Swallows allready?

[bounce]

Acording to the times today (nature notes), a swallow has been spotted somewhere down south (sorry cant remember the town) , seems like nature does not bother with the callender what with all the spring like activities going on at the moment.

[ChrisJB]

I think there has been a House Martin seen in Cornwall in recent days too.

Regards, Chris

[hank]

This would surely be a record for the earliest ( wouldn't it ? ).
I shall assume then, that we're gonna have a scorching summer !!

[Kayleigh]

Someone I know thought they heard a cuckoo..But not sure its a bit early..But you never know with climate change

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Someone I know thought they heard a cuckoo..But not sure its a bit early..But you never know with climate change

These unseasonal Cuckoos almost invariably turn out to be Collared Doves, which at times can sound a bit like one!

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by hank

This would surely be a record for the earliest ( wouldn't it ? ).

No!
They were recorded in Somerset in January last year. There was a thread on here about it somewhere.


Andy

[AndyC]

Or it might have been early February

Swallows? Gulp!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Swallows and House Martins have been over-wintering along the south coast this winter.

Cheers,

Adam

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Swallows and House Martins have been over-wintering along the south coast this winter.

Cheers,

Adam

Hey Adam.
Is this new this year?
Or have they been doing it for some years?
Cheers
Doug

[Adam Cheeseman]

I know that a handful of summer visitors have been spending whole years here for quite some time now, whether it's always the same individuals I can't say, but I wouldn't have thought so. For instance, we currently have a Turtle Dove, a Yellow Wagtail, a Willow Warbler and a Stone Curlew amongst others over-wintering, and it is quite normal to see the odd Sandwich Tern or two on the south coast in winter now, particularly at Dungeness and around The Solent.
Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs have long been near-resident species in some parts now for many years.

I think with warmer winters becoming more frequent we will probably see a movement north of wintering quarters for some species.

Cheers,

Adam