Swallows in Scotland, a bad year?

Hello Cally, sorry to read about the devistation with your swallow, that must have been so heart breaking for you to see. We have always had swallow around every year, but this is the first year that I had none returning. They are a beautiful bird, a favourite of mine.

hello Cally,

I've spotted a few in Hamilton South Lanarkshire at the retail park. I was visiting recently walking along the path & grass of what was once the venue for T in the Park main stage & spotted quite a few picking airborne insects from just above the grass. Bees I have a hive in the cavity of the wall below my window annually the bees return but this year I have only spotted a few in flight, none have landed on the window ledge which is common practice.  

Regards

David

Hi Cally,

Quite the opposite in Manchester. I have never seen so many around - so much so that we decided to put a nest up for them this year - they are coming in substantial numbers well and truly into the suburbs area. Before worrying I would wait to read the overall RSPB report for the species.

I truly sympathise though, I can understand how devastated you must have been seeing them pass away. We've tried hand feeding young swallows with insects in the past and they haven't taken them. Maybe one way round the 'starvation' problem is to try leaving near the nest some insects (you can buy some from pet shops, they sell them for reptiles) and see if the parents take them to their youngsters.

Thank you Catlady.  Yes everyone loves swallows! We have had a fair few but not as many nests taken up this year as last.  I think seeing this sad situation shocked me, although i am aware of the delicate balances in nature, this was one situation i hadnt thought too much about, well not with swallows anyway.  Our nests are situated very low so i have easy access to see them....i am lucky when things go well! The second brood fledged successfully and were absolutely gorgeous :-) it must be very sad for you not to see your swallows returning and i dont know why that would be but i hope they come backnext year for you xx

Thanks David, yes although i dont think we have had as many swallows at our house (there were five nests last year and only two this year) i think theres probably lots about and good to hear about the sightings.  I was really more concerned with the effect this wet summer would have on them.  I guess this sad starvation situation, because of such heavy and continual rain, could be happening all over the country and possibly going unnoticed due to nests being high up out of sight.  I guess every species has good and bad years but when you get so closely involved you see it.  As with your wonderful bees, you tend to compare the goings on year by year.  Not many bees at all here and i didnt take part in the big butterfly count because i had very little to record!  Worrying indeed.

Hi Marina so glad to hear of so many swallows, and its normally swifts that you see more of in the towns! We put up 'manmade nests' a couple of years ago and a few were taken up!  This year they have totally ignored the ready made jobs!  I too racked my brain as to whether to attempt feeding the remaining two chicks, desperate to help but decided on not getting involved in case i brought them on so far and then the parents didnt return and so on......omg theres so much we dont understand about nature!  Strangely enough at the time of this, we had a horrendously high pile of donkey poop (not advisable right outside the stable but we were moving donkey acommodation around) and that should have attracted a lot of flies right on the swallows doorstep but the rain really wiped out the flying insects :-(. As you say though i am wondering if to buy some of these insects next year...just in case! X