Swallow, Swift and Martin watch!

[Lampwick]

That’s it for another year! Our local Swifts have departed (saw the last Friday 2nd) still quite a few knocking around North Norfolk over the weekend though. They had a good breeding season this year with lots of young playing chase before migration.

 

[waterford103]

Still got a few here but the rape was harvested yesterday so insect life will drop soon , then they will be off .

 

[opticron1]

Absolutely rubbish year for swallows and swifts around here, only spotted a few small groups and not the usual numbers. Hopefully next year will be a bit more productive.
Added to that, haven't seen as many insects about either and not had to scrape the detritus off the car windscreen or my visor/glasses.

 

[Suilven]

Seemed a decent year for them in Perthshire. Packs of this year's swifts screaming above the house and still plenty of swallows about.

A new sight today; swallows feeding fledglings while they sunbathed on a rock. Might be able to see them if you zoom in..

 

[Foxyboy43]

The sainted Lady FB and I have just spent 20 minutes outside with a glass of Rioja, reflecting on another difficult week we have had but our spirits were cheered by watching maybe 20 martins and 4 swifts putting on a display unmatchable by humans - obviously a big fly hatch on high - better than any tv and in full glorious HD!
Suddenly this dot appeared well above the soaring cousins, closed its wings and went through them as fast as I have ever seen a bird move - a totally wonderful sight - but clearly missed, so Mr or Mrs Peregrine will not be feasting on “our” martins tonight - thank heavens!
We are utterly blessed to have witnessed this - our spirits soared with our feathered friends and their narrow escape - at least temporarily…..

 

[waterford103]

Our small number of swifts departed two days ago , the harvest is in and the fields bare .

 

[Phil fox man]

About half of what's flying around us at the moment.every day when we walk the grass fields around home we act as an insect beating team for them.all the time giving us close flyby's, magic

 

[mudman]

I thought the swifts had all gone but twice today I saw small parties 3-4 birds, whilst I was driving.

 

[mudman]

Had a pair nest under the pan tiles of my cottage roof. Nothing too remarkable but this is a single story cottage and the nest was in the pitched roof adjacent to the flat roof of my kitchen. Second year they have nested in this gap at the rear (north) of the roof , previous years they have nested at the front of my property but it catches the sun and I guess gets very hot for any chicks. The chicks make a hell of a racket when waiting for a feed.

 

[Mickeydredd]

A new sight today; swallows feeding fledglings while they sunbathed on a rock.

Had a fledged brood sitting on the road and getting fed there, at the farm last weekend that wouldn’t move. Two of them managed to just about fly off at my approach and I had to put two into the adjacent barn beside another sibling.

 

[geoshot]

I haven't seen any swifts around Chiswick-Kew on the Thames or over the River Brent in Ealing for about two weeks now
They were late this year and arrived in a large wave instead of the usual two's & three's as they normally do
Still plenty of Martens around though
Much less Bat activity this year too - especially the larger species such as Daubenton's & Noctules, in fact I can only recall one sighting of a Noctule this year, just as the Swifts arrived
I suppose it's due to the relative lack of insects this year - very few butterflies around here either

 

[ndt man]

Swifts all gone now house martins appear to of had a good year better than last year
Couple more weeks and they will be off to .

I'll just have to look forward to there return next year god willing.

 

[Lampwick]

Just chilling in the back garden with a gin and saw a lone Swift cruising around with a flock of Martins!
Had similar in 2017 according to my diary.

 

[camodog]

Just chilling in the back garden with a gin and saw a lone Swift cruising around with a flock of Martins!
Had similar in 2017 according to my diary.

Only this week I have seen three individual swifts heading south. Cannot recall seeing swifts this late up here. There's still plenty of swallow about though.

 

[waterford103]

I was just up in the big city ,Fraserburgh and was amazed to se dozens of House Martins zooming about the small industrial buildings ,all ours have gone .

 

[basil]

Working on the coast today in Weston Super Mare and the sky is full of House Martins.
The odd Swallow about.
Won't be long before they're all gone.

 

[GeoffWood]

Several Sand Martin, Swallows and the odd Chiffchaff this morning on my daily walk

 

[geoshot]

I'm in Northern Ireland visiting family, still plenty of House Martins here plus quite a few Swifts

 

[del.gue]

When i lived in Cheshire I only saw Martins and Swifts for many many years. I moved to North Wales and only saw the same. About 3weeks ago, working in my shed a bird flew straight past me and hit the inside of the window. I managed to grab it and found it was a Swallow... not seen one for years... but was made up! released unharmed and sent on his/her way.
PS. all Swifts and Martins seem to have gone from here... Ceiriog Valley.

 

[Cyres]

Masses of swallows gathering on the phone lines.
D