Summer would not be summer without Swallows, Swifts and House Martins, swooping low in search of flies, but when should you expect to see the first one in the British Isles?
The RSPB say that the first Swallows should arrive in March (they don't say if that is early or late) as they fly in from their southerly winter feeding grounds.
We have our first Swallow. She (and I am being presumption here) arrived alone in advance of the rest. I expect, if the last four years are accurate as a gauge, for the rest to join her by the end of March.
It is rather sad in a way because we are now living in the buildings that the Swallows have had free run over for over forty years - although we still tolerate them nesting in the cavé.
At dusk, I love to see the swallows swoop over the swimming pool and take a drink before retiring for the night.
One point of interest; in 2007 the first swallow didn't arrive until early April so perhaps there is something in the predictions that we are in for a hot summer?
No swallows round here yet - I hope you're theory that their late arrival suggests a warm summer is correct! We're enjoying a pretty fine spring so far - working in shorts and t-shirt earlier in the week! - so lets hope there's more to come.
Posted by: Nick Steele | Mar 20, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Ours always turn up on the 15th April but we live in the Cotswolds. I've seen swallows in the UK in late Feb before but that's very unusual.
I've checked the Birdguides website and Swallows have been seen in Herts and Suffolk today.
Spring....BRING IT ON!!!
Dave
www.the-gardenmakers.co.uk
Posted by: Dave | Mar 20, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Where are the swallows and swifts this year and the house martins? We live in the South Hams Devon but we have not seen any so far. It's the end of May and they normally have been here several weeks by now.
Also we have noticed very few fledgling sparrows around. We have plenty of goldfinches, chaffinches, even bullfinches, a pied woodpecker, robins and wrens, blackbirds etc but no swallows etc. anyone else notice?
Posted by: Mike pannell | May 31, 2015 at 02:41 PM
Down here in sw France I've noticed there seems to be far less swallows this year. Swifts, even less so.
When we bought our farm, back in 2004, we would easily count +100 swallows sitting on the electric wire outside our house.
Saying that, our house was not lived in for the forty years prior to our arrival so the house and barns made a great nesting site.
Posted by: Phil | Jun 01, 2015 at 09:01 AM
Swallows in Mullion Cove at 16:00 hrs on 13/04/2016
Posted by: George Atkinson | Apr 14, 2016 at 08:39 AM
I had the male arrived on the 16th April on the 17th a second male arrived on the 18th April. They are waiting for the females arrival, which last year was 29th April 2015.But today is the 3rd May and the females still have not arrived.
Posted by: Stephen Douglass | May 03, 2016 at 05:24 PM
swallows arrived in Gloucestershire today, 30/03 /2017
Posted by: les hall | Mar 30, 2017 at 06:30 PM
Two seen at Brancaster Snaithe, Norfolk on 6 April
Posted by: David Morgan | Apr 06, 2017 at 06:16 PM
Two swallows seen at Cleland ceredigion on the 2nd of april
Posted by: Dorian Evans | Apr 14, 2017 at 10:00 AM
swallow seen in Ludlow yesterday, 15 april 2017
Posted by: emma s | Apr 16, 2017 at 05:46 PM
No swollows have arrived yet dose this mean they won't be coming back thay nest under my eves here in moresby parks Cumbria
Posted by: Carl Hetherington | May 01, 2017 at 07:47 PM
Only just arrived over Lyme Regis 20/05/2017. Hot summer then?
Posted by: Andy Benson | May 22, 2017 at 08:52 PM
Have seen no swallows at all The swifts are having the time of their lives!!
Winchester and Test Valley
Posted by: Pamela Ford | May 27, 2017 at 04:18 PM
I'm really missing the swallows. They are usually here by now. Their nest is empty.
Posted by: hil | Jun 14, 2017 at 12:35 PM
The house martins which have nested here in Blairmore, Argyll for the past 7 years have not returned this year and nor is there a single martin to be seen in the skies. Does anyone know why?
Posted by: John Campbell | Jul 05, 2017 at 10:26 AM
none here now in edinburgh as of 7th may 2018
africa is going though years of droughts.
perhaps no water and so fewer insects for the birds to live on.
i was on Lesbos last week and markedly fewer there than i have seen before.
Posted by: ben | May 07, 2018 at 08:28 PM
my swallows and swifts have not arrived yet just outside derby - they are running late this year just like the lat few years
Posted by: david gazzard | May 08, 2018 at 01:57 PM
No swallows in Manchester the skies are empty. What's going on.
Posted by: Foggy | May 12, 2018 at 07:44 PM
We normally have the skies full and that is before the babies are born but this year hardly any swallows. We are in South Wales. Anyone know why?
Posted by: June | May 15, 2018 at 07:31 PM
Coventry here . only 2 awifts usually 20 above my house. Some thing bad has happened to them !
Hate the silent skies. Pam Draper.
Posted by: Pamela Draper | May 15, 2018 at 08:22 PM
No swallows in Oldham my husband has been looking out for them - saw 2 in Manchester last week.
Posted by: Elaine | May 20, 2018 at 08:52 PM
No swallows/swifts in Bognor Regis, the skies are deafeningly quiet and I keep looking out for them. Can anyone explain what has happened to them please.
Posted by: Elise | May 22, 2018 at 04:49 PM
My husband is also looking out for swallows- extremely unusual not to see any yet here on outskirts of Brightlingsea- has anyone any information why unseen as yet ?
Posted by: Julia Lord | May 23, 2018 at 10:33 AM
Also no swifts or house martins , sand martins - see above message
Posted by: Julia Lord | May 23, 2018 at 10:34 AM
Have been seeing four swifts over my neighbourhood in Leek, Staffs, until this morning; now there are nine. Late arrivals? Surely it’s too early for fledglings?
Swallows at a nearby chemical factory. There are plenty of farms around but the birds seem to be based at the works. Open-ended outbuildings with the nooks & crannies amongst the girders & pipes must serve the same purpose as the beams in a wooden barn, I assume.
Posted by: Colin Hall | May 23, 2018 at 03:44 PM