No Swallows with long streamer tails

Group Theory Rocks

I've noticed lots of swallows still around but they don't have long streamer tails. I wonder are all the adult males already gone?
I'm almost sure that the birds with short tails that I'm seeing are swallows. They're certainly not swifts and they don't have white feathers anywhere above their necks so I don't think they're martins.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Adult males are certainly still with us - many are still feeding a last clutch. I see them every day. Juveniles gather in larger flocks at this time of year and I suspect you are seeing some of those juvenile flocks.

Group Theory Rocks

That makes good sense, I saw a flock of about 100 in a field this evening. Thanks a million, the question's been bugging me for a while.

stevensi

Juv Swallows only get there longer streamer tails once they leave the nest. Makes sense once you think how tightly packed they are in the nest

lucyoga

About two weeks ago, we noticed that swallows had built a nest and were busily feeding young (I never go into the shed, my husband practically lives there, but he has his head down... ok, so I noticed the swallows feeding chicks and he said, oh, yeah, I think they've been there for a while now...). So excited. We watched them as unobtrusively as possible, feeding the three chicks. Then there was a storm last weekend/Monday. The chicks were still alive and being fed Monday evening when things calmed down, and we saw the adults or at least one of them in and out of the shed on Tuesday. But there wasn't much activity Wed or Thurs. We actually thought they must have fledged. There were still a very few swallows around, even yesterday. Today I haven't seen any. And because I thought they'd fledged, I took a ladder and had a look in the nest. Three dead chicks. Was this just because they were too late breeding? Was this maybe a last blast? It just seems too tragic, to have put all that effort in, particularly just before the long trip South, all for nowt, as they say. Theories, anyone? (Global warming? Young inexperienced birds? A virus? The storm?) Your thoughts most appreciated.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

It often happens that a clutch is lost. Available insects are few and far between in windy weather. Clutches this late frequently survive and thrive.

mr.wiggle

Had exactly the same thing happen with a swallows nest this time last year, two dead chicks in it after a week of wet and windy weather. They must need constant feeding. Sad to see them really.