Swallows arrival 2011 (Was I seeing things???)

boneless

Okay, I was walking to the bus this morning, full of the joys of spring and to my surprise I saw what I really think was a swallow fly past me at eye level. The said bird disappeared into the park so I could not follow it visually. I could be mistaken but I was so sure of the call I forgot how early it is in March .

Any other good person here ever seen a swallow this early in Dublin?

littlebug

Well according to irishbirding.com there was one seen on Cape Clear on 20th Feb ! Last years recorded sightings started around about St Patricks day. I don't think its outside the realms of possibility for todays bird to have been a swallow but it's certainly early!

Judgement Day

Perhaps it was one of the overwintering ones? Sorry, but it's one of my pet hobby horses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3336271/Climate-change-confuses-migrating-birds.html

E39MSport

Starling can look like a swallow in flight sometimes.

boneless

E39MSport wrote: »

Starling can look like a swallow in flight sometimes.

I don't think it was a starling. It was the colouring that made me make the call.

boneless

littlebug wrote: »

Well according to irishbirding.com there was one seen on Cape Clear on 20th Feb ! Last years recorded sightings started around about St Patricks day. I don't think its outside the realms of possibility for todays bird to have been a swallow but it's certainly early!

I have heard of them being early on the south and south-east coastal areas. I will just have to keep me eyes peeled .

borderlinemeath

Was thinking about the swallows yesterday with the lovely spring weather.
Hopefully mine will make it back to the outhouse where they raised two broods of 4 last year. The were very tolerable of all the comings and goings as it's where the dog sleeps and also the laundry room so always plenty of activity. Didn't seem to bother them one bit.

Birdnuts

Judgement Day wrote: »

Perhaps it was one of the overwintering ones? Sorry, but it's one of my pet hobby horses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3336271/Climate-change-confuses-migrating-birds.html

I doubt any would have survived this winter

BryanL

Judgement Day wrote: »

Perhaps it was one of the overwintering ones? Sorry, but it's one of my pet hobby horses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3336271/Climate-change-confuses-migrating-birds.html

One swallow doesn't make a summer and one failing to leave England hardly shows a trend of birds overwintering in Ireland?
Bryan

John mac

maybe a sand martin. ?
I saw them early last year but nothing this year yet.

littlebug

There were swallow sightings recorded in Cork and Co Down over the weekend

marlin vs

I seen one on Sunday morning flying up along the river Suir.

littlebug

a few more days and I think we'll have lots of sightings. "Mine" didn't appear til April 8th last year but I'll be checking out a few other places nearby where I know they usually arrive a bit earlier.

E39MSport

There's something about seeing the first one of the year. The feeling stays with me until the following year. Like a child waiting for Christmas right now

boneless

E39MSport wrote: »

There's something about seeing the first one of the year. The feeling stays with me until the following year. Like a child waiting for Christmas right now

They are a special sighting. They mark the days getting longer and hopefully warmer.

Oh, and I had a definite sighting yesterday!! Along the canal at Suir Bridge.

Damer

you can report your first sighting here
http://www.springalive.net/en-ie

MB Lacey

boneless wrote: »

Oh, and I had a definite sighting yesterday!! Along the canal at Suir Bridge.

Are you definite it was a Swallow at Suir Bridge along Drimnagh Boneless?
That would be exceptional as there don't seem to be many Swallow sightings north of Cork yet?
I walk along the canal quite a bit but haven't managed to see one yet, lots of low, fast flying Starlings and common birds, but no Swallow as yet.
There's a building where they nest and roost up near Blackhorse and I stayed watching for a while but nothing except a Feral pigeon.

boneless

Yep, 100% it was a swallow. I saw some more down near Leeson Street too. Possible that they just made it and are heading to traditional sites for them.

Where is the house on the canal where they nest MB?

MB Lacey

boneless wrote: »

Where is the house on the canal

If you walk along the canal up past Blackhorse there's a derelict building that's been promising to be a new apartments for a couple of years..
In the 3rd or 4th floor windows, when the Swallows have arrived, they flit in and out of here constantly and sit along the electricity wires nearby.

kincsem

I thought I saw a housemartin yesterday in Donnybrook.

Durnish

Any recent swallow sightings?

paulusdu

Just saw 2 or 3 flying around the house. One of them in and out of one of last years nest.
great sight

Half-cocked

Saw a few around Dunshaughlan, Co. Meath, yesterday.

Rainbowsend

One lone swallow in Wicklow this morning!

littlebug

I thought I saw a couple of familiar looking swooping shapes as I drove along near Galway this morning. Can't be sure but maybe ....:). No sign of "mine" yet. 8th April last year so hopefully it won't be long.

seanybiker

Seen 2 a few days ago.

Half-cocked

1 at Clontarf this afternoon.

1squidge

1 Swallow along river Nanny today.

Durnish

saw a flock of swallows yesterday at Killard Point, County Down, so north- east coast.
They were swooping and diving, great display.

glenkeo

i Just saw one in donegal this morning around sheds on the farm.

trebor28

its official, summer is here.!


terrible pic i know, but hey, hopefully there'll be more chances to get better ones!

Cardynal

Up to a dozen on the Barrow this morning.

amerden

Just seen my first swallow of 2011 at Cork (Railway Station)

Connacht

My first Swallows in Mayo today.
Other reports from Mayo 12 days ago.

John mac

The sand martins are back since Tuesday 5th, in Foxford.

weisses

Yep they are back ...spotted 2 on wednesday evening

Mothman

One singing overhead this morning.

Did see a possible on 28th March, but it was very high and I couldn't rule out Sand Martin.

littlebug

Still no sign of mine yet. I first saw them on this day last year so I've been keeping my eyes peeled.

Damer

saw my first swallows this morning!

John mac

5 swallows overhead this morning high up, heard them first .

V Bull

Yesterday in Leabeg, Tullamore area approx 15 - 20 Sandmartins & about 5 - 9 Swallows.



The Sandmartins made these burrows/holes into the bank in the morning but then just disappeared, not a sign of them in the afternoon..

littlebug

Saw my first two swallows today

Boomshakalak

2 arrived here in North Donegal on friday 8th April but haven`t seen them or any more since.

Fuzzy Clam

None here at the house yet but a lot at Lilliput near Mullingar on Thursday

Bsal

Seen Swallows around Dublin Airport and Skerries today.

homerhop

First swallow at the turn off for Limerick uni on the new motorway

tfitzgerald

Like the op I was amazed to see some swallows in Limerick yesterday it picked up my mood to see them:)

borderlinemeath

Mine arrived this morning!:D

Definately some of last years brood, they're swooping in and out of the boilerhouse where last years nest is - I wonder will they do running repairs or build a new one from scratch? They added an "extension" onto the original nest for the second clutch last year!

Great to see them back!

E39MSport

borderlinemeath wrote: »

Mine arrived this morning!:D

Definately some of last years brood, they're swooping in and out of the boilerhouse where last years nest is - I wonder will they do running repairs or build a new one from scratch? They added an "extension" onto the original nest for the second clutch last year!

Great to see them back!

Delighted for you.

I'm hoping 'ours' will come back after their absence last year and mite infested previous Summer.

May you have a great Summer enjoying your Swallows.

Durnish

Swallows here in the Portnoo barn. They seem to be young ones, short tails. Do the young ones arrive first, in a hurry to stake a claim somewhere?

homolumo

'Mine' came back about 10 days ago. In and out of their usual spot in the old shed, I even painted it for them. Just hoping the cat doesn't bring the nest down like last year (despite my best efforts).