Overwintering Swallows - NOT amateur radio

Swallows (migratory birds) usually return from Africa here in early April. Swifts are later, arriving here in early May. The return of swallows is something I look forward to.

I have heard a few reports of swallows that managed to survive long into winter on the insects near seaweed. There was a report of at least one hanging-on over the entire winter. The Daily Mail sometimes gets its facts wrong, so I have no idea if this report was correct or just journalistic hyperbola. It dates from 2009.

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1115442/Meet-Rambo--tough-little-swallow-forgot-fly-South-winter.html .

Declining swallow numbers - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/population.aspx

Certainly over here in East Anglia there are fewer swallows about than previously.  They have appeared on sightings in Devon, but I have seen very few so far. Swifts seem to be plentiful. I think I have seen as many house martins as swallows and that is just a handful. The RSPB says swallow numbers have been declining since the 1970s. As a harbinger of summer, I hope this is just a blip. Certainly we had a mild, wet winter but spring was late.

Fewer swallows definitely - NOT amateur radio

On our recent trip to Lichfield I only saw 1 swallow, confirming what I thought that there are fewer swallows around this year.

They are around now, but I have seen far fewer than in previous years.

I hope this is just a blip, although there have been far fewer house martins than years ago. Is this global warming or an El Nino effect?

Swallow outside - NOT amateur radio

It is several weeks late, but a swallow has just flown by the window. Summer will soon be here with the return of these migrant birds from South Africa.

As I said before, swallows have been making this journey for thousands of years and will be doing so long after I have gone I hope.

All is well. It gladdens my heart to see them.

See www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/swallow/ .