i have just been for a run through the burrows in north devon and seen swallows and sand martins. it seems very early for them. are they normally here this early?
Hi Nic,
That's a lovely part of the world :) Sand Martins have been arriving since late Feb and Swallows since early March, with more records every week. Last year I first saw decent numbers of both on 31 March (in Kent). The BTO Birdtrack page is a good place to check first arrival dates, and you can submit your own sightings too: http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack/results/index.jsp?r=20
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Up here in N.Yorks I have had both Sand and House Martins on my local patch and Swallows have been reported within the county.Having checked back on my records it is about the same time as the last couple of years.Devon will get the birds much earlier than us so in answer to your question it is not exceptionally early but it does mean that summer must be coming.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
We are in West Wales and have seen our first Swallow today, certainly earlier for us here = must be all this fine weather
A Sandmartin was seen here In Somerset a few weeks ago! :0)
Hi everyone , was on the way to work this morning in Ireland Mid West , and saw 6 swallows perched on a wire could not believe my eyes , so turned the car around and got a couple of photos ,will post them when I get home .
Earliest I have seen them is 14 april in any year from 2000 ,so they are well early.
Regards Mick
Work is for those people that don't Bird-watch!!!!
Always look out for first swallows + sandmartins on Ecoast Scot around my brothers birthday - 2nd April. Have been cranning ears but none here yet.
1st geese in Sept on my sisters b'day!!
'In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks' John Muir.
Excuse wobbily dyslexic spelling!
Hi everyone , here are the photos I took this morning 8.30am on the way to work and it was very misty, (sorry about the fuzzy pics but they were a long way off) It about sums it up, Swallows arrive and its started raining today , after two weeks of dry weather, but aren't they a welcome site and so so early .
I have to admit my eyes are glued to the skies (must look where I am going!) at the moment awaiting the return of these fantastic visitors! Keep us all posted folks of your first sightings.
Claire
Saw my first swallow of the year yesterday!
It was all on it's own on top of a lamp post taking a little breather just outside Gloucester.
Looking forward to their full return skimming along the river
E
Animals live second to second. Humans live knowing they have a future.
Hi - saw our first sighting of swallows this year, yesterday (03.04) whilst on the Ullswater steamer at Glenridding, Cumbria!
Fi