Any swifts/swallows yet?

[ozplane]

It does say this thread is for stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere so I just wondered if anybody has seen swifts/swallows or martins yet this year. Our house martins have usually arrived by now but the only avian activity to date was half a dozen swifts in transit elsewhere. In the absence of actual aircraft I always enjoy the aerobatics of these chaps.

[Berf]

House martins arrived in Sweden three days ago if that helps! Probably not!

Cranes have already gone, two pairs of great tits nesting (one lot putting my excavator out of action) and two pairs of pied flycatchers, one pair woodpecker

[Alan425]

Noticed plenty of House Martins flying in and out of the neighbour's roof eaves while out in the garden here in Lincolnshire last Friday, along with a few Swifts that also nest locally.

Alan

[FarnboroJohn]

I was at Stanwell Moor this afternoon and both Swifts and House Martins were in evidence over the park. (For the record, Peregrine over and Lesser Whitethroat singing from the bushes.) In addition to the airliners, bonus Merlin ZJ129 which is still pottering about LHR this evening.

[Mike]

Saw some funny little fork-tailed birdies on one of our walks a couple of days ago.

[TrevorT]

Several swallows here (Stafford) for the last 3 weeks or so.

[reheat module]

Had swifts and swallows over the Wolds at the new house.
Swallows low, fast with their terrain radar, Swifts high-up flashing round.
Great to see.

[Pen Pusher]

We've got a seagull colony in my part of Cambridgeshire.

Brian

[psquiddy]

We saw martins about 10 days ago in South London

[ozplane]

Thanks for the updates chaps. Guess I'll just have to be patient here in Herts.

[TJJ]

There was a recent news item that a lot got caught in storms over the Med, so numbers will sadly be down this year. There weren't that many around last year either.

[AndyXH558]

Wonder if they'll be carrying coconuts


Sorry it had to be done

[psquiddy]

Wonder if they'll be carrying coconuts


Sorry it had to be done

Would that be an African or European Swallow?

[AndyXH558]

African..

[grant_w]

Saw Swallows a couple of weeks ago, and saw my first Swift last weekend.

[Euan Buchan]

I've seen both Swallows and Swifts around my house