My first Swallow sighting this year

[sweedie]

Hi all i was delighted to see a dozen or so Swallows this evening skimming at break neck speed over the surface of my local lake, hence the reason for the poor quality photographs

they were so quick im afraid most of them have just come out as blurs... Just wondering if i am right in thinking that these are swallows and not swifts? they looked all dark in colour when i was looking at them in the flesh so i first thought that they were Swifts but on closer inspection, and zooming in on a few of the pics I am thinking that they look more like Swallows?
Can anyone Id please

[bobbarber]

yes Swallows...Bob

[faz]

yes they are swallows seen my first last week summer is on the way

[sweedie]

Fantastic thankyou both
I am so used to hearing and then seeing them perched on telphone wires when they return, havn't seen any doing that so far, they are so fast skimming over the water i could only see the outline of them

Last year i was lucky enough to have a few perched right outside one of my bedroom windows, so got a few lovely pics without them seeing me hoping to get the chance again now that i am a bit more in tune with my camera



Lets hope we see a nice long summer this year

[celmwil]

Hi, We're south of Scarborough and have just seen our first swift followed 10 mins later by our first swallow! Bring it on! enjoying a song thrush singing in the tree outside our back garden.

[faz]

summer is on the way lol

[ladyhawk]

Seen my first 2 days ago in Inverness so does that mean summers here I think not we had sleet today

[sweedie]

Originally Posted by faz

summer is on the way lol

Oh I hope so! Cant come quick enough, i was not made for this climate lol

Originally Posted by ladyhawk

Seen my first 2 days ago in Inverness so does that mean summers here I think not we had sleet today

Sleet poor you .. I heard that there was full on snow somewhere in Scotland just last week, I knew a week of warm weather in March might have been it for us here in Wales! positive thinking that is what i will try

Originally Posted by celmwil

Hi, We're south of Scarborough and have just seen our first swift followed 10 mins later by our first swallow! Bring it on! enjoying a song thrush singing in the tree outside our back garden.

Brilliant i will have to keep a closer eye out for the Swifts, although not a great variety here in the "City of Caerdydd" (Cardiff) All the beautiful countryside in Wales and I have to be stuck living in the City Haven't encountered a song thrush here yet, got a photo of a passing Mistle Thrush though

[artdemole]

Saw my 1st swallow yesterday whilst looking at sunshine through a shower.It was circling the field at the back.Very pleased to see them return.

[Acipiter]

It does make you wonder what they are feeding on, as in all insect eating birds, given this none stop rain. I only hope it does not turn out to be a very wet May as well.