Are your swallows on the move yet?

[werdnal]

Seen a few stragglers today, but many of ours seem to have disappeared, so guess they are on their way South. Seems earlier than usual. Are yours on their way yet?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Saw 32 birds at bot Bedfont Lakes and Hounslow Heath on Friday. All moving in an east to west direction. Meadow Pipits and House Martins shifting through too.

Cheers,

Adam

[Tringa]

Saw two at Gairloch in NW Scotland last Saturday, but the weather was still good then. Now it is windy and wet so I guess they will have gone.

Dave

[Deb London]

Single Swallow flew past just now going north west. Which way should it be flying.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Single Swallow flew past just now going north west. Which way should it be flying.

Depends where it was going!

Most Swallows are now on the move, which (obviously?) means that they will be heading in a generally southerly direction, but a few are still likely to be feeding late broods, and these could be heading in any direction when travelling between the nest and the best feeding areas.
Even migrating birds seem to go in the wrong direction sometimes though - perhaps reorientating themselves onto a route that they have used before?

[Meta menardi]

Still around in N Yorkshire, and they don't seem to be wire-sitting much. I think they are keeping the good(ish) weather here.

[rossy]

observed a pair still going into a barn yesterday, probably got a late brood, but hope they get a move on, as the weather forecast for the weekend isnt good, with temperatures dropping, in particular at night. rossy.

[Deb London]

Originally Posted by RoyW

Depends where it was going!

Most Swallows are now on the move, which (obviously?) means that they will be heading in a generally southerly direction, but a few are still likely to be feeding late broods, and these could be heading in any direction when travelling between the nest and the best feeding areas.
Even migrating birds seem to go in the wrong direction sometimes though - perhaps reorientating themselves onto a route that they have used before?

Hee hee, I take your point.

* Must resist starting a 'which way was your Swallow flying?' poll *

[Tringa]

Saw four close to the car park at Laide Wood yesterday, so there are still a few in the north.

Dave

[Dave66]

Still got swallows in Mid-Argyll. On my drive home today I came along the moss and saw half a dozen skimming the fields. Definitely less than last week though.