Summer migrants

[Del.Monte]

First sightings - by me - of Swallows and Martins today. Just a handful but it's a start and they have already been reported on the north coast.

[765489]

Same here Del, seen first Swallows flying around the fields here yesterday. Great to see them back.

[kadman]

I had a couple of willy wagtails that are flitting around over the last week. I also notice some starlings have built a nest in the top boom of my cherry picker same as last year right in the hollow beam.

[Banshee Bones]

A Gannet flew into my fishing line today, they don't migrate do they?

[Del.Monte]

A Gannet flew into my fishing line today, they don't migrate do they?

They don't migrate as such but spend the winter months at sea and only return to the islands to breed during the summer months.

[Banshee Bones]

They don't migrate as such but spend the winter months at sea and only return to the islands to breed during the summer months.

Had fun watching them dive bomb further out from the shore, after he smacked my line he flew back over looking annoyed and perturbed, like he was trying to figure out what he hit

[CelticRambler]

One or more cuckoos has made himself/themselves at home in the nearby woods this last week. If it's only the one, he must be about as desperate as me to find a good woman: he's been cuckooing non-stop all day since about 9am.

[Del.Monte]

Summer has officially started - in my books anyway - as I never feel it has happened until I hear and see the arrival of the first Swifts. Last to arrive back from Africa and first to leave. According to my diary entries - 3/5/2020; 15/5/2021 and today 9/5/2022.



https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildl ... a-z/swift/

[Del.Monte]

Is it just me and where I live, or has anybody else noticed a lot more Swallows, Martins and Swifts about this year?

[765489]

I seen one swift today for the first time this year. There's been a couple of buildings locally that have been "modernised" which has removed some of the nesting areas for the swallows. Have not seen many housemartins but might take a good ramble around tomorrow and get a better picture here.

Haven't heard a single native curlew this year. Again need to do a bit of rambling.

No migratory quail in the corn fields yet.

[765489]

Alot of swifts around the place yesterday evening. Great to see, no idea where they are nesting locally but seemed to be feeding on something up high in the air.

[Del.Monte]

First sightings - by me - of Swallows and Martins today. Just a handful but it's a start and they have already been reported on the north coast.

Saw a House martin today - a bit earlier than usual for me - but there are widespread reports of them as far away as the north coast. Alpine swifts still being mentioned on Facebook by people thinking they are our own summer migrants which are usually not here until the end of April/early May.

[678904673]

I thought I saw a couple of Swallows yesterday. But I eyes had to be deceiving me. It seems far to early for them

[Apelles]

I thought I saw a couple of Swallows yesterday. But I eyes had to be deceiving me. It seems far to early for them

Swallows can start arriving here from the middle of March, so I'd say your eyes weren't deceiving you at all.