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Post by Ali on Sept 18, 2011 7:57:08 GMT 1
I can never tell (one day will take time to suss) a swallow, swift or house martin apart.
Stunning morning here and have noticed quite a bit of activity in the bird population, I'm guessing that they're packing their suitcases?
Anyone know when it is that they start to wing it to warmer climes?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2011 8:20:07 GMT 1
Our Swallows went a couple of weeks ago.
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Post by lib on Sept 18, 2011 8:33:53 GMT 1
and ours. Spent ages watching them gather for a few days, lots of food across the fields and garden. Then all of a sudden they have gone.
Barns and stables up at livery stable have only lots of empty 'nest', ah well see them next year
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Post by Madame Moorhen on Sept 18, 2011 8:34:18 GMT 1
Yup, the swallows are well on the way. The ones we see now are groups from 'oop north going over, occasionally stopping to have a swoop around. They are sorely missed when they go and I keep looking up at the sky searching for them, but really miss their chattering.  |
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Post by Ali on Sept 18, 2011 8:36:36 GMT 1
I wonder if these are House Martins then.....?? they have a 'bouncy' flight pattern.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2011 10:04:05 GMT 1
A big flock of what I think are starlings here today, they have been attacking my grapevine's.
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Post by Madame Moorhen on Sept 18, 2011 12:22:40 GMT 1
They may well be swallows although I'm not so sure about the bouncy (sounds more like woodpeckers or wagtails!) - loads have been about this morning swooping low and I could hear them twittering again - that so gladdens my heart - as every time I see them fly straight over, always heading dead west (?!) I mentally say bye bye little birds, have a safe journey.
Ali - swallows have long forked tails and nest in barns and stables etc where they can fly inside through open windows; dunno where swifts nest and house martins are usually more visible in villages as they build their nest on the outside of houses under the overhanging bits of roof. We don't see much in the way of house martins here, just swallows 90% and swifts 10%. The swifts are always high up, are much bigger and their sound is a "weeeeeee" sound whereas swallows twitter or chatter and swoop down low. They are very easy to tell apart when you see them low because their tails are very different to the other birds.
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Post by <-Rinky-Dink-> on Sept 18, 2011 16:48:11 GMT 1
We have all three here, but I think ours have already flown away now. Haven't seen more than the odd one or two in the last couple of weeks.
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