Swallows 2022

[JCB_JCR]

Saw one fly out of the scraper tractor shed this morning

 

[PSQ]

They're usually mid April here. A few years ago I went for a walk around the Hirsel estate in Coldstream and spotted 200 to 300 new arrivals swooping and chattering over the lake, but didn't see any on the farm until a few days later. I wonder if they fly over as a group, and then stop for a bit of an '18 to 30 holiday' at the lake for a few days before dispersing?

 

[Bokey]

We've not got any yet has anybody else heard of sparrows being aggressive towards them?

 

[Treecreeper]

One swallow checking out the garage at lunch time, 6or 7 around cows this evening

 

[Kidds]

Three in my yard shouting at each other.

 

[goodevans]

I have just checked my diary and ours didnt arrive till 1st week of May last year. You lot must have a tropical micro climate.

Saw out first in South Shropshire yesterday,10 days time I should here the cuckoo if everything runs to form

 

[primmiemoo]

Grasshopper Warbler was shouting at 5 o'clock this morning

 

[pauld]

Several flying around here this morning.

 

[Surgery]

Seen first one !

heard woodpeckers for a week

 

[Red Fred]

No swallows here yet, but when I was walking across the yard the other night, I collided with a rather startled Barn Owl. His mate was fluttering nearby. The G&WCT have put up an owl box in the barn so hopefully it will bring results.

 

[primmiemoo]

No swallows here yet, but when I was walking across the yard the other night, I collided with a rather startled Barn Owl. His mate was fluttering nearby. The G&WCT have put up an owl box in the barn so hopefully it will bring results.

Hope it isn't Twoooo black eyes, or anything!

 

[Kidds]

Hope it isn't Twoooo black eyes, or anything!

Twit

 

[Water Wheel]

I saw my first one of the year today.

It got me thinking about their relationship with cattle. I don't know how it works but there very much seems to be one. My guess is cattle and dung make for more insects and as the cattle move around the swallows feed on the disturbed insects. So very often see them amongst cattle and seem to be more when there are cattle about/on livestock farms and fields.
It lead me on to wondering if their decline (as reported regularly on here) is related to the decline of dairy/livestock as there definitely is around here.
Cheshire was once renowned for dairy farms, it is why the Cheshire Cat is smiling so much but there is a big decline in dairy here. At a guess I would say 75% of farms I once knew as being dairy farms no longer milk.

Huge reduction in numbers nesting with us over last 3-4 years , with no obvious change in the farming or the buildings.
The only thing I do wonder about is the increased use of fly killer products on the cows.

 

[nelly55]

A few arrived this afternoon

 

[Rufus44]

Three martins only so far, but one swallow spotted flying over just now. Hopefully more to follow. Perfect weather for them here in rural Cambridgeshire.

 

[oldoaktree]

Saw a 1st swallow this morning- tow law County Durham

 

[redbaron]

First one seen this morning here - south Lincs. Also yellow wagtails have arrived.

 

[organicguy]

1st here yesterday, back in the outside toilet, don't know if it was young or adult from that nest last year.

 

[Princess Pooper]

I saw my first one of the year today.

It got me thinking about their relationship with cattle. I don't know how it works but there very much seems to be one. My guess is cattle and dung make for more insects and as the cattle move around the swallows feed on the disturbed insects. So very often see them amongst cattle and seem to be more when there are cattle about/on livestock farms and fields.
It lead me on to wondering if their decline (as reported regularly on here) is related to the decline of dairy/livestock as there definitely is around here.
Cheshire was once renowned for dairy farms, it is why the Cheshire Cat is smiling so much but there is a big decline in dairy here. At a guess I would say 75% of farms I once knew as being dairy farms no longer milk.

I took part in a formal BTO survey a few years ago, surveying for feeding ('swooping') swallows. Once the research was collated, there was, as expected, a strong relationship between swallow abundance and grazing livestock as well as a link to water (insects again). Very few swallow passes seen over arable or grassland without livestock or water within a few '00 m.

 

[Princess Pooper]

First swallow spotted yesterday, two today. Love their chattering around the farm yard, we usually end up with 8-12 nests in the old buildings. As we have wires across the yard, perfect chattering perches!