Swallow spotted!

Arequipa · 10-03-2014 10:29am #1

Hi! Just see that a swallow has been seen at sea off Co Kerry..
I imagine that they will start to arrive off our shores the next few weeks...?!
One swallow was spotted in December 2013, would he have stayed in Ireland through the winter?

I love this time of year!

A

http://www.irishbirding.com/birds/web

V_Moth · 10-03-2014 10:53am

I would doubt that any Swallows would have successfully survived the winter in Ireland (not enough flying insects). There has been the odd record of Swallows wintering in the Isles of Scilly, but only during very mild winters.

The Swallow off Kerry is very likely to be an early migrant pushed north by the strong southerly winds over the last few days. As part of this weather system, there were records of Wryneck and even a Grasshopper Warbler over in Britain. A few Sand Martins and one Wheatear reported around Ireland.

Arequipa · 10-03-2014 5:05pm

It is amazing... The southerly winds & settled weather may attract some more over the next few days..

When would you expect the swallows and martins to arrive in larger numbers to our shores?

Oh last question, saw some red-humped swallows were here last Autumn: do they breed here too?

Thanks a mil!

V_Moth · 10-03-2014 6:03pm

Red-rumped Swallows breed in southern Europe (Spain, Italy and the Balkans), but one or two turn up every year in Ireland. April/May is probably the best time to find one, especially during prolonged spells of southerly or south-easterly winds with a high-pressure system over Europe (check any large flocks of migrating Swallows).

Red-rumped Swallows build quite interesting nests, which are re-used by other bird species:

http://www.arkive.org/red-rumped-swallow/hirundo-daurica/image-G54648.html

Arequipa · 10-03-2014 10:33pm

Thanks for that... Saw a beautiful swallow in my shower stall, while on holiday in South Africa..
Will try & include a picture: looked a bit like the red humped fella!

So, when will the main flock of our barn swallows reach Irish Shores?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 11-03-2014 8:08am

It's that time of year again. The first swallows to hit landfall in 2012 was on1st March and similar in 2013, so they are on schedule or perhaps even a little later than usual. The jet stream lying so far south all through February proibaly did not help their progress north.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 11-03-2014 8:11am

Arequipa wrote: »

Thanks for that... Saw a beautiful swallow in my shower stall, while on holiday in South Africa..
Will try & include a picture: looked a bit like the red humped fella!

So, when will the main flock of our barn swallows reach Irish Shores?

That image is of a Lesser Stripped Swallow.

Zoo4m8 · 11-03-2014 12:51pm

Kylan Swift Caterpillar wrote: »

That image is of a Lesser Stripped Swallow.

Just what you would expect, he is in a shower stall after all..:D. sorry, couldn't resist it..

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 11-03-2014 2:33pm

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

Just what you would expect, he is in a shower stall after all..:D. sorry, couldn't resist it..

Sorry, but I don't get that!

Arequipa · 11-03-2014 2:49pm

Ha ha!!
The Lesser Stripper Swallow... They were flying in to feed off the flies attracted to the lights!

It only seems like yesterday (end of September) when i was out in my garden & hundreds of swallows were flying south over my house here in Sutton!!

Zoo4m8 · 11-03-2014 5:32pm

Kylan Swift Caterpillar wrote: »

Sorry, but I don't get that!

The lesser STRIPPED swallow, just a typo Kylan Swift Caterpillar, I know you meant STRIPED.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 11-03-2014 6:24pm

Zoo4m8 wrote: »

The lesser STRIPPED swallow, just a typo Srameen, I know you meant STRIPED.

Arthritic fingers!:P

Arequipa · 21-03-2014 10:15am

Hey! I have been following bird sightings in Ireland:
It seems that a few sand martins & house martins have arrived on our shores, with just the odd swallow..
Do these birds migrate together?
how come the martins seem to arrive earlier than the swallows?

A

stevensi · 21-03-2014 3:18pm

Arequipa wrote: »

Hey! I have been following bird sightings in Ireland:
It seems that a few sand martins & house martins have arrived on our shores, with just the odd swallow..
Do these birds migrate together?
how come the martins seem to arrive earlier than the swallows?

A

As far as I know Sand Martins don't travel as far South in Africa as Swallows and so arrive here a little earlier. This is the same reason Chiffchaff's arrive before Willow Warblers. They leave probably at the same time but as the distance is shorter they arrive a little earlier. Not 100% sure but am fairly confident that is the reason.

Graces7 · 24-03-2014 3:13pm

I thought I saw a swallow here a few days ago but thought it was too early.. South Kerry

Going to be interesting this year; they have a nest high in the outdoor utility they return to each year and now the feral cat who has adopted us has taken a bed in there.

