Swallows

Rainbowsend

I have a swallows nest with new chicks in it, isnt it very late for
them to be born? and will it be possible for them to migrate?

Judgement Day

Seems very late for chicks and unless they overwinter in west Cork I think they will be lucky to survive.

Rainbowsend

Thats what I was thinking, they have only hatched about two days, and are chirping away the parents are feeding them, and presume they will stay until they are fledged anyway. I have had nests for years and have never had one so late in the year. Hope they stay and take their chances here.

Judgement Day

I don't really believe they overwinter in Ireland but who knows and with the departure dates 'apparently' getting later.....I had a thread last year keeping track of the latest date for Swallow sightings but I can't remember what the latest one was. Who knows with global warming?

Rainbowsend

There seems to be just the parent birds here still, had about ten of them
last week but they seem to have gone. Will keep an eye on it and post
updates.

stevensi

It is a bit late but not unusal. There has been some discussion on other sites about swallows still with young going into September. If the settled weather stays the same for another while they may have a chance as last evening i saw a few swallows swooping around my place, also there were a good number of small flies flying about. I have seen a swallow in Ireland in November before so who knows...

Jim Martin

stevensi wrote: »

It is a bit late but not unusal. There has been some discussion on other sites about swallows still with young going into September. If the settled weather stays the same for another while they may have a chance as last evening i saw a few swallows swooping around my place, also there were a good number of small flies flying about. I have seen a swallow in Ireland in November before so who knows...

Wereabouts was that?

stevensi

Was in Cork off the coast but a few years back. I know there has been stories of some even overwintering around Cornwall but wether that is true or not i don't know.

Judgement Day

According to Irishbirding.com - a really useful resource - the last Swallow recorded on its site for 2008 was on the 29th November (!) at Broad Lough, Co.Wicklow and the earliest this year was the 18th March 2009 at Lough Bradan, Co.Tyrone. You can see these dates are creeping towards each other.

Just found this link: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/expert/previous/swallowmigration.asp

and this more definitive link here: http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Swallow-survives-freezing-winter-Cornwall/article-622136-detail/article.html

Maybe this will be the year???

Judgement Day

Swallows in West Waterford - originally posted by Dummy 31-10-2008
'My family & I were just coming in across the fields from a walk on the beach when I saw swallows flying about. They were doing their arial acrobatics and then landing on fencing.

Today is a beautiful blue sky day here on the coast in West Waterford. Current outdoor temp is 11.1 celcius with a north easterly wind of 14.5 mph and 1004.6 hPA pressure. So it is similar to an average Irish Summers day here.

I have never seen swallows at this time of year before. Am I wrong or should these guys not be on vacation in Northern Africa at this point?'

---

So we have a way to go yet before reaching this sighting which was on my thread on the subject last year.

Durnish

I watched a pair of swallows feeding their young chick (s) in an exterior nest in the apex of a gable on the last house at Narin Strand, Donegal, yesterday afternoon. The nest may have been a borrowed one but they were defo swallows.

The chick that was hanging out of the nest looked a fair size. I hope they make it.

Dusty87

They have all left our area. There was loads up until a few weeks ago. You would miss them flying around. Place seems a little quieter without them.

donalglackin

i seen a swallows nest in greystones two weeks ago. didnt see any chicks but i seen two adults regularly returning. i was pretty far away but i thought i could hear chicks

Kess73

Still have swallows in Limerick too. Adult birds were out feeding earlier today.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Still plent in the North East. We usually have them until the 3rd week in October.

Durnish

The swallows on the Dawros penisnsula usually leave at beginning of Sept. The others have gone, the kamikaze car chasing swallows who hang out the shaded sections of road, waiting for a car to kick up some insects, they're all gone.

Dusty87

Gibson Shy Honeycomb wrote: »

Still plent in the North East. We usually have them until the 3rd week in October.

Really? Why is there so much in the difference of them leaving? Iv been in Carlow some of last week and today and there's none around here either. Its funny to look up into the sky now and not see them. Looks very bare

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Availability of food has a lot to do with it. They also move towards the coast before leaving the country.

secman

Sat the 19th Sept I saw about 60/70 swallows gathering on and around our house, (out the coast from Gorey) and on Sunday there wasn't a swallow to be seen. Presumed this was a local gathering for the "trip" to Africa. All during the week and last Sat still none to be seen, but on Sunday saw about 7/8 zooming around ?

Secman

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

3 overhead right now in North Louth.:)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

60+ last evening.

Durnish

I see AutumnWatch starts again on BBC. I wonder if they will feature any late hatched swallows.

stevensi

Yeah i see Autumnwatch is starting this evening. It'll be interesting to see the new format. Before it was on for an hour every week day evening for 2 weeks but now they are having it on for 1 hour every friday night but over 8 weeks i think. I wonder will the format work...

jmkennedyie

About 10 meandering south over North Kildare this afternoon...

jmkennedyie

2 this morning passing through...hope they get a move on

Judgement Day

Any Swallows still about where you are - anybody? 14 seen at Tacumshin in south Wexford on the 23rd October see Irish Birding.com - one very useful site! http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web

It's starting to get cold now so the question of Swallows overwintering once again occupies my mind (that part of it not taken up with the Magners League and Heineken Cup).

jmkennedyie

Last ones I saw were over N. Kildare heading South Oct 11th. At least 6 of them. Will keep an eye out for ya, but don't hold your breath

Judgement Day

The weather is so damn miserable now I think this will not be the year that sees a swallow surviving the winter in Ireland. Irishbirding.com reports the most recent sighting of a solitary individual near Gorey, Co.Wexford on the 18th November. Any other sightings?

ThunderCat

Quick question. When the swallows return next spring, do they feed on the wing or are they a visitor to bird tables?

Judgement Day

Swallows feed on insects on the wing and do not visit bird tables.

ThunderCat

Much appriciated. As you can tell, this is only a recent interest of mine and im still learning so apologies for the silly question. Ive only put the bird table out the back garden about a week ago but the blue tit is the most impressive visitor ive had so far. Would like to see a bullfinch or two but we'll see.

E39MSport

Just back from East Africa and the swallow numbers appear to be down massively compared to the same time last year. Hope the drought hasn't impacted them.

stevensi

I see that a swallow was reoprted the other day in Wexford. Now that is late...

Roen

Confirm one for Waterford on Sunday 6th.