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Migrating birds
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Are they here yet? Have you spotted any swallows, swifts or martins in your area? I'm in Derbys & the first ones usually arrive the first week in May - if they're not here for my birthday on the 6th I'm very disappointed!
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Yes Robby, I saw my first pair of Swallows on April 3rd which is fairly early but not unusual down south. I'll send some up to Derby in time for your birthday :-)
Saturday was a real treat as there were approx 100+ Housemartins and Swallows all swooping over a huge stretch of water making the most of the bonanza of midges.
Waiting for my favourites to arrive now...the screaming Swifts....such an evocative sound, don't you think?
Mine haven't returned yet. Unfortunately, we had to demolish their nests from last year. The wrens moved in as squatters over winter and left a lot of rubbish!
They usually come back on the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, just after my birthday. Another Taurean Robinia!
All the birds are so busy at the moment and very vocal. I was watching goldfinches on the peanuts yesterday. What amazing little birds they are.
Why are woodpigeons so thick. They are constantly falling of the branches of the trees in my garden whilst they are trying to build their nests. I can't help liking them though!!
Hi all - nice cosy little nest of Boa's here!
Cetti how lovely! It's made my day to know that they're on their way. I'll expect them to arrive wearing bows & carrying birthday banners!
Yes that lovely screaming - we get mostly swifts & house martins in my surrounding streets & from the end of April onwards I have a crick in my neck until I've spotted one.
FP I might have known you were a Taurean - wonder what our AB husband is?
Collared doves are pretty daft too. They seem to just throw a beakful of twigs onto a branch & then jump on quick before they fall to the ground. The eggs often drop through & the poor babies must too scared to move!
I would love to live where FP does just to have Swallows nesting, but I had to travel some distance to see them, but it was worth it!
really believe that our garden is a magnet for the idiots of the birdworld. As soon as Mrs Blackie leaves her nest she is followed by her entourage of three Sparrows.She is so patient with them although last week my husband saw her headbutt one of them when they took too many of her Rich Tea bikkies.
About the beginning of March a last years Blackbird was practicing his song from the confines of our Privet hedge - too embarrassed by the feeble sound to come out into the open. The Wood Pigeon can sit motionless in the birdbath for ten minutes with a vacant expression, while the resident Dunnock hasn't read he's supposed to be shy and retiring so perches on top of the bird table shouting his head off...alerting all the Sparrowhawks for miles around. One day.....
Cetti, your description of the wood pigeon made me laugh, 'coz this is exactly what they do. I have a water bowl out in the back garden for my dogs - last summer one pigeon spent most of his day sitting in there looking vacant!
Shelly, my birthday is the 26th so perhaps our swallows will travel over together.
Unfortunately we have a broken pane of glass in the garage window which I keep nagging Mr FP to mend before the swallows come back. Otherwise they will take up residence in there as well!
Welcome to the fold Shelly - (we're the Birdwomen Of Answerbank!) & happy birthday for next week, hope the swallows arrive for you!
There's a lovely old but sprightly lady a couple of streets away from me who looks after sick & injured birds as well as keeping ducks (so comical). Some years ago she wrote two books about some of her patients who all have names & live the life of Riley until those that can be are released. If you think you've seen idiot birds you should read some of these tales! Owls it seems, aren't necessarily wise birds! I'm sure you'd enjoy them & both are available on Amazon although one, being scarce, is rather expensive......
Joan Grant - The Owl On The Teapot & The Cuckoo On The Kettle.
FP I live about 3 miles S.E of the city & yes Darley Park is very popular - bit too popular sometimes I think!
That's fantastic FP - you've made my day!! I will keep a keen eye out for mine, they might be headed this way. I was feeling a bit irritable (probably the full moon!) but it's cheered me up to remember summer's on it's way. Not sure whether we're going to have a good one though!
Happy Birthday for Tuesday, in case you're too busy raving it up to be on here!!
