Driving home from a lovely stroll along the Lagan towpath the other day I noticed a sure sign that summer is nearing an end.
Perched neatly on a telephone wire (like this little fellow) were about a dozen swallows, almost as if they were queuing for their long journey back to warmer climes!
By this time of year our swifts have already departed for the southern hemisphere, a mammoth 6,000 mile journey during which they will never touch the ground – it’s little wonder their Latin name Apus Apus translates as ‘without feet’.
However, depending on the weather, swallows (and house martins) tend to hang on into September or even October.
But when they do take flight to Africa, they can cover around 200 miles a day and reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour!
Sadly, these amazing birds are now amber-listed (of medium conservation concern) in the UK and Ireland. It’s thought changeable weather conditions, as well as factors like modern agricultural practices, have affected populations right across Europe.
But as we bid farewell to summer visitors like swallows, it won’t be long until they are replaced by winged wonders from the north, like whooper swans from Iceland and goldeneye ducks from Russia.
For me, one perk of the darker days and tumbling temperatures is the whirling, swirling flocks of starlings which take to the sky at dusk – their numbers boosted by migrant birds from the continent. The Albert Bridge in Belfast is one of the best places to spot a ‘murmuration’ and the sight certainly makes rush-hour traffic much more pleasant!
Our reserves are great places to watch wildlife all year round – visit www.rspb.org.uk/northernireland to find a haven for nature near you.