Woodville56 · 24-03-2014 5:58pm

Graces7 wrote: »

I thought I saw a swallow here a few days ago but thought it was too early.. South Kerry

Going to be interesting this year; they have a nest high in the outdoor utility they return to each year and now the feral cat who has adopted us has taken a bed in there.

I'd be evicting the cat if that can be done without blocking access for the swallows ? After all, they have travelled so far to be back with you - just imaging them arriving home to find a cat in situ !!

Arequipa · 24-03-2014 10:39pm

They seem to be fairly smart and tough birds.. I know they divebomb & hassle any birds of prey in the area...
You imagine they encounter all sorts of predators on the mammoth journey north..

I think Irish swallows migrate down to the Johannesburg area if South Africa..
It seems some have started to overwinter in Spain & fly back up in Spring..
Any of you know where our martins migrate to?

A

Arequipa · 24-03-2014 10:43pm

Just love these birds.. We often holiday in Galway in the summer.. We rent a house with big windows.. I was outside and noticed a swallow on the ground.. Think he had hit the window & was stunned.. I carefully lifted him up & put him up on a high wall so a cat/fox didnt catch him..
They are so light & are basically all wing and tail.. Their feather are beautiful abd irredescent up close...

A

Graces7 · 25-03-2014 8:32am

Woodville56 wrote: »

I'd be evicting the cat if that can be done without blocking access for the swallows ? After all, they have travelled so far to be back with you - just imaging them arriving home to find a cat in situ !!

Need the cat.. he keeps away some very nasty aggressive ferals...he is on the ground and the swallow nest is right at the top

He sleeps behind the wide open door so I am hopeful about it. Some nasty person vandalized the nest the year I moved in here ( October then) and last year they rebuilt and raised young. Two wee faces peeping out and far too high for the cat and no means of access apart from wings.

They had no problem with my other two cats..

There are nests in the shed too.. almost get divebombed every year

Woodville56 · 25-03-2014 11:26am

Graces7 wrote: »

Need the cat.. he keeps away some very nasty aggressive ferals...he is on the ground and the swallow nest is right at the top

He sleeps behind the wide open door so I am hopeful about it. Some nasty person vandalized the nest the year I moved in here ( October then) and last year they rebuilt and raised young. Two wee faces peeping out and far too high for the cat and no means of access apart from wings.

They had no problem with my other two cats..

There are nests in the shed too.. almost get divebombed every year

Surprised that swallows or any small birds would cohabit with cats ! I wouldn't be very hopeful of a successful outcome !

Graces7 · 25-03-2014 12:58pm

Woodville56 wrote: »

Surprised that swallows or any small birds would cohabit with cats ! I wouldn't be very hopeful of a successful outcome !

They did fine last year and in previous houses too. Not daft! The feral cat is new but my other two are around and outside most of the day.

he does only go into the utility to sleep after all; rest of the time he is on patrol keeping other ferals away. And ther eis no way he could reach the nest; it is way up in the high roof.

Only once have I had a cat bring a swallow in in all my years here, and the cat looked so surprised I think the bird literally flew into its face.

They fly in and out of my doors and windows every year .. wonderful to see.

Graces7 · 25-03-2014 2:34pm

Arequipa wrote: »

Just love these birds.. We often holiday in Galway in the summer.. We rent a house with big windows.. I was outside and noticed a swallow on the ground.. Think he had hit the window & was stunned.. I carefully lifted him up & put him up on a high wall so a cat/fox didnt catch him..
They are so light & are basically all wing and tail.. Their feather are beautiful abd irredescent up close...

A

The one time my cat caught one, it was still warm and I was awed at the shape and texture and colour oif the plumage. Sheer streamlining and strength.

mr.wiggle · 12-04-2014 3:10am

It's officially spring now in North Cork !!
Two of 'my' swallows have returned today. It was a great surprise to
hear then calling out to each other overhead this evening.
Such a lovely sight to see them soaring and diving, made my day !

Joeseph Balls · 12-04-2014 10:15am

mr.wiggle wrote: »

It's officially spring now in North Cork !!
Two of 'my' swallows have returned today. It was a great surprise to
hear then calling out to each other overhead this evening.
Such a lovely sight to see them soaring and diving, made my day !

Summer i think you mean, as the saying goes.

Rainbowsend · 12-04-2014 1:05pm

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Summer i think you mean, as the saying goes.

"Two Swallows does not a summer make" I think that's it anyway?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 12-04-2014 1:43pm

Rainbowsend wrote: »

"Two Swallows does not a summer make" I think that's it anyway?

If it's any conciliation, I had 7 over the garden this week. Summer????

Joeseph Balls · 12-04-2014 5:52pm

Rainbowsend wrote: »

"Two Swallows does not a summer make" I think that's it anyway?

'One swallow doesn't make a summer', I thought :P.
Meaning just because you've seen 1, does not mean its summer yet. Could be early arrival.
Hence swallows arriving is a sign of summer.