Forum Topic

First swallows yet ?

Each year in Spring I begin to scan the skies to sight the first swallows. Anyone seen the first swallows in the Ealing skies yet? They make a welcome sight. "The Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is?"

Gerry Tan ● 4571d23 Comments

Gerry I don't think you will see swallows until at least early May

Jack Ryan ● 4571d

Yes Jack, I realise I'm a little early in anticipating the swallows arrival, but what with climate changes one never can tell for certain. Am still searching the skies.

Gerry Tan ● 4571d

Oh. Swallows. Thought this an x rated thread

David P Archer ● 4569d

Who'll be the first to spot the Spring Harbinger over Ealing skies I wonder?

Gerry Tan ● 4548d

Will they come with the bluebells?

Susan Kelly ● 4548d

I think I might have spotted a gang of circling swifts on Saturday evening. They were doing their circuit training for a good half hour over the skies of North Hanwell.Remarkable bird - apparently they can fly for 3 years without ever landing!

John Walker ● 4548d

While I've just seen something that might be bluebells in Gunnersbury Park.

Susan Kelly ● 4548d

"...I might have spotted a gang of circling swifts on Saturday evening..."Exciting, over North Hanwell too.

Gerry Tan ● 4548d

I have just heard a delightful small piece on Radio 4 by Kate Humble, the excellent wildlife presenter, telling of her delight in seeing for the first time in Spring on her farm in Monmouthshire, the swallows circling the skies in search of the plentiful insects before finding their nests. This leads me to ask, has anyone yet seen any signs of swallows(or swifts) in the Ealing skies?Kate went on to explain that these wonderful birds return to South Africa each year and many return to the UK and find the nesting places where they were raised - isn't that wonderful?  Any sightings anyone?

Gerry Tan ● 4536d

The first ones arrived in Argyll two weeks ago,lots more now..nice to see them again,I think I recognised one of them :0)

Tony Wood ● 4535d

In Ealing skies Tony, not so much as a dickie bird have I seen and I look many times a day. Perhaps the awful polution in our air is putting them off. I don't understand.

Gerry Tan ● 4535d

They wont be seen in Ealing skies until sometime in May

Jack Ryan ● 4535d

Why is that Jack? The RSPB monitored swallows over Dungenness and Cornwall heading for the UK as early as end of March this year. And Kate Humble has seen them over her farm in Monouuthshire this week. Why are there no sightings of swallows in Ealing? Was it something we said?

Gerry Tan ● 4534d

Gerry, I'd hazard a guess that it's down to a food source i.e. flies and midges, they come out a lot earlier up here(and stay a lot longer!). No sign of swallows or swifts today I think that although it's a nice day,it's windy and flying insects don't like wind (it makes their arms ache),so the birds have probably found a sheltered spot somewhere and are gourging themselves.

Tony Wood ● 4534d

Gerry I think they have a holiday in Cornwall before they come to London :)

Jack Ryan ● 4534d

Its almost the end of April and I've yet to spy swallows in the Ealing skies. Friends as far away as Yorkshire, Carmarthan and Norfolk have seen swallows over their fields, but I haven't seen a single swallow over Ealing. Any sightings anyone? Any explanations please?

Gerry Tan ● 4527d

I've just looked at the sky and saw my first sight of swallows over Ealing - hurrah! It never ceases to thrill. Why are the swallows late this year?

Gerry Tan ● 4513d

Hi Gerry well done for spotting the swallows in Ealing we are still waiting for them to arrive in Hanwell

Jack Ryan ● 4511d

Have you any theories as to why the swallows are so late this year Jack?  I'm no ornithologist so I don't know, but I've been watching their first annual arrival for some years now and they usually first arrive in West London about mid-April.  Any ideas? Our relatives and friends have spotted them early-April in Dungeness, Cornwall and Yorkshire. I'm curious.

Gerry Tan ● 4511d

Perhaps a greater supply of insects in rural areas Gerry?

Sue Rowe ● 4510d

Hi Gerry sorrow I dont know either, last year it was the 26th of May when I first saw them in Hanwell

Jack Ryan ● 4510d

Gerry the swallows have just arrived in Hanwell I saw them flying around in Brent Valley golf course today last year I first saw them on 26/05/13

Jack Ryan ● 4501d

Plenty of swifts flying over Hanwell as well. I'll have to go in search of the Brent Valley swallows!Is it just that I've never noticed them before, but there seem to be large numbers of goldfinches around these days?I'm glad to report that the gang of birds that regularly visit my garden have successfully reared a host of youngsters.

John Walker ● 4501d