Swallows leaving it late

[roobarrb]

I have a swallows' nest high up in my barn. I can't actually see into it, but the parents are still busily feeding chicks in the nest. I live in southern Scotland and the weather is turning decidedly chilly at nights. Could they have left it too late to rear the chicks? If so, is it common for the parents to abandon chicks at migration time?

[RoyW]

If chicks are being fed now they will probably be fledged in about two weeks, and the whole family will head south during October.
This isn't exceptionally late for Swallows which are regularly recorded in the UK until late October, even into November in the south - although many will already be leaving.

[werdnal]

We have some still in the nest here in our stable too. I am pleased really as early in the season, just after they'd started repairing and old nest for this year's brood(s), I found one of the pair dead on the floor for no apparent reason. I was fearing we wouldn't have any young in there this year (although we also have some in another barn). The remaining bird must have been lucky enough to pair again, as they are now rearing a late brood.

The adults usually leave earlier than the youngsters, so as soon as the young are independent, will leave them to get on with it!

[Jackaroo]

I think our swallows and starlings have done a moonlight flit as it's been so quiet in the morning for the last couple of days now. Can't say that I blame them either. If I had wings I'd be offski and all. Abysmal summer!!!

[Farplace]

Ours are still feeding chicks. Second brood. First brood are flying all over the Dale.

[Jackaroo]

It seems that not all of our swallows have taken off. Magic, our latest guide-dog puppy, and I were making the most of a late afternoon appearance of the sun by perfecting our technique for viewing swallows. This consists of my lying flat on my back and roughly focussing on an area of sky where the birds swoop into the windless area between the beeches, which seems to hold the greatest concentration of insects, and hover and and dodge about in a fairly confined flight pattern. Magic's part in this activity is to lie full length on my legs and chew my toes. It seems to work!!! Tomorrow we'll try it with the camera if the weather holds.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Jackaroo

Magic, our latest guide-dog puppy, and I were making the most of a late afternoon appearance of the sun by perfecting our technique for viewing swallows.
~(SNIP)~
Magic's part in this activity is to lie full length on my legs and chew my toes. It seems to work!!! Tomorrow we'll try it with the camera if the weather holds.

LOL!
I'd love to know exactly how a dog chewing your toes helps - is this how you are training him/her to alert the blind to one approaching?

Good luck with the photos.

[Guinnessman1974]

I saw a House Martin feeding a young in a nest last weekend. there are still plenty of house Martins in our area at the moment still.

[Jackaroo]

Originally Posted by RoyW

LOL!
I'd love to know exactly how a dog chewing your toes helps - is this how you are training him/her to alert the blind to one approaching?

Good luck with the photos.

It helps by preventing him chewing lens caps and camera straps and other expensive bits and bobs. My Kit already cost me an arm and a leg I guess I can spare a toe or two. lol By the way, as usual, birds are proving camera shy, wish I'd thought of this earlier in the season. I could see half a dozen on the power lines that cross the road outside the garden but I'm damned if I'm lying down there. The wife'll kill me if anything happens to the dog.

[Ringo1968]

Last friday i saw hundreds of house martins flying around and alighting on a tree for a good 20 minutes. They must be close to leaving now with the weather turning...