The strangely warm weather for February has brought swallows, sand martins and house martins to our shores far sooner than usual. In fact their arrival in 2018 was nearly a month later than this year. As we question why these passerine birds have rocked up to the party early, we should also consider the long journey they have taken. All the way from South Africa to the UK these visitors travel around 200 miles a day! 

As a welcome to these adventurers I have chosen this beautiful photo of a swallow as our photo of the week.

Wings stretched. Tail feathers fanned. A swallow depicted in full glory. (Photo courtesy of Nature's Home Reader John Fuller-Sessions)

Thanks to John Fuller-Sessions for sending in this magnificent photo taken in Derbyshire last summer. 

Have you seen any swallows, house or sand martins yet this year? Let us know in the comments below.

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