I saw three swallows today. The first this year. It's lovely to have them back.
I saw three swallows today. The first this year. It's lovely to have them back.
"Do what you can with what you have where you are."
- Theodore Roosevelt
Have you seen this on BBC?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/...n/springwatch/
They're not actually looking for awallows but they are asking about swifts, have you seen any of those?
No, no swifts. I think they arrive later. I don't think I've ever seen them around my house though. I know about Springwatch cos I always watch Bill Oddie on TV and he tells me all about it!
"Do what you can with what you have where you are."
- Theodore Roosevelt
If one swallow doesn't make a summer what do three make / not make?
A nice pub in Norfolk. Aristotle would have loved it.Geoff
Huh?Seaside
Later - OK, I found the pub, but Aristotle?Seaside
Isn't Aristotle credited with being the author of "one swallow does not make a summer"?
Ours aren't back yet. But I think they could be swifts so that might explain it We have house martins too. Is it definitely a house martin if it's perched on a wire? I have a feeling that swallows and swifts both keep on the wing, but can't quite remember.
Swallows "sit" on wires too, that's where I saw my three. I think you're right about swifts though.Cherry
"Do what you can with what you have where you are."
- Theodore Roosevelt
Identifying swifts, swallows and martins (sand and house) is all in the shape of the tail.
Swifts are dark all over and fly really really high. They don't turn up until summer really starts and all the flies are about. Their tail is short with a neat 'v' taken out of it:
Housemartins and sandmartins are smaller and look pretty similar. If you see some and you aren't near any sandbanks, they'll be housemartins:
This is a sandmartin:
And finally the swallow is a gorgeous iridescent dark blue. Easiest to spot because its tail has a long and elegant v cut out of it:
Thank you
That makes it easier
The wire I was thinking of is very very close by so you can see that they are house martins, but good to know that swallows perch too for future reference.
I'm pretty sure that we mainly have swifts but I'll keep an eye out for the swallows.
The swallows are back. I saw two this morning. Beautiful.
"Do what you can with what you have where you are."
- Theodore Roosevelt
I can't remember seeing swallows around where I live. Are they found mainly in the countryside? I could try and find an audio recording of their call, so at least when I'm out I can listen for them.
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