Swallows still here: why?!

Arequipa

Hi! I was just looking at Irish birding and see that 2 swallows were spotted in Baltimore & Cape Clear; how come they are still here so late in the year?

I imagined they would all be over Africa @ this point...

Judgement Day

Young birds? Disoriented birds due to poor weather? There's always a few stragglers - I like to think that they make it home in the end.

OpenYourEyes

I wouldn't be as optimistic tbh.....

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

There are always a few stragglers in November and occasionally an over wintering bird.

Arequipa

Thanks for the replies!
I imagine it will be touch & go whether they get enough food to make it over to the UK, down through France & into Spain...
I dont see many flies around as the temps drop..

Fingers crossed for them...

swifts need our help!

A couple of winters back two tried to over winter in the south west of England

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Arequipa wrote: »

Thanks for the replies!
I imagine it will be touch & go whether they get enough food to make it over to the UK, down through France & into Spain...
I dont see many flies around as the temps drop..

Fingers crossed for them...

There will always be enough flies for a couple of swallows. Consider how an insect eater like the pied wagtail survives winter. I could see a cloud of small insects around the margins of the bog here last week and up to yesterday evening.

Arequipa

It would be amazing if they started to overwinter..
It must be much tougher for them to survive now even if there are small numbers of flies.. I imagine as Winter sets in these flies will die off..
But i wonder if these would still give them enough energy to migrate south..
I read that some birds are overwintering in Southern Spain; it is possible they could make it down there?!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Arequipa wrote: »

It would be amazing if they started to overwinter..
It must be much tougher for them to survive now even if there are small numbers of flies.. I imagine as Winter sets in these flies will die off..
But i wonder if these would still give them enough energy to migrate south..
I read that some birds are overwintering in Southern Spain; it is possible they could make it down there?!

Please don't worry. This is not particularly late for a few stragglers. They will be fine. And it is still surprisingly mild.

swifts need our help!

While you mention enough flies for pied wagtails on mild days like today its amazing to see starlings hawking for insects

jmkennedyie

got an unexpected phone call today: agitated robin near nest with four eggs in a tractor engine. No sign of nest noticed 2 weeks ago. Nov 19th. Oh dear.

mr.wiggle

Was up in the Ballyhoura mts today, in North Cork
Enjoying the glorious sunshine along with a Red Admiral or painted Lady
butterfly. Couldn't believe it when it flittered past me. Tried to get a closer look but it was too fast for me.
Thought all butterflies would be gone/hibernating by now.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Butterflies, bumble bees, frogs...all still around. It just that the weather has been so mild this year.

Pie Man

Andi Hot Madwoman wrote: »

Butterflies, bumble bees, frogs...all still around. It just that the weather has been so mild this year.

Don't forget the midges, all do there not biting which isn't too bad.