Looking for the swallows at an old favourite place

Thursday 2nd June, after the weekly shopping trip in the morning, it was a trip to Baddesley Clinton, a Nat Trust which has swallows in the gateway, literally right above peoples heads!

But I got a bit more than I expected, in an interesting and fascinating way, the first sings of nesting were jackdaws in the eaves of the medieval moated house.

Up on the roof (original by Little Eva summer 1962, charted by Kenny Lynch Dec 1962 and Julie Grant Jan 1963, though The Drifters did have their own version), with food for the brood!

After going in through the back door, one came out through the front door....

And using the front door to go in this time!

"And don't forget to close the door behind you..."

Then a wander around to the gatehouse, and right on cue, an occupied swallows nest. Not the one in previous years, and I felt this nesting pair were probably first timers, but that is only a wild guess.

The area where the nests are...

The team at Baddesley say the swallows have only been there around a week or so, and quite late in arriving this year.

Settling down and awaiting the next catch to arrive

The doting partner arrives complete with insect

Once happy all is safe, flies up to the nest

Fed and settled, until the next food supply comes in