It must be proper spring now as there's a swift whirling around outside the house right now. Just one mind you, but I'm sure the rest will follow soon.
first swift
- Thread starter DoctorSpoon
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It's great to see them flitting about, isn't it? Seen plenty of swallows returning too, lovely time of year. 
We've had scaffolding up last week and our swifts came home and were circling about, they couldnt get in. It was only up a few days but it unfortunately looks like they wont be nesting in our house this year.
Does anyone know if they'll return again next year?
Does anyone know if they'll return again next year?
Saw two swifts/swallows (can't tell the difference when they are moving about fast like that!) zipping about up the fields earlier on. They put on an impressive aerieal display.
Ditto!
We have a swift nest under the guttering of our house and you can hear the "slap" of the wings against the wall as they come into land (the only time swifts do land incidentally). Their wingspan is surprisingly large when you see them up close and, for an instant, motionless, spread against the wall before disappearing into the nest - much larger than swallows or martins. Amazing fliers - amongst my favorite of all birds and, of course, they herald the summer.
Last evening was my first sighting of a small group spiraling up to sleep (they'll typically spiral up to 10,000 ft or so before sleeping on the wing - waking up at around 2,000 ft!) - haven't heard the "slap" yet though
We have a swift nest under the guttering of our house and you can hear the "slap" of the wings against the wall as they come into land (the only time swifts do land incidentally). Their wingspan is surprisingly large when you see them up close and, for an instant, motionless, spread against the wall before disappearing into the nest - much larger than swallows or martins. Amazing fliers - amongst my favorite of all birds and, of course, they herald the summer.
Last evening was my first sighting of a small group spiraling up to sleep (they'll typically spiral up to 10,000 ft or so before sleeping on the wing - waking up at around 2,000 ft!) - haven't heard the "slap" yet though
We get House Martins and ours turned up a few days ago
They have a bit of DIY to do as one nests developed a hole during the winter.
They have a bit of DIY to do as one nests developed a hole during the winter.
Usually we get the swallows back first, then the house martins, then the swifts last of all. The swallows have been around a while, I haven't seen the martins at all yet and it was clearly just an odd swift passing through as there's no sign of any more ... mind you it's been raining solidly most of the day!
Swallows have the long tails, swifts are nearly all dark in colour and have the biggest wingspan, and martins have mainly white bodys with dark wings...
I have seen plenty of swallow but no swallows or martins yet...
