves but feeding perfectly ok on feeders when parents back turned! Male bird a real chauvinist and won't allow female anywhere near the feeders if he's on it,
chasing her away quite aggressively. We've also had several lone racing pigeons stop off for a few days. I gather many thousands went missing during bad weather. Would be interesting to know how many, if any,eventually made it back home
 

thorpe

Member
So sad this year. Only 3 pairs of swallows, a fraction of our usual numbers. Not convinced their first brood fledged successfully as no young seen being fed nr nest sites like normal. House Martins devastating. From 14+ pairs last year to one this year and even that nest failed and none seen since. Blackcap started off ok but not heard now for ages. Willow warbler and chiffchaff the same. Very entertaining family of 5 great spotted woodpeckers on bird table for weeks. So funny seeing youngsters pleading incapable of feeding themselves but feeding perfectly ok on feeders when parents back turned! Male bird a real chauvinist and won't allow female anywhere near the feeders if he's on it,
chasing her away quite aggressively. We've also had several lone racing pigeons stop off for a few days. I gather many thousands went missing during bad weather. Would be interesting to know how many, if any,eventually made it back home
the woodpeckers have ate everyhing else1 barstewards!
 

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
First time in 68 years, haven't seen a swallow or heard a cuckoo:(
Interesting that ... we have had a few swallows nesting in our front porch but we don't think any of their young have survived . The Cuckoo ... we heard about the 18th April and he was still barking out at the end of June . It's the latest we have ever heard him / her ( to be politically correct) 😊
We have 11 house Martin nests at rear of house and they now on their second batch . I love it cos the FIL sits out there in the evening and they crap on him !!!
 

Bury the Trash

Member
Mixed Farmer
So sad this year. Only 3 pairs of swallows, a fraction of our usual numbers. Not convinced their first brood fledged successfully as no young seen being fed nr nest sites like normal.
funnily enough
that was pretty much the same scenario as here , poor numbers to start , then poor fledglings ( if at all ) and now they ahve gone somewhere , because i haven't seen them for days, defiantly no second clutch yet.
Im not quite sure whats up , i have a funny feeling that next year they wont be back to us.

nothing here is any different im fairly certain :unsure:
 
Young swallows fledged then returned to the nest each evening for about 6 nights. Disappeared 10 days ago & haven’t seen a single swallow since. I think they know something about the weather that we don’t and they have headed south - 4 to 6 weeks early.
 

Frank-the-Wool

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Young swallows fledged then returned to the nest each evening for about 6 nights. Disappeared 10 days ago & haven’t seen a single swallow since. I think they know something about the weather that we don’t and they have headed south - 4 to 6 weeks early.

We have had two lots fledged and they have also disappeared. Usually hang about until the weather changes.
There has been plenty of insects although the change to a cooler north east wind may have convinced them to head south!
 

Kevtherev

Member
Location
Welshpool Powys
Saw a couple of swallows in the spring but nothing all summer none nesting here in buildings and end of house as usual.
Strange not to hear them as it’s a sound I quite like.
 

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
We didn’t have as many nests on the house this year due to the cold April, but we’ve got dozens of swallows and house Martins mobbing the yard and grass paddocks.
 

Treecreeper

Member
Livestock Farmer
Currently a late second clutch hatched about a week ago in the garage. It's going to be at least ten days yet before they fledge. Meanwhile there is a big congregation this morning on the cables getting ready for the off.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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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“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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