Usually by this time I have seen quite a few swallows here in East Anglia, UK. They migrate from deep in Africa (often South Africa) and I usually see them here in East Anglia, UK from April 7th. In South Devon they are usually arriving by the beginning of April. Sand Martins arrive sooner. I remember my dad telling me when he first saw them. He died in 1987 and many is the time since when I have missed talking with him.
I know there are swallows around in Devon - they appear every day in the reports - but I am surprised not to have seen
any up here yet. I
may have seen one last week at Felixstowe Ferry but I was not certain. I
definitely saw a house martin.
So, I am beginning to wonder if there are
fewer swallows about this year, as by now I would be seeing them quite commonly on telegraph wires. Of course, it could just be that I have been unlucky. It is not as if I have not been looking.
See
http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/ .
We have thought the same here in Deal in Kent. We live in the countryside and have noticed only one pair of swallows this year. Usually the sky is littered with dozens of pairs, with additional swifts. We rarely see martins.
ReplyDeleteBrunsdons