Swallows

Haven't seen a swallow since i put a ring on its finger

 

https://community.rspb.org.uk/getin...ell-a-swallow-from-a-swift-and-a-house-martin

 

Starting to see good numbers of Swallows. Hopefully they were delayed and haven’t been killed.

I remember seeing a Life on Earth or some such where they were hunted in reed beds by the locals in Africa and they were seen as a delicacy.

 

Numbera definitely on the up mate.

 

Or domestic cats

 

When I'm out walking I feel nature is disgusted with mankind ...

.... the only species that ruins the world despite thinking how clever we are

https://amp.theguardian.com/environ...ifts-house-martins-decline-uk-bird-survey-aoe

 

As mentioned on the holiday thread plenty of Swallows spotted around the cricket pitch, bandstand in Nairn at 05:00hrs yesterday.
It was quite pleasant watching them whilst having a cuppa

 

I’ve been a fan of rewilding for years. Prioritise and make space for nature again and give all these species a helping hand.

 

Been waiting for someone to come along and be as juvenile as me. I commend you, sir.

 

Good to see the tops of the bus stops next to the Grange have flowerbeds.

 

Someone needs to tell Ozzymac you don’t need to put a ring on a Greta doll

 

noticed something on my drive from 'darn sarf' up the A1, greatest number of squashed insects on the windscreen i have seen since the 80's...maybe a sign that things are actually improving in the insect population and bigger numbers of insects means much more food for the summer visitors and better/healthier broods.

 

Or, like what is being posted, there are less birds about?

 

yup, but higher food populations tend to lead to higher bird 'production'...there are many broods that end with plenty of dead chicks as only the stronger ones get what food is available, with a very good food year there will be birds having a 2nd broods..they tend to know a good year from a bad year or late summers etc and that could be the reason they have been late this year.

 

That’s correct. But Blonde Bomshell is saying that there or more flies and beetles etc because there are either less swallows or they’re late. If they have had a hit with numbers then you’re correct they could get a few good broods away but a max 3 now whereas in some years if they arrived earlier 4.

 

Thanks marra

 

I've noticed there's more aphids on my roses. I normally leave them as the sparrows and wrens pick them off and eat them. There seems to be less sparrows this year and I haven't seen any wrens.

 

We have a wren in our garden, busy little thing.
Since lockdown we've had quite a few sparrows but haven't particularly noticed them this year, maybe the weather, and the fact we haven't had chance to get out in the garden.
There does seem to be quite a lot of tits about this year though, yes I am talking about birds, feathered variety before anyone makes a comment

 

You'll hear Wrens more than you'll see them, but I have seen plenty about this year. House Sparrows are on a massive decline and I hope farming methods change to help them. To think at one time they were farmed for their eggs!

 

From the post-medieval period until the 19th C, sparrows themselves were quite a popular food item.