Swallows.

McMurphy

No, not some oral innuendo - so in before the ma/sister/wives and girlfriend gags (see what I did there?)

Seen my first swallows of 2018 this afternoon, doing their acrobatic flying thing over the Limerick countryside.

Hard to believe them wee rascals, which could fit in the palm of your hand make it over here all the way from Africa.

My parents house has an old style out house and barn that swallows return to (perhaps not the same ones) every single year, and raise a family before making the return journey back to Africa.

No mean feat when you're only a few inches long, and only a few g weight.

But apart from all that.

Swallows are back, that means summers returning, time to get the tops off, get the BBQ out of the shed, and drink bags of cans in the back garden.

**raises can**

TO SWALLOWS!

sbsquarepants

One swallow does not a summer make my friend.

Reminds me of this little ditty -

My girlfriend kept birds
So I gave her the push
I was fond of her swallow
But not of her thrush

Pac1Man

sbsquarepants wrote: »

One swallow does not a summer make my friend.

It would make my summer, wha? WHA? Did you get that reference?

ablelocks

the ones that used the inside of my bedroom wall to nest are in for a surprise this year - I finally got the hole blocked before they arrive so no lodging in my house this year.

Or in my garage either you filthy feckin' burds - i made the mistake 2 years ago of not locking my shed for the month of april and 2 families of swallows moved into the rafters and left the place in an awful state after them. So garage locked until they find another place to ****e nest.

but other than that, welcome swallows, entertain us with your swooping and soaring and diving and birdsong

Henwin

ya they are back here on our farm with d last few weeks , they always nest in the same shed, i read somewhere tat they tagged swallows up the country and the same ones came back d following year, its so amazing how they can find their way back, they hav some sat nav

TheValeyard

sbsquarepants wrote: »

One swallow does not a summer make my friend.

Reminds me of this little ditty -

My girlfriend kept birds
So I gave her the push
I was fond of her swallow
But not of her thrush

On National Poetry day no less.

nice_guy80

you're a week late...

**** everywhere in our sheds

McMurphy

nice_guy80 wrote: »

you're a week late...

**** everywhere in our sheds

How can someone be a week late to see something for the first time.

I'm not claiming I witnessed the very first swallows to reach Ireland from Africa in 2018, just that I seen some for my first time this year:D

LithiumKid1976

just noticed them at home today, great to see them back, even if they do Sh1te all over the place.. i built my home 8 years ago, when i had 1 kid, now i have 3 kids, and 3 pairs of swallows living on the gables, and one smaller gable.
welcome back! summers comming!

Stigura

Saw a bunch of them along the road into town, Tuesday. No idea when they arrived though.

Not seen a single one here, yet. Be wasting their time anyway. Place is crawling with pine martens now. Last year was a complete route for any birds who nested

10000maniacs

Pat Boone is probably still waiting for the Swallows to arrive in Capistrano. If they don't come back, he won't get any boom-boom from the local squeeze.

topper75

Haven't seen yet in Limerick city but have heard the distinctive twittering. Quite a summerish sound.

The Backwards Man

Used to have a pool table out in the barn. This time of year, when Bill Werbeniuk and Terry Griffiths would inspire you to play with your own balls, out you go to discover the wee bastards had shat all over it.

FrancieBrady

“Swallows high, staying dry;

Swallows low, wet will blow.” as me auld granny used to say.

And it is generally true I have found. Some science behind it too.

Haven't seen any here in Monaghan yet.

Graces7

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Used to have a pool table out in the barn. This time of year, when Bill Werbeniuk and Terry Griffiths would inspire you to play with your own balls, out you go to discover the wee bastards had shat all over it.

Cover the table! Plastic bags etc. Simples... :rolleyes:

Noveight

They usually nest in our shed by the house. None here yet, another few shít-free weeks :pac:

Seth Brundle

I saw some around Leixlip last weekend.
All of them were unladen!

Canis Lupus

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I saw some around Leixlip last weekend.
All of them were unladen!

African or European?