Here's what I wrote on here on 13th May 2018 ..... the year when Swallow numbers collapsed ... Two days ago I saw as many Swallows as I saw Whimbrels. That's got to be a first ! Yep, 2 Whimbrels flew over me at the estuary, and over the whole day, only 2 Swallows were spotted. Pathetic. Yesterday .... no Swallows at all. Not a single one. Plenty of Swifts and House Martins. Today ... it's 20:05 and I've seen only 1 Swallow. Again, loads of Swifts and HMs .... .... something's up ! ... or down. Yes ... 2018 was a crap year for Swallows ..well, where I live it was. 2019 and 2020 were OK. So ... what about this year so far ? And now I'm wondering if this year will be a repeat of 2018.. The first Swallows I saw this year were on 11th April, at least 30 mixed in with 50+ Sand Martins. On the 16th loads of House Martins and no Sand Martins, and a few Swallows. 17th ... 7 Swallows and a dozen House Martins. So that was looking OK. Then a few Swallowless days. But after the 20th, no Swallows at all anywhere. 4 days of nothingness Swallow-wise. That's 7 Swallow-less days. There might have been some somewhere.... but not where I was looking. It might mean nothing .... they might all pile in after a few "duff" migration days. They might be swarming in their thousands somewhere where I'm not. We must wait and see ...things could get better ... but ....
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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